For Illinois residents struggling to pay their heating bills, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) can help. LIHEAP helps low-income households pay for utilities. LIHEAP is available regardless of immigrant status. 

The utilities covered by LIHEAP include heat, gas, and electric. Visit Help Illinois Families to request services in your county or see the list of Community Action Agencies to learn where you can apply in your county. You can also call 1-833-711-0374 for assistance in 30 languages or if you need help completing and submitting your information. 

When you qualify for LIHEAP, the program: 

• Limits when you may be charged a deposit,
• Lowers the maximum deposit payment,
• Gives you more time to pay if you do have to pay a deposit,  
• Eliminates late payment fees,
• Reduces the maximum required down payment amount for payment arrangements, and 
• Increases the minimum number of months for payment arrangements. 

Utility providers will need to know you qualify as low-income. 

The local LIHEAP administrator will alert gas and electric companies. You must notify your public utility water and sewer company. 

Learn more at the Office of Community Services.

Types of LIHEAP assistance

One-time payments are given to energy service providers on behalf of qualifying households. Households that earn up to 200% of the federal poverty guideline qualify for help. You can check if your 30-day household income meets the requirement by visiting the Help Illinois Families website. You can apply by submitting a request for services form online or by visiting your local agency.
 
The LIHEAP application period is October 2, 2023, to August 15, 2024, or until funds run out. You can apply online with a request for services form online until July 5, 2024. After July 5, 2024, you can apply with a local agency until August 15, 2024. Funds are limited and payments are given on a first-come, first-served basis. The LIHEAP program offers 6 kinds of help to income-eligible households:

• Direct Vendor Payment (DVP): You must pay your own utilities. This includes gas, electricity, liquid propane, and oil. Assistance is a one-time payment to the utility company. If utilities are included in your rent, the amount must be more than 30% of the total household income.
• Emergency Services (ES): This applies to weather-related natural disaster. 
  Emergency Service payments are provided. Funds are only provided to the extent that funds are available. Payment is typically limited to reconnect utilities. You may only receive an ES grant once during a program year for a particular utility.
• Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP):  This is for select providers. It applies to Ameren Illinois, ComEd, Nicor Gas, and Peoples Gas/North Shore Gas. You pay a percentage of your income. Then you receive a monthly benefit toward your utility bill. You also receive a reduction in overdue payments. This is based on every on-time payment you make by the due date. Learn more about the PIPP program.
• Reconnection Assistance (RA): This will help reconnect your heating. It also helps with fuel suppliers refusing delivery. It helps if you are disconnected or receive notice of disconnect. You may receive aid. But, you must have made an effort to maintain energy service. Or, you must have paid a portion of the reconnection assistance. You may receive RA for both your primary and secondary energy source. For example, you have both gas and electric. In the same year you may receive one RA payment for your gas bill and one RA payment for your electric bill. 
• Furnace Assistance (FA): This helps if you do not have an operating furnace or heater. You must qualify for reconnection assistance. You may receive FA to restore your heat source. This includes tune-up, repair, or replacement.
• Home Weatherization Program (HWP): The Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP) helps low income residents and households conserve fuel and reduce energy costs. It makes homes and apartments more energy efficient.
• Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP): The Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) provides eligible households with up to $400 for water and wastewater services based on poverty level. Households facing the threat of disconnection, or those that have already been disconnected, may be eligible for a benefit of up to $1,500. The application for LIHWAP is open through August 31, 2023, pending funding availability. You will apply for Low Income Household Water Assistance (LIHWAP) at the same time you complete your current LIHEAP application.

Need Help?

If you need help at any point during the application process, please call 1-833-711-0374.
 

For more information, please visit the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity website.