House & Apartment

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LIHEAP and getting public utilities through your landlord

You may be eligible for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). This program includes households under the established income guidelines. It does not matter if you pay utilities through your landlord or direct. You may qualify for LIHEAP regardless of immigrant status.

If your utility service is included in your rent:

  • You can qualify for LIHEAP. But your rent must be greater than 30% of your household's income for the past month.

If your utility service is not included in your rent:

  • You must document that you are responsible for home energy costs. You can do this by showing the utility bill in your name.

Funding for this program was increased. It is now available to households with incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty level. Learn more about income eligibility levels on the Illinois LIHEAP website

To get the status of an application you can visit the Illinois LIHEAP website or call the Illinois LIHEAP Hotline at (877) 411-9276. 

Learn more about shutoffs and what to do if your landlord does not pay the utility bill from Public utilities through your landlord.

Last full review by a subject matter expert
June 19, 2018
Last revised by staff
August 21, 2023

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