Overview
- Federal LIHEAP/HEAP disbursements are on hold, with New York officials saying funds are delayed indefinitely and multiple states postponing program openings.
- Pennsylvania delayed its LIHEAP season to Dec. 3 and secured utility commitments to prevent November shutoffs for LIHEAP‑eligible customers ahead of the Dec. 1–March 31 winter moratorium.
- Local providers report resources nearing exhaustion, with Knoxville’s Community Action Committee warning carryover dollars could run out within days as it accepts applications but cannot commit payments.
- Some states can bridge the gap temporarily, including New Hampshire which expects funding to last through December, while others rely on limited carryover or state aid such as Vermont’s $14 million allocation and expanded charity programs on Long Island.
- NEADA warns it could take roughly four weeks to restart payments after the government reopens, potentially stretching into December or January, as energy costs climb about 8–11% and shutoff protections often do not cover delivered fuels like heating oil and propane.