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Gov.
Blagojevich reminds seniors and residents with disabilities about
winter heating assistance grants 
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Priority
households advised to apply now before extreme cold hits Illinois
To apply,
visit
www.liheapillinois.com or call 1-877-411-WARM
[October 22, 2007]
CHICAGO -- Gov. Rod R.
Blagojevich reminds seniors and residents with disabilities that
winter heating grants are available through the Low Income Home
Energy Assistance Program and will be available to all
income-eligible households Nov 1. The winter heating program is
expected to serve 300,000 households this winter with an estimated
$150 million in state and federal funding. To apply, call
1-877-411-WARM (9276) or visit
www.liheapillinois.com.
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 "Cooler temperatures remind us that winter is just around the
corner. And winter weather means higher energy bills," Blagojevich
said. "We need to make sure that low-income seniors and people with
disabilities aren't forced to choose between paying for medications
and food or paying their electricity bills. I urge all seniors and
at-risk families who are eligible for LIHEAP to apply now so they
can be warm and safe in the months ahead."
Through LIHEAP, a state- and federally funded energy assistance
program run by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family
Services, heating bill payments are made on behalf of households
with incomes of up to 150 percent of the federal poverty level. A
single-person household can qualify with a monthly income of up to
$1,276, a two-person household up to $1,711, and a family of four
can earn up to $2,581. Benefits are paid directly to the household's
appropriate utility.
"The LIHEAP program benefits families and seniors across
Illinois," said Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family
Services Director Barry Maram. "We urge eligible households to apply
for energy assistance now, so they can be sure to stay warm and safe
in the winter."
LIHEAP energy grant applications are processed through a network
of 35 Community Action agencies around the state. These agencies
started accepting applications on a first-come, first-served basis
from the elderly, from disabled people and other priority households
on Sept. 1. The Community Action agencies will start accepting
applications from all income-eligible households on Nov. 1.
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LIHEAP's Community Action agencies have been working hard the past
month and a half to ensure that all eligible seniors and residents
with disabilities have applied for the energy assistance. With only
a short time until open enrollment begins for all other
income-eligible households, the local agencies are continuing to
urge seniors and people with disabilities to apply for a grant.
This summer approximately 56,000 households received assistance
statewide from the cooling program though LIHEAP. Under
Blagojevich's direction, the Department of Healthcare and Family
Services provided a total of $8.4 million in direct assistance to
families. The total number served far exceeded the initial estimate
of 40,000 applicants, which indicates that the program was a timely
response to the needs of the most vulnerable segments of the
population: the elderly, disabled and households with children. The
coordinated outreach efforts by the Community Action agencies and
LIHEAP staff combined to make the program a great success.
For a complete listing of LIHEAP's Community Action agencies and
additional information about the grant program, go to
www.liheapillinois.com,
or call the toll-free Keep Warm information line at 1-877-411-WARM
(9276).
[Text from file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information]
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