SUNBURY — Folks who need financial assistance to pay their energy bills this winter can apply for grants, but some who qualified last year may not be eligible this year.

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, known as LIHEAP, provides grants to help pay home heating bills. Because there is less money available this year, the maximum income limit has shifted down, from $44,443 last year to $33,075 this year for a family of four.

At the same time, the cost of heating oil is just over half of what it was at this time last year. In November 2008, fuel oil was over $4 per gallon, and today’s price is $2.40 per gallon, according to one area fuel dealer.

The federal government provided more than $330 million for the program last year, but this year, the Pennsylvania program received only $275 million. The state program is run by the state Department of Public Welfare.

A crisis grant component, for those who have run out of fuel or have a failed heating system, will be available starting Jan. 4.

In 2007-08, the LIHEAP program provided cash grants to 547,000 families, and an additional 200,000 families received crisis assistance, according to the welfare department.

Grants are based on income, family size, type of heating and region of the state.

Applications are available from county assistance offices, utility companies and community service agencies. The application also is available online at www.compass.state.pa.us or by calling (866) 857-7095.

Several public utilities also have assistance programs. These include customer assistance programs in which the utility determines what a family can pay versus the cost of energy use; customer assistance referral and evaluation, which helps customers with special needs such as a family emergency, unemployment or medical emergency; the low-income usage reduction program, which helps customers reduce usage by installing energy-saving features; and hardship funds for those who don’t qualify for other programs and still need assistance.