As we head into the winter heating season, CUB urges eligible consumers to apply for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding. The application process reopens. Oct. 2.
Here’s the schedule for this fall:
Oct. 2: LIHEAP begins taking applications for seniors (age 60 or older), people with disabilities and families with children under the age of 6 years old.
Nov. 1: Households disconnected from their utilities/energy vendors or facing a disconnection notice or have less than a quarter left in their propane tank can apply for LIHEAP assistance.
Dec. 1: All other income-eligible households can begin applying.
July 5, 2024: The last day to apply online. After this date you can still apply through your local administering agency through August 15, 2024, or until funding is exhausted.
There are two kinds of LIHEAP assistance available: LIHEAP Direct Vendor Payment (DVP) and Crisis Assistance.
- LIHEAP DVP is a one-time payment applicable to all income-eligible households.
- Crisis Assistance offers Reconnection Assistance within 48 hours of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) receiving documentation, or 18 hours if the temperature is below 32°F.
Qualifying for LIHEAP is based on income. As the state of Illinois says: “If your household’s combined income for the 30 days prior to application (gross income for all household members, before taxes are deducted) is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, you may be eligible to receive assistance.” See the chart below.
| Family Size (total number in household) |
30-Day Gross Income Total to Meet Eligibility |
| 1 | $2,430 |
| 2 | $3,287 |
| 3 | $4,143 |
| 4 | $5,000 |
| 5 | $5,857 |
| 6 | $6,713 |
To learn more about LIHEAP and to apply, visit www.helpillinoisfamilies.com, call the Help Illinois Families Assistance Line at 1-833-711-0374 or contact your Local Administering Agency/Community Action Agency directly (visit the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) website to find yours).
