The Administración de Desarrollo Socioeconómico de la Familia (ADSEF), under Puerto Rico’s Department of the Family, confirmed to Primera Hora that funds remain available to help low-income families pay overdue electricity bills. Since late May, ADSEF has been accepting applications under the Energy Crisis subprogram of the federal LIHEAP program, offering up to $1,000 to eligible families with LUMA Energy debts between $20 and $5,000.
In its first phase, aid was automatically extended to 3,960 active families participating in TANF, the PAN nutrition assistance program, and residents over age 60 meeting socioeconomic criteria. Applications can also be submitted via the ADSEF Digital platform or by calling 3-1-1. ADSEF press spokesperson Frances Rodríguez said she could not specify the exact amount of remaining funds since cases are evaluated daily, but confirmed funds remain available and assistance is not expected to stop this July.
ADSEF also published a public notice inviting citizens to a virtual public hearing this coming Thursday, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM, via the ADSEF Digital platform, to gather comments on the use and distribution of funds for Energy Subsidy, Energy Crisis, and Weatherization components for the next federal fiscal year, which begins in October.