Secretary Kennedy should release energy assistance funding for families

Soon, as many as 5.9 million households could be forced to go without heating or cooling if the proposed budget from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is approved, warns the National Energy Assistance Directors Association. A leaked HHS budget proposal for fiscal year 2026 shows no dollars allocated to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, which provides financial aid to help low-income customers pay thei…

Secretary Kennedy should release energy assistance funding for families

US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently fired the entire staff that manages the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) — a life-saving program that keeps the lights on for about 6 million families. LIHEAP provides about $4.1 billion to help low-income families pay their home energy bills — many of whom are elderly or disabled.     About 90% of the FY 25 appropriation was released last October. The remain…

Federal program that helps cover utility bills to be scrapped by HHS – Chicago Sun-Times

In 2023, more than 330,000 households in Illinois received LIHEAP with an average of more than $724 per household, Gov. JB Pritzker’s office said in a November news release.

With no staff left at LIHEAP, the federal utility assistance program, advocates worry about funding - IPM Newsroom

Illinois Newsroom - A federal program that helped struggling customers pay their utility bills remains in limbo after the Trump administration fired its entire staff earlier this month. The post With no staff left at LIHEAP, the federal utility assistance program, advocates worry about funding appeared first on IPM Newsroom.

Heating Assistance available | People's Defender

The Ohio Department of Development and ABCAP want to remind older Ohioans that assistance is available to help with their home energy bills. The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) helps Ohioans at or below 175% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for a household of up to seven members and 60% of State Median Income for a household of eight or more members to pay their heating bills. Source

Trump administration severs ‘lifeline’ for families struggling to pay utility bills

Read the full story at Inside Climate News. LIHEAP is among dozens of aid programs caught short by mass firings in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Part of broad budget cuts by the Trump administration, the entire staff that allocates funds for LIHEAP was eliminated two weeks ago. HHS did not respond to a … Continue reading Trump administration severs ‘lifeline’ for families struggling to pay utility bills