Low-Income Households at Risk Amid Federal Government Shutdown

Sun Nov 02 2025 22:54:01 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As temperatures drop across the United States, low-income families like Jacqueline Chapman face uncertainty regarding heating assistance due to a protracted federal government shutdown. With delays in funding for crucial programs, the impact on vulnerable households could be profound.

Jacqueline Chapman, a retired school aide in Connecticut, is among millions concerned about the loss of assistance programs for heating due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps low-income households pay for heating, faces funding delays that could leave families unprepared as winter approaches. Experts warn of significant hardships for the nation’s poorest families if the situation remains unresolved.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Jacqueline Chapman is a retired school aide who relies on a $630 monthly Social Security check to get by. She faces uncertainty regarding her heating assistance in Philadelphia amid the ongoing federal government shutdown, which has now extended into its fifth week.

Chapman, 74, shared her feelings of anxiety: I feel like I’m living in scary times. It’s not easy to rest when you know you have things to do with limited accounts, limited funds. There isn’t too much you can do.”

Chapman relies heavily on the $4.1 billion Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps millions of low-income households manage their heating and cooling expenses.

With winter weather approaching, some states are reporting that funding for LIHEAP is being delayed due to the government shutdown. Mark Wolfe, executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, emphasized the serious impact these delays may have on the poorest families across the nation who depend on this crucial aid.

These important income supports are potentially heading toward a cliff at the same time, Wolfe cautioned, noting unprecedented circumstances as various assistance programs simultaneously face funding challenges.

LIHEAP, designed to aid families with utility bills and fuel costs, has traditionally received bipartisan support. However, due to recent congressional inaction, states have not received new funding allocations for this budget year. Some states, including Pennsylvania and Minnesota, are already announcing delays in processing applications for LIHEAP assistance.

This comes as families scramble to navigate rising energy prices and dwindling funds. Wolfe indicated that the repercussions of these funding gaps could last well into the winter season, and many applicants are left in limbo.

As families like Chapman’s adapt to rising energy costs without their usual support, the prospects of timely assistance continue to look grim. The current economic strains emphasize the urgent need for immediate congressional action to stabilize these crucial support systems and prevent even deeper hardship for low-income families.