HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) is re-opening the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) to help Pennsylvanians with low incomes maintain access to drinking and wastewater services. Applications for LIHWAP are now open. After a successful program in 2022, Pennsylvania received additional federal funding to re-open LIHWAP for 2023.
“Every Pennsylvanian has a right to clean drinking water that keep our homes safe and our families healthy,” said Secretary Arkoosh. “I encourage all Pennsylvanians who are at risk of losing drinking water or wastewater services and have not received LIHWAP previously to apply as soon as possible when the program opens.”
Under LIHWAP, eligible households can receive one crisis grant for drinking water service and one crisis grant for wastewater service of up to $2,500 each. Crisis situations can include past-due water bills, termination of utility service, and having received notice that service will be shut off within the next 60 days. Receiving utility assistance through another program like the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) does not prevent a household from receiving assistance through LIHWAP if the applicant meets LIHWAP eligibility criteria. If a household has previously received LIHWAP for one water type, they cannot receive another LIHWAP grant for the same water type but could receive it for the other.
Households may qualify if they rent or own their home, have an overdue water or wastewater bill that they are responsible to pay, and if the household is within the income limit for their household size. Grants are issued directly to water service providers, and families must meet income requirements.
