Sep. 24—State Department of Human Services is warning Pennsylvanians of a likely scam concerning the state's home heating assistance programs.
In a statement released Friday, DHS Acting Secretary Meg Snead said scammers are going door to door asking Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program recipients to see their bills to ensure they are receiving the correct LIHEAP funds. However, LIHEAP is distributed directly to a household's utility company or home heating fuel provider in the form of a grant, and neither DHS nor utility companies will solicit LIHEAP information from recipients.
"If you have received unsolicited visits asking you about your LIHEAP benefits and for your personal information, it is a scam. Do not respond so you do not fall victim to identity theft and please inform the DHS fraud tipline immediately," Snead said.
She said to report texts or other interactions about DHS benefits that seem suspicious by calling the DHS fraud tipline at 1-844-DHS-TIPS (1-844-347-8477).
DHS administers LIHEAP annually to provide assistance to renters and homeowners for heating bills, so low-income Pennsylvanians can stay warm and safe during the winter months. While the 2022-23 LIHEAP season is not yet open, preseason applications have started to be mailed to previous LIHEAP recipients who will be able to submit the application via COMPASS or with a preseason paper application. The regular season will open Nov. 1 and runs through April 28, and DHS will publicize information on the benefit amounts closer to the opening of the LIHEAP season.
Applications for other public assistance programs can be submitted at www.compass.state.pa.us. On-site County Assistance Office services are available if clients cannot access online services or need assistance that cannot be accessed through the COMPASS website, the myCOMPASS PA mobile app or by calling customer service centers at 1-877-395-8930 for clients in all other counties or 215-560-7226 for Philadelphia clients.