Latest news with #Arkoosh
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
State extends low-income heating program
The Daily Item SUNBURY — The state Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program season has been extended to April 18. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, more than 300,000 families use the program, LIHEAP, which is especially critical for older adults and low-income families. The original end of the program for the 2024-25 winter season was April 4. 'The LIHEAP season is now closing for the year on April 18, so Pennsylvanians who may still need help with their heating bills from this winter should apply now,' DHS Secretary Val Arkoosh said. 'LIHEAP helps our community's most vulnerable citizens — children, older Pennsylvanians, people with disabilities, and low-income families — make ends meet and keep their homes safer. If you are still having trouble paying your heating bills, please apply by April 18 so LIHEAP can help ease this burden.' Arkoosh's office said it has adequate funding to continue the current season despite federal staffing cuts to the office that overseas LIHEAP. Arkoosh urged Pennsylvanians behind on or having trouble paying to heat their homes to apply for the program. Federal funding changes have not impacted this season but Arkoosh's office said the funding will be critical for next season. LIHEAP provides cash or crisis grants to renters and homeowners with annual income at or below 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Limit, which is $22,590 for individuals and $46,800 for a family of four. Pennsylvanians can apply for LIHEAP online at and for other public assistance programs online or by phone at 1-866-550-4355.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania lawmakers discuss future of SNAP benefits
(WHTM) — Nutrition for children, home health care for seniors, and everything in between are overseen by the Department of Human Services, which makes up the largest part of the state budget. Today, lawmakers questioned it in budget hearings. The budget request from the Governor's Office is roughly $21.1 billion, with a $2 billion increase for Human Services. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Human Services Secretary Val Arkoosh said the feds send $367 million a month to the Keystone State for SNAP benefits, which are increasingly targeted by thieves. 'This is money going to our most vulnerable families and children and older adults, people who really need this benefit to put food on their table, so it is disgusting,' said Secretary Arkoosh during an appropriations hearing on Tuesday. DOGE: Several government offices to close in Central Pennsylvania One scammer stole benefits from 17 people in Central Pennsylvania and made bulk purchases of Red Bull and candy. Before December, the feds would make victims whole, but no more. '(People) are showing up at our offices hungry,' said Arkoosh. 'They can't feed their kids, and they are understandably wildly upset.' State Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa (R-Allegheny) wants more secure benefit cards and odd purchases flagged. Changes proposed to Pennsylvania's Sunday hunting law 'We definitely don't want to stop anybody from going out and buying a bag of M&Ms,' said Rep. Krupa. 'But, there needs to be a deeper dive into balancing food choice with better with the nutritional goals of the program.' Pennsylvania gets a lot of money from Washington, which could dry up as President Donald Trump looks for inefficiencies. 'If someone in the federal government turns off a system, there is very little that we can do about it,' said Arkoosh. There is very little that budget crafters can count on. They do have hope and their fingers crossed. 'It's really fraught right now,' said Rep. Emily Kinkhead (D-Allegheny). 'I think that's the case with pretty much every state, whether it's red or blue or purple. We are not really sure how things are going to go.' Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Even ardent Trump supporters concede a trickle-down of uncertainty. 'If there's one thing that you could criticize, you know, he went in with, what's he saying? 'A chainsaw, not a scalpel,'' said Krupa. 'In our lifetimes, we've not seen anybody else take such a proactive role in cutting out that waste, fraud, and abuse.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
