WE HAVE FUNDING FOR LIHEAP!
YOU CAN APPLY ON TUESDAY’S & THURSDAY’S FROM 11 AM – 4 PM. PLEASE COME TO 360 E MARIETTA ST TO PICK UP AN APPLICATION PACKET.
ATTENTION HOMEOWNERS! NEED FURNACE ASSISTANCE?
The Energy Services Program (LIHEAP) Emergency Furnace program provides furnace assistance for homeowners from October 1, 2024 – May 31, 2025. You must qualify for LIHEAP to receive assistance. Please contact our office at (217) 428-0155 ext. 1028 or 1022 for further information on how to apply. We can help with Natural Gas, Boilers, Electric, Steam, etc. (you must have an existing, non-working furnace to qualify)
LIHEAP
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps eligible low-income households pay for home energy services (primarily heating during winter months). Energy costs can place severe and continuing stress on a family’s budget. In some instances, households are forced to make painful decisions regarding which bills to pay and which necessities to survive without. Illinois residents with a household income that does not exceed an amount determined annually by the Department of Commerce are eligible. Annual eligibility levels are determined based on available funding and may not exceed 200% of the federal nonfarm poverty level.
The Purpose of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP):
The primary purpose of the Energy Assistance Program is to assist low-income citizens by offsetting the rising cost of home energy through direct financial assistance, energy counseling, outreach and education. The program allows the State of Illinois to reach not only the increasingly vulnerable low-income population, but also to serve as an important entry point for a variety of other needed social services for the low-income population.
While the energy bills a low income family incurs may not be higher than that of the average family, their relative poverty means it takes a larger percentage of their income to pay them. Thus, while the average family pays approximately 5% of their income toward their energy bills, a low-income family may pay 33% or more of their income toward their energy bills in the absence of any energy assistance.
The Purpose of the Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP):
The main objective of the PIPP is to make energy bills more affordable and to help maintain home energy service throughout the year. The PIPP will help reduce bills only if participants make the required full, on-time monthly payments. By enrolling in the PIPP, the household has agreed to enter into a monthly budget payment plan with the participating utility. The utility will reduce the account’s pre-program arrearage, for each full monthly payment made by the bill due date, up to a total of $1,000 for the program year.
2024 Income Guidelines for the 2025 Program Year
Family Size 200% 30 Day Income 200% Annual Income
1 $2,510 $30,120
2 $3,407 $40,880
3 $4,303 $51,640
4 $5,200 $62,400
5 $6,097 $73,160
6 $6,993 $83,920
7 $7,890 $94,680
8 $8,427 $101,127
9 $8,611 $103,326
10 $8,794 $105,524
11 $8,977 $107,723
12 $9,280 $111,360
13 $9,953 $119,430
14 $10,625 $127,500
15 $11,298 $135,570
16 $11,970 $143,640
17 $12,643 $151,710
18 $13,315 $159,780
For families with more than 18 persons, add $673 for each additional person. $8070
Here are the items clients must have on the day of their appointments
- Social Security Cards for the entire household
- Current Power Bill
- Income for the household for the past 30 days (all SSI, SSA, Wages, TANF, Pensions, etc)
- Medical Cards/Medicare Cards (if applicable)
- Link Card (if applicable)
- Current rent receipt or proof of homeownership
PLEASE NOTE:
All items must be printed and ready at your appointment. We need those items physically. We cannot accept an image on your cell phone, or email. In the event that you need to print something out, come before your scheduled appointment and you can use our computer lab. Thank you and have a great day!