Energy rebates: Application for Illinois residents to get help with energy bills opens in eight days

Residents in Illinois who have their utilities disconnected or have received a notice that their utilities will be turned off can begin to apply for assistance with their energy bills in eight days.

Applications for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program opened on Oct. 2 for Illinois households with seniors, 60 years old and over, and for disabled people and families with children under 6 years old. In about a week, however, on Nov. 1, LIHEAP applications will open to those who have received a warning and have had their utilities disconnected.

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On Dec. 1, the application will open to all other eligible low-income households.

To qualify, Illinois families must fall below certain income thresholds. For a household of one, the maximum monthly income is $2,430, and for a household of four, the maximum income is $5,000. The maximum monthly income for a household of six is $6,713.

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The assistance is run through the Help Illinois Families program and will issue $237 million to eligible families in 2024. Applications will be accepted through April 15, 2024, or until funds run out. Last year, the state received over 300,000 applications for LIHEAP, and the average payment per household was more than $1,000.

Applicants interested in LIHEAP need to provide proof of their Social Security number and proof of all household income, along with other documentation. Illinois applicants will also need to provide their current electricity bill. If accepted, funding will be sent to the household’s utility company to help cover bills.