Gov’t to offer up to $1,000 in aid for families behind on electricity bills.

By THE STAR STAFF

The island Family Department announced a new phase of federal assistance that will provide up to $1,000 to households with overdue electric bills, an effort aimed at easing the financial strain on thousands of low‑income families.

The initiative, funded through the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and administered by the Administration for the Socioeconomic Development of the Family (ADSEF), will begin with the automatic distribution of aid to some 3,960 families. That initial disbursement represents more than $925,000 in assistance.

According to ADSEF, the first group of beneficiaries includes active participants in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, program, recipients of the Nutritional Assistance Program, known as PAN in Puerto Rico, and adults aged 60 and older who meet the program’s eligibility criteria.

However, the aid will not be limited to those pre‑identified by the agency. Beginning Wednesday, May 27, eligible residents who are behind on their electricity payments may also apply through the ADSEF Digital platform.

Family Secretary Suzanne Roig Fuertes said the program is designed to address one of the most pressing financial burdens facing Puerto Rican households.

The new LIHEAP phase comes as many families continue to struggle with rising utility costs and economic instability. Officials emphasized that the goal is to help vulnerable residents stabilize their household budgets and avoid service interruptions.