State
Announces October 1 Start for Low Income Home Energy Assistance
Program Enrollment
LIHEAP, PIPP applications available for
seniors, people with disabilities beginning October 1
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[August 28, 2017]
SPRINGFIELD
– The Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity’s
Office of Community Assistance announced today that the Low Income
Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) will begin accepting
applications for winter heating assistance for seniors and people
with disabilities beginning October 1, 2017.
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LIHEAP is a state and federally funded energy
assistance program for low-income families, in which heating bill
payments are made on behalf of households. Applications are
processed through a network of 35 local administering agencies
around the state. These agencies will begin accepting applications
on a first-come, first-served basis from the elderly and people with
disabilities starting on October 1, 2017.
Customers must bring all required documentation when applying for
assistance including:
-
Proof of gross income from all household members for the 30-day
income period beginning with the date of the application.
-
A
copy of their current heat and electric bills issued within the
last 30 days (if they pay for their energy directly).
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-
A
copy of their rental agreement (if they are renting) showing
that utilities are included, the monthly rental amount and
landlord contact information.
-
Proof of Social Security numbers for all household members.
-
Proof that their household received Temporary Assistance for
Needy Families (TANF); Aid to the Aged, Blind, or Disabled
(AABD); or other benefits, such as Medical Eligibility or
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), if receiving
assistance from the Illinois Department of Human Services.
A single-person household can qualify with a monthly
income of up to $1,508; a two-person household up to $2,030; a
family of three can earn up to $2,553; and a family of four can earn
up to $3,075. Benefits are paid directly to energy vendors on behalf
of eligible households.[to top of second
column] |
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The exception is households whose heating costs are included in
their rent. These households must provide proof that their rent is more than 30%
of their income in order to qualify for LIHEAP benefits.
Disconnected households and families with children ages 5 or
under (includes all children who are not yet 6 years old, that is, up to 5 years
and 364 days old) can begin applying for LIHEAP assistance beginning November 1,
2017. Individuals not eligible for priority enrollment can apply beginning
December 1, 2017. LIHEAP applicants will be served on a first-come, first-served
basis until May 31, 2018 or until funding is exhausted.
The Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) program is a similar bill-payment
assistance program and applications will be accepted starting October 1, 2017
for LIHEAP eligible households who are customers of one of the following
utilities: Ameren Illinois, ComEd, Nicor Gas, and Peoples Gas/North Shore Gas
utilities. Under PIPP, eligible households pay a percentage of their income
towards their utility bill, supplemented by a monthly state benefit.
Participating households are eligible for a reduction in outstanding bills for
every on-time payment they make. PIPP applicants will be served on a first-come,
first-served basis until December 31, 2017 or until funding is exhausted.
For a complete listing of LIHEAP’s local administering agencies and additional
information about the program, go to www.liheapIllinois.com.
[Illinois Department of Commerce and
Economic Opportunity LIHEAP]
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