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LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
| For many Illinois households, energy costs
place a severe and continuing stress on the family's budget. In
some instances, the household is forced to make painful
decisions regarding which bills to pay and which necessities to
survive without. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
is designed to help eligible low-income households pay for
winter energy services. LIHEAP is funded by the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
and the state of Illinois. Energy
assistance is provided by local community action agencies or
not-for-profit agencies throughout the state. You may contact
the agency provider in your area to apply for assistance.
LIHEAP will provide a one-time
benefit to eligible households to be used for energy bills. The
amount of the benefit is determined by income, household size,
fuel type and geographic location. An overdue bill or cut-off
notice is not required. You do not have to own your home or pay
energy bills directly to be eligible for assistance. Your source
of fuel does not have to be natural gas or electricity in order
to receive assistance.
Emergency assistance may be available if
your household is disconnected from an energy source needed for
heating and/or a delivered-fuel supplier has refused to deliver,
and the tank contains 10% or less.
Assistance for reconnection will only be
provided to households that have made a good faith effort to
maintain their energy services, or can that pay a portion of the
amount owed for reconnection.
You may be eligible to receive assistance
under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) if
your household's combined income for the 30 days prior to
application is at or below the following levels shown on the
chart below. If you rent, and your heat and/or electric is
included in the rent, then your rent must be greater than 30% of
your income in order to be eligible to receive benefits.
How to apply |
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