Families who are experiencing a heating emergency or are having trouble paying heating bills can apply for assistance beginning today, according to Sen. David G. Argall, R-Schuylkill/Berks.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program offers grants to help low-income families pay their heating bills or deal with such heating emergencies as a broken furnace, fuel shortage or utility service shut-off.LIHEAP applications can be completed online on the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Services website at

www.compass.state.pa.us or at any of Argall's local offices:• 1 W. Centre St., Third Floor, Mahanoy City• 100 N. Centre St., Pottsville (shared with Rep. Tobash)• 237 W. Broad St., Tamaqua (shared with Rep. Knowles)• 61 N. Third St., Hamburg (shared with Rep. Knowles)• 2850 Windmill Road, Spring TownshipTo apply for LIHEAP, applicants will be required to submit the names of all people in the household, Social Security numbers for all household members, proof of income for all household members and a recent heating bill.