Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Does my utility bill have to be listed in my name?

Q2. I don't have a utility bill because my heat and electric services are included in my rent. Can I still apply for LIHEAP?

Q3. What kind of LIHEAP assistance is available?

Q4. Does LIHEAP pay my bill each month?

Q5. If I qualify for assistance, how are the payments made to my utility?

Q6. Does LIHEAP pay for water, sewer or phone utility service?

Q7. How long does it take to receive LIHEAP assistance?

Q8. I live in Public Housing. Can I get LIHEAP assistance?

Q9. How do I apply if I'm homebound?

Q10. Is there a summer cooling assistance available?

Q 11. I applied for LIHEAP earlier in the Program Year and I still need help at this time. Can I apply again?

Q 12. Can I apply for LIHEAP without a SSN?

Q 13. I work but I am paid in cash. Can I still apply?

Q 14. I do not have any income right now, can I still apply?

A. Applicants must document that they are responsible for their home energy costs. Applicants who have a bill and pay directly to the energy vendor must present documentation that shows the applicant to be the Customer of Record with the energy vendor.

A. If you do not have any energy bills because energy costs are included in your rent payment, you must provide a copy of your rental agreement showing that heating utility(ies) is/are included in the rent, the monthly rental amount, and the landlord contact information.

A. According to funding availability and client's utility area, local agencies may offer up to three types of LIHEAP assistance:

LIHEAP Direct Vendor Payment (DVP): These one-time payments will apply to all income eligible households. Applicants must prove they are low income and responsible for their home heating costs. If the applicant is a renter and has no utility bills because their heat is included in their rent, they must provide a copy of their rental agreement and they may be eligible to receive a cash assistance benefit. See Q2 for more.

LIHEAP PIPP: Under the Percentage of Income Payment Plan program (PIPP), clients pay a percentage of their income, receive a monthly benefit toward their utility bill, and receive a reduction in overdue payments for every on-time payment they make by the bill due date. Due to the availability of funds, PIPP is not accepting new applications starting October 1, 2025 through August 15, 2026. Recertification for currently enrolled PIPP customers will continue at this time. Energy Assistance customer can still apply for the traditional one-time LIHEAP assistance.

Crisis Assistance: The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity sets aside a portion of the State’s allocation for use in heating-related crisis situations. Under this component, funds may be used for either weather or supply emergencies that affect individual households to the extent funds are available. Crisis assistance will be provided within 48 hours from the date the customer application is complete (all customer documentation has been submitted). If the temperature at the time the application is complete is below 32°F, assistance will be provided within 18 hours. The two types of crisis assistance offered in Illinois are Reconnection Assistance and Furnace Assistance. Reconnection Assistance (RA): Based on Priority Periods and funding availability, RA may be available to you if your household is disconnected, has a disconnection notice (within the next 7 days) from an energy source needed for heating, or has a delivered fuel supplier that has refused to deliver to you (and your tank is at 25% or below). Reconnection Assistance may be used for eligible households that are trying to establish new service in the name of an adult household member. Furnace Assistance (October 1, 2025 - May 29, 2026): Based on funding availability, Furnace Assistance may be provided to households that have received a LIHEAP (or PIPP) benefit but do not have an operating furnace or heating supply for their residence. Furnace Assistance is for qualifying homeowners and is designed to provide safe, efficient restoration of heat. All applications for benefits noted in this response to Q3, including Furnace Assistance, are submitted through the Local Administering Agencies based on county of residence. See LAA Map/county list for further details.

A. Not exactly.

Applicant households with rental expenses that indirectly purchase energy as an undesignated portion of rent are eligible to receive assistance in the form of a one-time cash payment made directly to the household.

For the traditional Direct Vendor Payment program, applicant households that purchase energy directly from vendors are eligible to receive Energy Assistance benefits in the form of a one-time payment representing a percentage of the average gas and electric bills in accordance with a payment schedule. Secondary electric service must be an integral part of the heating system or heat-related to qualify for a benefit.

Monthly discounts are available directly from your participating utility after you have been approved for LIHEAP. Income eligible LIHEAP customers of Ameren Illinois, Nicor Gas, North Shore Gas and Peoples Gas will receive a monthly discount on their natural gas bill through the Low Income Discounts (LIDs). Beginning January 1, 2026, LIDs will also be available to ComEd electric customers. Ameren Illinois electric discounts are projected for later in 2026. Please check Power Bill Discount periodically for updates.

Under the PIPP program, active PIPP households who are customers of Ameren Illinois, ComEd, Nicor Gas and Peoples Gas/North Shore Gas receive a monthly State benefit applied to their utility bill(s).

A. Payments are made directly to the utility on behalf of the applicant. In the case of applicants whose heat is included in their rent, payment is made directly to the applicant.

A. No, however you can check with your county agency for other programs they may have available that could assist you with your water and sewer needs.

A. Once an application is complete and the applicant is connected, the local agency will notify the client of approval or denial within 30 days. All customer and vendor payments are made by the local agency within 45 days after approval of the customer's application. Reconnection Assistance applications are approved within 48 hours after the application is complete. If the disconnection has caused a life-threatening situation, the application approval and vendor notification must occur within 18 hours of a completed application.

A. In most cases, the answer is No. In addition to income eligibility (at or below 60% State Median Income), applicants must document that they are responsible for their home energy costs. Applicants who have a bill and pay directly to the energy vendor must present documentation that shows the applicant to be the Customer of Record with the energy vendor. If the applicant does not have any energy bills because energy costs are included in the rent payment, the household must provide a copy of their rental agreement and they may be eligible to receive cash assistance.

A. There are times when a phone application, home visit or the mail-in application procedure may be necessary to serve an applicant. A home visit by local agency staff will be made when:

A relative or friend cannot make application on behalf of the applicant at a regular site;

The individual has stated the need for a special accommodation because of a disabling condition; or

All other methods for getting the individual to the site have been exhausted.

A. We do not anticipate administering a Summer Cooling Program at this time. Go to Keep Cool Illinois for information about cooling centers and how to stay cool and safe this summer. You can also call the LIHEAP Hotline at 877-411-9276.

A. LIHEAP provides a one-time benefit per Program Year to eligible customers. However, if you have not received Reconnection Assistance benefits during the program year and received a disconnect notice or are disconnected, contact your LIHEAP Local Administering Agency and apply for a Reconnection Assistance benefit at this time.

A. LIHEAP requires an SSN for any household member over 1 year of age. If the applicant does not have an SSN, an Individual Tax ID Number (ITIN) is accepted for IL residents of state funded utilities without an SSN. If no SSN or ITIN, the applicant can still apply. Your Local Administering Agency will work with you.

A. Yes. You can apply. You will need to complete an Income Affidavit Form where you write down how much cash you received in the 30 days prior to the application date, including the date of application.

Yes. You can apply. Customers claiming zero income will need to complete a Zero Income Affidavit or Income Affidavit showing how you live on zero income. Households where every member (age 18 or older) included on the application is claiming zero income must provide supporting documentation (denial SSI benefits, Unemployment benefits, Proof of app for DHS programs- TANF, SNAP, AABD,GA, Proof of Subsidized Housing).