UGI Urges Eligible Renters to Apply for New Assistance Program

UGI is encouraging eligible Pennsylvania renters with past due natural gas and electric utility bills, as well as rent, to apply for Pennsylvania’s newly launched Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP).

ERAP is funded by an allocation of approximately $847 million from the federal government to help rental households cover past-due or future rental and/or utility payments.

Pennsylvanians can submit ERAP applications online at www.compass.state.pa.us. Forty-seven counties have opted to collect applications through the COMPASS website provided by the Department of Human Services (DHS). DHS will route applications submitted through COMPASS directly to counties for processing.

ERAP Eligibility

To qualify for assistance, a household must be responsible to pay rent on a residential property and meet each of the following criteria:

• One or more people within the household has qualified for unemployment benefits, had a decrease in income, had increased household costs, or experienced other financial hardship due directly or indirectly to the COVID-19 pandemic; AND
• One or more individuals in the household can show a risk of experiencing
  homelessness or housing instability; AND
• The household has an income at or below 80 percent of area median income,
  which varies by county. Income limits by county are available on the DHS website. Resources (like bank accounts and cars) are not relevant to ERAP eligibility.

Twenty counties have opted to accept applications through their own application process. However, residents of all counties can visit COMPASS for information on how to apply for ERAP, including residents of counties that have developed their own process.

UGI is working closely with all the counties it serves to help customers take advantage of the new program. UGI has also proactively contacted approximately 100,000 customers who may benefit from the program.

Visit www.dhs.pa.gov for additional program information. While UGI is unable to submit applications on behalf of customers, UGI customer service representatives are available to help answer questions. Please call UGI at 800-276-2722 for assistance.