The Suffolk County Water Authority is urging its customers who are having trouble paying their water bill to apply for the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP). The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance has announced that it will accept applications until August 31st. The program offers up to $2,500 to eligible households to help pay for essential drinking water services.
SCWA has seen a significant increase in overdue bills since the start of the COVID pandemic, currently amounting to over $10 million in arrears. LIHWAP was created by Congress as part of the pandemic relief packages to address drinking water insecurity. To date, more than 3,900 SCWA customers have benefitted from the program, and it has been instrumental in helping families maintain access to high quality drinking water. However, unless Congress takes further action, LIHWAP will end this fall.
Charles Lefkowitz, Chairman of the Suffolk County Water Authority, expressed his gratitude for the assistance LIHWAP has provided to customers, stating, "LIHWAP has been a lifeline for many families, helping them secure access to an essential resource during the pandemic. We urge all eligible customers to take advantage of this opportunity before the deadline."
"LIHWAP has been crucial for so many families facing financial hardship,” added Jeff Szabo, Chief Executive Officer. “We are committed to ensuring that qualified customers don’t miss out on this valuable assistance. Our team stands ready to help customers through the application process."
Customers who believe they meet the eligibility requirements are encouraged to apply for LIHWAP before the August 31st deadline. For more information on LIHWAP, please visit https://otda.ny.gov/programs/water-assistance/ or call 1-833-690-0208. Customers can also contact SCWA by calling 631- 698-9500 or by visiting www.scwa.com for additional information.
About Suffolk County Water Authority:
The Suffolk County Water Authority is an independent public-benefit corporation operating under the authority of the Public Authorities Law of the State of New York. Serving approximately 1.2 million Suffolk County residents, the Authority operates without taxing power on a not-for-profit basis.
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