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Families who

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need financial help

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to pay their utility bills

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may have to wait

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because of the

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government shutdown

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despite it being over.

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Now the state funding

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is secure but

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the federal funds aren't

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expected to be released

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until December or January.

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Now, as we understand it

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our LIHEAP folks in

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the federal government

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can get to work in

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trying to calculate

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what the allocations

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will be to each state.

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That's what we expect

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is still going

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to take some time.

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And how will it affect

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the people who are

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trying to apply

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for that kind of assistance?

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Will that also

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be delayed to them?

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So they absolutely

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should apply now.

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They should continue applying.

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Applications are open

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and our providers

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are taking

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those applications

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and available

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to assist in that way

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so they can find out

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if they're eligible

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or ineligible.

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That helps us

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so that once

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we receive the dollars

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we're able to administer

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those benefits.

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But the good news is

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folks should continue

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to apply

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throughout the season

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because if they're

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ineligible today

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but a circumstance changes

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we will continue

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to recalculate

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that eligibility

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throughout the season.