Northeast states cut heating aid to poor

WASHINGTON -- Deep cuts in federal home heating assistance benefits mean the poor probably can't afford enough heating oil to stay warm.

Thousands of poor people across the Northeast are bracing for a difficult winter with substantially less home heating aid coming from the federal government.

Several Northeast states already have reduced heating aid benefits to families as Congress considers cutting more than $1 billion from last year's $4.7 billion Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program that served nearly 9 million households.

Families in New England, where the winters are long and cold, and people rely heavily on costly oil heat, are expected to be hit hard. Many poor and elderly people on fixed incomes struggle with rising heating bills that can run into thousands of dollars. That can force them to cut back on other necessities like food or medicine.