Pritzker Announces $300 Million in
Funding for Energy Bill Assistance
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[September 02, 2022]
Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of
Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) are encouraging families in
need to apply for $300 million in available funding for energy bill
assistance through the Help Illinois Families program. All families
who meet the criteria and provide required documentation are
eligible to receive bill assistance for natural gas, propane, and
electricity through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
“Every Illinoisan deserves access to reliable energy—regardless of
their economic status,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Thanks to LIHEAP,
we are making natural gas, propane, and electricity assistance
accessible for our state’s family that are feeling the squeeze from
rising costs of living. My administration has always been—and will
always be—committed to making sure that every resident has access to
the services they need to keep the lights on.”
Beginning September 1, 2022, families can apply by visiting
helpillinoisfamilies.com or by visiting their local agency (a list
of partners throughout the State can be found here). Families can
also call 1-833-711-0374 for assistance in 30 languages.
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“Starting September 1st, support with energy bills is available
through DCEO’s Help Illinois Families program and all households who
meet the income threshold are eligible for support with their
utility bills,” said DCEO Director Sylvia I. Garcia. “Families who
earn up to two-times the federal poverty level qualify for help,
which means a family of four making around $55,000 a year or less is
eligible. I encourage all Illinois families in need of assistance to
visit our website or call our hotline to learn more and apply.”
LIHEAP provides one-time payments directly to energy service
providers on behalf of recipients. While the amount of support
varies based on the needs of individual families, last year's LIHEAP
recipients received an average of $1,330 per household. All families
who meet the qualifications and provide proper documentation will
receive support until funding is exhausted. Families who earn up to
two-times the federal poverty level are eligible to receive support
through LIHEAP. A chart with eligible income thresholds can be found
on the webpage and below:
Family Size (Household) |
30-Day Gross Income |
1 |
$2,265 |
2 |
$3,052 |
3 |
$3,838 |
4 |
$4,625 |
5 |
$5,412 |
6 |
$6,198 |
Key Information for Families to Apply:
Visit helpillinoisfamilies.com to fill out and submit
a request for services form online OR visit your local agency (a
list of partners throughout the State can be found here)
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After you submit the form, someone from your local
agency will be in touch.
Call 1-833-711-0374 for assistance at any point during this process.
Additional information about eligibility and criteria can be found
on the website.
Additional Program Information:
The State of Illinois offers various programs to support eligible
low-income families with utility assistance. These programs are open
to ALL eligible low-income Illinois families who meet the criteria,
including undocumented families. Programs for eligible families
include:
One-time Direct Vendor Payment: All LIHEAP
recipients receive a one-time payment.
Crisis/Reconnection Assistance: Funding is
available for families in heating-related emergency situations.
Furnace Assistance: Based on funding
availability, Furnace Assistance may be provided to households that
do not have an operating furnace for their residence.
Home Weatherization Program: The Illinois Home
Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP) helps low income residents
and households conserve fuel and reduce energy costs by making their
homes and apartments more energy efficient.
Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program:
The Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) provides
eligible households with a benefit of up to $400 for water and
wastewater services based on poverty level. Households facing the
threat of imminent disconnection, or those that have already been
disconnected, may be eligible for a benefit of up to $1,500. The
application for LIHWAP is open through September 30, 2023, pending
funding availability.
In addition to LIHEAP and available state resources, the federal
government through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) recently
unveiled several initiatives designed to lower energy costs for
families, including federal rebates for the installation of energy
efficient appliances, rebates for families to make improvements for
energy efficiency and more.
Last year’s LIHEAP funding - which was available from September 2021
through May 2022 – provided a record level of assistance to 302,000
households.
[Office of the Governor JB Pritzker]
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