DCA Extends Application Deadline for Home Energy Assistance

TRENTON - New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Acting Commissioner Lori Grifa announced today that the application period for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) has been extended until Friday, May 28.

"In order to help more New Jersey households in need with their energy bills, the Department of Community Affairs is giving families and individuals more time to apply for assistance," said Acting Commissioner Grifa. "We encourage heating customers who have not already applied and need financial assistance with paying their winter heating bill to apply to their local LIHEAP agency."

The application period was originally scheduled to close on April 30.

LIHEAP is a federally-funded program that provides eligible households with money to help pay their winter heating bills. It can also help with emergencies such as a shut-off notice. LIHEAP funding is administered through the DCA's Division of Housing and Community Resources.

The current application period started in November 2009. Since that time, more than 320,000 New Jersey families have received assistance.

To locate the nearest application agency, people can call the NJ LIHEAP toll-free hotline at 1-800-510-3102 or log on to http://www.state.nj.us/dca/divisions/dhcr/offices/localagencies.html.

For further information on LIHEAP, please log on to http://www.state.nj.us/dca/divisions/dhcr/offices/hea.html.

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