CHICAGO, Ill. – Heating your home this winter is about to get a little easier if you’re struggling to keep up with rising utility costs.
Illinois is opening up $240 million in utility bill assistance through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program—better known as LIHEAP.
The state-funded program helps qualified households pay for natural gas, electricity, and propane, as well as emergency furnace repairs.
To make sure help gets to the people who need it most, the state is rolling out a priority application schedule:
- October 1, 2026: Applications open for seniors 60 and older, individuals with disabilities, families with children five or younger, and households facing immediate utility disconnection or running below 25% propane capacity.
- November 1, 2026: Applications open for all other qualifying income-eligible households.
Who Qualifies?
Families earning up to two times the federal poverty level are eligible for assistance. The 30-day gross income limits include:
- 1 Person: $3,990
- Family of 2: $5,410
- Family of 3: $6,830
- Family of 4: $8,250
- Family of 5: $9,670
- Family of 6: $11,090
Last year, the program helped over 360,000 Illinois households, averaging $676 in support per family. Payments are made directly to energy service providers.
Applications run through August 13, 2027, or until funding is exhausted.
Eligible residents can apply online HERE through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) website, visit their local community action agency, or call 1-833-711-0374 for assistance available in 30 languages.
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