THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT OF 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13)Use of this model plan is optional. However, the information requested is required in order to receive a Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) grant.Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and reviewing the collection of information. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Section 1 Program Components Program Components, 2605(a), 2605(b)(1) - Assurance 1, 2605(c)(1)(C) 1.1 Check which components you will operate under the LIHEAP program. (Note: You must provide information for each component designated here as requested elsewhere in this plan.) Dates of Operation Start Date End Date Heating assistance 10/01/2025 08/15/2026 Cooling assistance Summer crisis assistance Winter crisis assistance 10/01/2025 08/15/2026 Year-round crisis assistance Weatherization assistance 10/01/2025 09/30/2026 Provide further explanation for the dates of operation, if necessary The heating assistance program is scheduled to start Wednesday, October 1, 2025 beginning with a priority for older adults, individuals with a disability, families with children under the age of six years and disconnected/imminent disconnected utilizing FY2025 and FY2026 HHS funds. The program will continue until August 15, 2026, or until funding is exhausted. The Weatherization program started July 1, 2025 utilizing 2025 HHS funding. Illinois will not administer a separate Cooling assistance program during FY2026. Eligible customers will be assisted with both gas and electric until August 15, 2026, or until funding is exhausted. The Low Income Discount Rate (LIDR) will continue providing a monthly discount on natural gas bills from Ameren Illinois, Nicor Gas, North Shore Gas and Peoples Gas customers with qualifying household incomes. Their discount rate will depend on their household income level. Beginning January 1, 2026, LIDR will also be available to ComEd electric customers. Estimated Funding Allocation, 2604(C), 2605(k)(1), 2605(b)(9), 2605(b)(16) - Assurances 9 and 16 1.2 Estimate what amount of available LIHEAP funds will be used for each component that you will operate: The total of all percentages must add up to 100%. Percentage ( % ) Prior year totals Heating assistance 50.00% 50.00% Cooling assistance 0.00% 0.00% Summer crisis assistance 0.00% 0.00% Winter crisis assistance 15.00% 15.00% Year-round crisis assistance 0.00% 0.00% Weatherization assistance 15.00% 15.00% Carryover to the following federal fiscal year 10.00% 10.00% Administrative and planning costs 10.00% 10.00% Services to reduce home energy needs including needs assessment (Assurance 16) 0.00% 0.00% Used to develop and implement leveraging activities 0.00% 0.00% TOTAL 100.00% 100.00% Tribal grant recipients: direct-grant tribes, tribal organizations, or territories with allotments of $20,000 or less may use for planning and administration up to 20% of the funds payable. Grant recipients that are direct grant tribes, tribal organizations, or territories with allotments over $20,000 may use for planning and administration purposes up to 20% of the first $20,000 (or $4,000) plus 10% of the funds payable that exceeds $20,000. Any administrative costs in excess of these limits must be paid from non-federal sources. Alternate Use of Crisis Assistance Funds, 2605(c)(1)(C) 1.3 The funds reserved for winter crisis assistance that have not been expended by March 15 will be reprogrammed to: Heating assistance Cooling assistance Weatherization assistance Other (specify:) Categorical Eligibility, 2605(b)(2)(A) - Assurance 2, 2605(c)(1)(A), 2605(b)(8A) - Assurance 8 1.4 Do you consider households categorically eligible if at least one household member receives at least one of the following categories of benefits in the left column below? Yes No If you answered "Yes" to question 1.4, you must complete the table below and answer questions 1.5 and 1.6. Heating Cooling Crisis Weatherization TANF Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No SSI Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No SNAP Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Means-tested Veterans Programs Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No 1.4a. Provide your definition of categorical eligibility. Please explain how households are categorically eligible (i.e, do all household members need to receive the benefits or just one member, is there a data exchange in place?) and how categorical eligibility streamlines the LIHEAP application process. The Department will continue considering households categorically eligible if one household member receives SNAP, TANF Cash and/or AABD Cash benefits in the previous month from the date of application. Although the Department indicates in the FY2026 LIHEAP State Plan that we consider households categorically eligible if one household member receives SNAP, TANF Cash and/or AABD Cash benefits, we collect additional information to establish eligibility, such as household composition, household income, etc. This is because all persons in a residence are considered a household for LIHEAP and different individual and family compositions in a household make up different SNAP, TANF, and/or Cash cases at the State’s Department of Human Services. When a household with mixed categorical eligibility applies for LIHEAP, we don’t say they are automatically eligible when we can’t determine the correct household income without further documentation. As a result, there is no difference given to categorically eligible households as all applicants are required to provide household income documentation which is needed to compare with Illinois’ LIHEAP Benefit Matrix. Income for all household members is also needed to establish eligibility for the Low Income Discount Rate. Categorical eligibility is used for Weatherization program. Households receiving public assistance must meet the annual income guidelines of up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. 1.5 Do you automatically enroll households without a direct annual application? Yes No If Yes, explain: Older adults and individuals with a disability with fixed income may be auto-enrolled by the LAA by adding the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) from previous years income and household income must be verified every three (3) program years. 1.6 How do you ensure there is no difference in the treatment of categorically eligible households from those not receiving other public assistance when determining eligibility and benefit amounts? The Department will continue considering households categorically eligible if one household member receives SNAP, TANF Cash and/or AABD Cash benefits in the previous month from the date of application. Although the Department indicates in the FY2026 LIHEAP State Plan that we consider households categorically eligible if one household member receives SNAP, TANF Cash and/or AABD Cash benefits, we collect additional information to establish eligibility, such as household composition, household income, etc. This is because all persons in a residence are considered a household for LIHEAP and different individual and family compositions in a household make up different SNAP, TANF, and/or Cash cases at the State’s Department of Human Services. When a household with mixed categorical eligibility applies for LIHEAP, we don’t say they are automatically eligible when we can’t determine the correct household income without further documentation which is needed to compare with Illinois’ LIHEAP Benefit Matrix. As a result, there is no difference in treatment given to categorically eligible households as all applicants are required to provide household income documentation. Categorical eligibility is used for Weatherization program. Households receiving public assistance must meet the annual income guidelines of up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. SNAP Nominal Payments 1.7a Do you allocate LIHEAP funds toward a nominal payment for SNAP households? Yes No If you answered "Yes" to question 1.7a, you must provide a response to questions 1.7b, 1.7c, and 1.7d. 1.7b Amount of Nominal Assistance: $0.00 1.7c Frequency of Assistance Once Per Year Once every five years Other - Describe: 1.7d How do you confirm that the household receiving a nominal payment has an energy cost or need? Not Applicable Determination of Eligibility - Countable Income 1.8. In determining a household's income eligibility for LIHEAP, do you use gross income or net income? Gross Income Net Income Other - Describe 1.9. Select all the applicable forms of countable income used to determine a household's income eligibility for LIHEAP Wages Self - Employment Income Contract Income Payments from mortgage or Sales Contracts Unemployment insurance Strike Pay Social Security Administration (SSA ) benefits Including MediCare deduction Excluding MediCare deduction Supplemental Security Income (SSI ) Retirement / pension benefits General Assistance benefits Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits Loans that need to be repaid Cash gifts Savings account balance One-time lump-sum payments, such as rebates/credits, winnings from lotteries, refund deposits, etc. Jury duty compensation Rental income Income from employment through Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Income from work study programs Alimony Child support Interest, dividends, or royalties Commissions Legal settlements Insurance payments made directly to the insured Insurance payments made specifically for the repayment of a bill, debt, or estimate Veterans Administration (VA) benefits Earned income of a child under the age of 18 Balance of retirement, pension, or annuity accounts where funds cannot be withdrawn without a penalty. Income tax refunds Stipends from senior companion programs, such as VISTA Funds received by household for the care of a foster child Ameri-Corp Program payments for living allowances, earnings, and in-kind aid Reimbursements (for mileage, gas, lodging, meals, etc.) Other Sheltered Workshop Supported Employment, Federal Black Lung Benefits, Railroad Retirement Benefits, Armed Forces Allotment, Educational Stipend, Adoption Subsidies and Other Payments for Services Rendered. If any of the above questions require further explanation or clarification that could not be made in the fields provided, attach a document with said explanation here. 1.10 Do you have an online application process Yes No 1.10a If yes, describe the type of online application (Select all boxes that apply) A PDF version of the application is available online and can be downloaded, filled out and mailed in for processing. A state-wide online application that allows a customer to complete data entry and submit an application electronically for processing. One or more locally available online applications that allows a customer to complete data entry and submit an application electronically for processing. Online application that is also mobile friendly Other, please describe Although there is no statewide online application available to applicants, there is an online pre-application where applicants can initiate their LIHEAP application process. After applicants submit their household information, their LIHEAP Local Administering Agency either attempts completing a LIHEAP application or a staff person contacts the applicant for an appointment or phone application. Please include a link(s) to a statewide application, if available: Help Illinois Families 1.10b Can all program components be applied for online? Yes No If no, explain which components can and cannot be applied for online. The pre-application form is available to connected households. Disconnected/imminent disconnected households must apply directly with their LIHEAP Local Administering Agency. 1.11 Do you have a process for conducting and completing applications by phone Yes No 1.12 Do you or any of your subrecipients require in person appointments in order to apply Yes No If yes, please provide more information regarding why in-person appointments are required and in what circumstances they are required. Yes. Since COVID, LIHEAP Local Administering Agencies complete applications by phone (as needed). The program has seen value in using phone, curbside, drop boxes and mail application methods and LIHEAP Local Administering Agencies still incorporate some of these options on their application process. However, they use these method(s), as needed. 1.13 How can applicants submit documentation for verification? Select all that apply: In-person Mail Email Portal application Other, please describe Hidden for Section 1