Families turn to government assistance to heat their homes. But this winter, those who need the most help may be left out in the cold -- literally.

Christmas time means it's also time to crank up the heat.  For Sharl Morris of Allentown, who is raising three kids in a bad economy, paying for heating oil is a challenge.

"It was way more expensive than it was this year," she said.

Morris relies on state assistance to help with the cost, but that help is dropping this year ahead of anticipated cuts from Washington.

"Hopefully they won't be cutting that much because I do need -- it does help," said Morris.  "The assistance does help."

Last year, Pennsylvania families could get at least $300 toward heating costs.  This year, the mimimum is only $100.  That number may drop even further depending on Congress, which is now debating how much less the feds will pay each state for heating assistance.  Payments could be cut by up to half to close the federal budget deficit.

"People will die from this, because if you don 't have the money to pay your electric bill, for example, you use candles to light your home, which catches fire," said Alan Jennings, director of Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley, which offers help for low-income families.

Even with less assistance though, there are things you can do to maximize the heat that you do have.

Apgar Oil offered some simple and inexpensive tips.

If you have a warm furance, make sure that you inspect and clean your filter every month to every three months.

If you have baseboard radiation:  "Make sure this damper is open," said owner Jim Apgar.  "If it's closed, you'll impede the air flow going underneath the radiation."

And with radiators, if it's lukewarm on the top but hot on the bottom, you need to bleed air out to get more heat.

"You take your key, you stick it in the air vent opening, and you turn it counterclockwise it will open," said Apgar.

He advised turning the key until water starts coming out.  Then, the radiators should heat much more efficiently.

Apgar also urged customers to get their heating system cleaned every year.  Although the cost can be high, he said it can cut down heating oil usage by 10 percent or more.

"What the investment is for the cleaning, you get the payback by the savings of having it cleaned," he said.

PPL and MetEd do offer assistance programs as well.  If you have electric heat, utiltities are not allowed to turn off your service during winter months.  However, if you have oil, coal, or kerosene, suppliers are not required to deliver smaller amounts to you.

For more information:

Li-HEAP (state assistance program)

PPL Assistance

MetEd Assistance

Community Action Committee also helps families weatherize their homes.  There is a waiting list, however.  Call 610-691-5620 for more details.