Your Guide to Applying for the LIHEAP Program in Illinois

The LIHEAP ("Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program") program is used to help low income families pay on their utility bills. It is a one time grant that is applied to the accounts to those who qualify. The application season usually begins in September allowing seniors and disabled to apply through the month of October. In November, anyone who is not a senior or disabled may begin applying.

If you are interested in finding out more about the LIHEAP program in your area, you should contact your nearest outreach agency or human resource department. The Illinois Department of Commerce website also offers information on the LIHEAP program as well. (see resources). They also offer a list of LIHEAP offices where you can apply for LIHEAP in your area too. Look for the name of your county to find the office that is nearest to you.

Most offices will require that you call ahead of time to make an appointment. Some agencies specify certain days that they also accept walk-in appointments. There are required documents that you must bring in order to sign up for LIHEAP. The state of Illinois requires that you bring the following items with you to your appointment: social security cards for everybody in the household and valid drivers license, proof of your past thirty days income- (this also requires all child support, social security, disability, and SSI income), and copies of your most recent utility bills -(gas, electricity, propane, or if you purchase wood).

It is very important that you arrive early or on time for your appointment. LIHEAP offices are very busy, and often do not have extra openings to fit in those who arrive late. If you plan on being late, you should call the office ahead of time, or reschedule your appointment. Depending on how busy your local LIHEAP office is, most appointments take anywhere from fifteen to thirty minutes.

After your application for LIHEAP has been completed, it takes thirty to forty-five days for it to process. You will receive a letter in the mail to let you know if you have been approved, and the amount you will qualify for. All benefit amounts are based soley on your income. Some applicants misunderstand the program and believe their grant amount is based on the amount of their utility bill. Utility bills are used to aquire account information and service addresses only. Once you have been approved, the grant money will go straight to the utility company and show up as a credit on your account. Should you find that you do not qualify or are over-income, you can always apply again after thirty days have passed.

Most LIHEAP programs extend their benefits through the month of May or as long as funding is available. Do keep in mind that most regulated energy companies are not allowed to turn off heating and electricity throughout the winter months (for example: Ameren CIPS, Ameren CILCO, and Ameren IP in Illinois). Unregulated utility companies (such as ones that are based within smaller areas) do have the right to shut off utilities.

If you believe that you could qualify for the LIHEAP program, it could be beneficial to you and your family. It can be of great assistance if you have been laid off, are unemployed or have medical conditions that leave you unable to work. The income guidelines for the LIHEAP program are found in the resources below. Call your nearest LIHEAP office to see if you could possibly qualify.