LIHEAP FY 2009 Funding
$237,236,454 - regular block grant
$28,442,870 - emergency contingency funds
LIHEAP Income Eligibility Level 150% Federal Poverty Level
LIHEAP FY 2009 Benefit Heating: $100 minimum
LIHEAP Households Served (Estimate for FY 2008 Heating)
376,069
LIHEAP Program Dates
Heating: November 1 – April 30 (
September 1 start for seniors, disabled and families with young children)
Crisis: September 1 - April 30
State/Local
Low-Income Rate Assistance and Energy Efficiency
Effective 1998, the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund (SLEAF) was authorized through electric utility restructuring legislation. The law directed gas and electric utilities to assess a monthly surcharge from customers and deposit it into a state fund, which the General Assembly appropriates yearly to the state Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, the LIHEAP and weatherization grantee. Annually, about 80 percent of the fund, $65 million, goes for low-income bill payment assistance, and 10 percent, about $7.6 million, supplements the state’s weatherization program. LIHEAP makes payments from the fund directly to utilities. SLEAF funds may be
used only for assistance to low-income customers of the utilities that assess
the surcharge.
City Of Chicago
Emergency Housing Assistance Program
Emergency repair grants are available to qualified low-income homeowners. This may include repair or replacement of heating units, emergency roof repairs and other energy saving conservation activities. Applications are taken at the City of Chicago Department of Housing, 33 North
LaSalle Street Chicago, IL 60602. You may also call 311 for more
information. http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/
Utility
Low-Income Rate Assistance
Ameren
Residential Bill Payment Assistance
Ameren will provide $300 energy assistance grants to low-income electric customers with household incomes of 150 percent to 200 percent of the energy assistance federal poverty level ($31,800 to $42,396 for a family of four). The grants will be provided through the local community action agencies that administer the LIHEAP, www.liheapillinois.com/community.html. www.ameren.com/RateRelief/ADC_ResBillPaymentAssistance.asp
Hardship Assistance for Residential Customers
The local community action agencies distribute these program funds based on the hardship experienced by customers with household incomes of up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level. The agencies may award grants of up to $600 per household. Customers may call 1-877-411-9276 to obtain the name and address of their local community action agency.
Good Samaritan Initiative
Qualified participants can get their service restored by paying 20 percent or $250 of their remaining balance. To qualify, utility customers must have account balances too high to be covered by the state's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, but less than $3,000. The initiative is run by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Contact your local community action at: www.liheapillinois.com/community.html
ComEd
Rate Relief Program
Summer Assistance Program: A one-time $30 credit for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program participants with household incomes up to 200 percent of the poverty level. Program Dates: June 1 - Aug. 31. Apply at your local LIHEAP administering agency: www.illinoisliheap.com/community.html
Residential Hardship Fund: Variable grants of up to $1,000 to offset rate increases for people with special circumstances and hardships. Customers with household incomes up to 400 percent of the poverty level may be eligible if they identify a special hardship issue such as medical expenses, military service, seniors requiring in-home care or grandparents raising minor grandchildren, or a person in the home with a disability. Verification of hardship will be required. Apply at your local LIHEAP administering agency: www.illinoisliheap.com/community.html
C.H.A.M.P (ComEd Helps Activated Military Personnel): Special services and benefits, including a one-time cash stipend, deferred billing, extended due dates, and late charges cancellation.
Eligibility: Military deployment
Documentation Required: Deployment papers
Program
Dates: Year-round
To Apply: Call ComEd CARE at 888-806-CARE (2273)
CARE Helping Hand Initiative - Sign up by March 27, 2009
This new program is a one-time offer designed to provide some immediate relief to customers currently facing disconnection. It is open to any ComEd customer who has received a disconnection notice, regardless of household income.
Customers have two plan options: Pay 90 percent of the bill amount owed and ComEd will credit the remaining 10 percent, or pay 25 percent of the amount owed (10 percent if they are heat-related customers) and avoid disconnection by agreeing to a payment plan. The remaining balance can be paid over time without incurring any additional interest charges or fees.
To sign up for the program, attend an assistance fair or call 1-888-806-CARE (2273).
Customers applying for the CARE Helping Hand program at an assistance fair should bring the following documentation:
1. A disconnection notice
2. Payment for 90 percent of the outstanding balance to receive the 10 percent credit, or
3. Payment for 25 percent of the outstanding balance and agreement to participate in an interest-free payment plan. Payment can be made via check, credit card, or debit card.
4. Proof of identification ascustomer of record. (Gas, water, or telephone bills, photo ID, etc.)
5. A copy of the customer's current ComEd bill (within 30 days)
The first fairs will be held:
Friday, March 20 - 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Malcolm X College, Cultural Center
1900 W. Van Buren Street
Saturday, March 21 - 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Olive Harvey College gymnasium
10001 S. Woodlawn
Nicor Gas
Good Samaritan Initiative
Qualified participants can get their service restored by paying 20 percent or $250 of their remaining balance. To qualify, utility customers must have account balances too high to be covered by the state's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, but less than $3,000. The initiative is run by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Contact your local community action at: www.liheapillinois.com/community.html
Northshore Gas
Good Samaritan Initiative
Qualified participants can get their service restored by paying 20 percent or $250 of their remaining balance. To qualify, utility customers must have account balances too high to be covered by the state's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, but less than $3,000. The initiative is run by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Contact your local community action at: www.liheapillinois.com/community.html
Peoples Gas
Good Samaritan Initiative
Qualified participants can get their service restored by paying 20 percent or $250 of their remaining balance. To qualify, utility customers must have account balances too high to be covered by the state's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, but less than $3,000. The initiative is run by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Contact your local community action at: www.liheapillinois.com/community.html
Springfield City Water Light & Power
Senior Citizen Discount Rate
A 10% discount for customers 62 years of age or older with a total household income no greater than 250% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
217-789-2233 www.cwlp.com/customer_service/your_account/senior_citizen_rate.htm
Emergency Charitable Assistance
Please note these charitable funds are last resort emergency funds with limited resources and limited times of operation.
Ameren
Ameren Illinois Utilities will provide funds for bill payment assistance for certain residential customers with hardship situations. Local community action agencies that administer the LIHEAP will distribute the funds based on the hardship of customers with household incomes of up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level ($84,800 for a family of four). A grant of $600 per household may be provided. Contact your local community action agency, www.liheapillinois.com/community.html. www.ameren.com/RateRelief/ADC_HardshipAssistance.asp
AmerenCIPS, AmerenCILCO
Dollar More
Funds pay for a wide variety of home energy bills including electric, gas, oil and propane. All Dollar More contributions go to the needy through a network of human services agencies.
If you are an AmerenCIPS customer: call 888-789-2477 If you are an AmerenCILCO customer: call 888-672-5252 If you are an AmerenIP customer
contact Warm Neighbors:
P.O. Box 1758
Decatur, IL 62525 or email energyassistancefoundation@yahoo.com www.ameren.com/community/adc_cm_DollarMore.asp
AmerenIP
Warm Neighbors
Provides bill payment assistance and weatherization to qualifying customers. Grants are available for those in danger of losing their primary heating supply.
The program is designed to help those who generally do not qualify for federal
or state heating assistance. AmerenIP, its employees and customers provide
funding for the program. Contact Warm Neighbors:
P.O. Box 1758
Decatur, IL 62525 or email energyassistancefoundation@yahoo.com www.ameren.com/WarmNeighbors/ADC_WarmNeighborsHomePage.asp
Atmos Energy
Sharing the Warmth
Customer donations combine with company donations to help people pay their gas bills. All donations go directly to local people in need that meet criteria established by each individual program's guidelines.
Bond, Clinton, Marion, Washington counties:
contact BCMW, 618-532-7388
Clay, Effingham, Fayette, Shelby counties contact:
C.E.F.S.,
217-342-2193 x143
Illinois Valley Economic Dev. Corp,
217-839-4431
Shawnee Development Council,
618-524-2941
Wabash Area Development Inc,
618-252-2680
ComEd
Power Up
Provides a one-time energy assistance grant of up to $400 to assist families with incomes between 150 to 200 percent of the federal poverty level who are not eligible for LIHEAP. The program also supports a separate Emergency Fund to assist households with incomes below 200 percent of the poverty level that may not be eligible for LIHEAP.
1-888-806-2273
www.exeloncorp.com/ComedCare_Main/ComedCare/learn/CustomerAssistance/
Mid-American Energy Company
I CARE
I CARE assists those who are unemployed, living on fixed or low incomes or experiencing a family crisis by helping pay their heating bills or making their homes more energy efficient. To qualify, customers must also meet their state's LIHEAP guidelines.
1-888-427-5632 www.midamericanenergy.com/html/service9.asp
Nicor Gas
Sharing Program
Provides one-time annual grants to qualified residential customers. Administered by the Salvation Army, the Sharing Program is funded by direct contributions from Nicor Gas' customers and employees.
To receive a Sharing grant, you must meet income guidelines and apply in person at your local Salvation Army office. www.nicor.com/en_us/residential/financial_assistance/sharing.htm
Northshore Gas
Share the Warmth
An energy assistance program administered by the Salvation Army and funded through donations from North Shore Gas, their employees and customers, and the City of Chicago. North Shore Gas customers who are experiencing difficulty paying their bills and meet the Family Income Guidelines listed on the website may be eligible for a grant. Call the Salvation Army at 773-725-1100 or call one of these Salvation Army locations:
Highland Park, 847-432-3240
Libertyville, 847-816-5989
Waukegan, 847-336-1880
Winnetka, 847-446-8201 www.northshoregasdelivery.com/service/warmth.aspx
Peoples Energy Corporation
Share the Warmth
This program provides up to $200 in assistance, per household, to eligible customers experiencing difficulties paying their gas heating bills. Peoples Energy matches contributions, up to $125,000 each year. The Salvation Army administers the program.
773-725-1100 www.peoplesgasdelivery.com/service/warmth.aspx
RELIEF
To qualify, a customer must have a delinquent CWLP bill, be able to pay a portion of it, have a total household income for the previous 90 days of no more than 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines and have exhausted all other resources, including the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. The program starts on or around December 1 of each year and runs through May or until funds are exhausted, whichever comes first.
To apply, call 789-2414
Hand Up
A partnership between CWLP and Land of Lincoln Goodwill Industries that allows qualifying CWLP customers to trade work at Goodwill for credit toward their past-due CWLP bills. A customer with a delinquent account of $400 or less can work off up to 50% of the balance by giving up to 25 hours of time to Goodwill. The utility will then create a payment arrangement by which the customer can pay off the remainder of the overdue amount. Persons participating in or on the waiting list for "Hand Up" are not at risk of having their service cut for nonpayment. Customers who are physically unable to participate in the Hand Up program can have friends or family members work for them. For more information about Hand Up contact the CWLP Customer Service Office by phone at 789-2030 or email at publicinformation@cwlp.com.
Wayne-White Counties Electric Cooperative
WORKS
Grants are available for individuals in need and for 501(c)3 organizations. The purpose of the program is to meet a critical need that is currently not being met by any other means. Grants are limited to $2,500 for individuals and funded by customer donations. The WORKS grant program is only available to eligible member-customers of Wayne-White Electric Cooperative in southern Illinois, therefore applications from outside their customer area will not be accepted and are not eligible for assistance through the WORKS program.
618-842-2196 www.waynewhitecoop.com/pages/WORKS
