U.S. Department of Health to help needy with heat bills

The Administration for Children and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Wednesday that it would provide $8.1 million to help low-income families in Utah pay their heating bills.

The assistance is available to families that meet certain income thresholds. For example, a family of four earning less than $1,839 a month can qualify for the program.

For more information on the program, go online to commerce.utah.gov/dpu/heatbklt.pdf

Utah's funding is part of $1.3 billion sent nationwide to states, tribes and territories through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program administered by ACF. The $1.3 billion follows $27.25 million in emergency energy assistance to states hit hardest by Hurricane Katrina. A total of $20.35 million in emergency LIHEAP money remains available for crises.

More than 4.5 million low-income households across the country receive LIHEAP assistance each year. The program helps eligible families pay for home heating and insulation in winter and cooling their homes in the warmer months.