CAPCIL Announces the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP)
LIHWAP is available for income qualified households beginning December 1, 2021

[December 20, 2021]   Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois, as administrator of the Household Water Assistance Program in DeWitt, Logan, Mason, Menard, and Piatt Counties, is pleased to announce that funds are available to assist income-eligible households with their water and wastewater assistance.

The program began December 1, 2021, for all income-eligible households. Applications will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis through May 31, 2022, on the same application as Energy Assistance (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP)) for Program Year 2022. Benefits are only available once for water and once for wastewater/sewer, per household, from December 1, 2021 through August 31, 2023 or as funds are available. Households in need are encouraged to apply on their Energy Assistance application.

Households must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty level to receive a benefit from the Energy Assistance (LIHEAP and PIPP) and Water Assistance (LIHWAP) Programs. The Water Assistance program is categorically eligible with LIHEAP and PIPP so if you qualify for Energy Assistance you automatically qualify for the Water Assistance Program. As of December 1, 2021 there will be an option to accept a one-time payment to your water and wastewater utility providers. The 30-day income guidelines for Energy Assistance are based on Federal Poverty Guidelines, State Median Income and the number of persons living in the household. The guidelines are as follows: 1-$2,147, 2-$2,903, 3-$3,660, 4-$4,417. Go to www.capcil.org to know income limits for households with 5 members and more.

The Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) provides one-time benefits to income eligible homeowners and renters to help with water and wastewater bills, reconnection of water service, as well as water bill arrearages.

Applications will be taken at Community Action at 1800 Fifth Street Lincoln, Illinois and for other counties, appointments can be done by phone or email. In addition to applying for LIHEAP, which requires proof of gross income from all household members for the prior 30-day period beginning with the date of application and proof of Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) for all household members, at least one household member must be a US citizen.
 

Water Assistance (LIHWAP) also requires a copy of a current water and wastewater (sewer) bill and proof that water and wastewater are included in the rent and that the tenant is responsible for the water services.

Please call Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois at 217-732-2159 for outreach locations and schedules, and for information on what documents are needed to apply and different ways to submit your application.

[Breann Titus
Director of Agency Development
Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois]