New Hampshire has about $23 million in hand and was told to expect about what it got last year, $26 million. If the funding is cut 10 percent, the additional money New Hampshire might not receive as a result represents about 3,700 households, said Celeste Lovett, the state's fuel assistance program manager.
In Vermont, Richard Moffi of the Department of Children and Families is predicting a 4 to 6 percent growth in caseload over last year to about 28,500 low-income families. If the state gets the federal funding it was promised, he expects to be able to maintain the average heating assistance benefit of about $900.
"This assumes that the fiscal cliff doesn't have an impact on our funding," Moffi said. "We'll just have to wait and see."
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Associated Press writers Andrew Miga in Washington, Norma Love in Concord, N.H., and Wilson Ring in Montpelier, Vt., contributed to this report.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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