Income eligibility requirements in North Dakota for a low-income energy assistance program won't change, at least through November.
Gov. John Hoeven announced Thursday that he directed human services officials to maintain last year's income eligibility levels for the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program - better known as LIHEAP - through November, pending additional federal funding.
Before Hurricane Katrina, the state had decided to increase eligibility levels for the program this winter. Since then, however, concerns about rising energy prices prompted the reversal.
Despite two failed efforts to increase funding for the program Wednesday in the U.S. Senate, Hoeven continues to believe there is support in the Bush administration and Congress to add money to the program.
Hoeven has come under pressure from Democratic legislative leaders to tap into the state's $100 million budget surplus to augment federal energy assistance for the poor, which they said has failed to keep up with rising energy costs.
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"LIHEAP has always been a 100-percent federal responsibility, and we believe the administration and Congress will step up to fund it," Hoeven said in a statement.
"Meanwhile, we will work within our budget to maintain the original eligibility levels. At the same time, we will continue to work with the administration, Congress and private utility companies to provide additional assistance so that we can help our citizens meet their needs this year."
To qualify for the program, income for a family of four cannot exceed $34,255, under levels that will remain in effect through November. Applications for the program are handled by county social service offices.
