assistance Archives | Citizens Utility Board https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/blog/tag/assistance/ Fight utility rate hikes, promote clean energy, and advocate for consumer protections in Illinois. Thu, 18 Dec 2025 11:04:58 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.2 https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/cropped-CUB_LogoBadgeAlt-32x32.png assistance Archives | Citizens Utility Board https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/blog/tag/assistance/ 32 32 CUB Q&A: The Low-Income Discount Rate (LIDR) Program for gas customers | Citizens Utility Board https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/blog/2025/12/16/helpful-info-on-the-low-income-discount-rate-for-gas-customers-in-il-info/ Tue, 16 Dec 2025 16:44:20 +0000 https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/?p=44270 The post CUB Q&A: The Low-Income Discount Rate (LIDR) Program for gas customers | Citizens Utility Board appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.

]]> Correction: CUB WatchBlog Update | Citizens Utility Board https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/blog/2024/10/04/cub-qa-the-low-income-discount-rate-lidr-program/ Fri, 04 Oct 2024 17:32:09 +0000 https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/?p=41468 The post Correction: CUB WatchBlog Update | Citizens Utility Board appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.

]]> Need help affording your utilities? You may qualify for bill assistance https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/blog/2020/07/02/need-help-affording-your-utilities-you-may-qualify-for-bill-assistance/ Thu, 02 Jul 2020 14:46:19 +0000 https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/?p=25987 We talk to utility customers every day at CUB, so we know people are hurting and worried about paying their utility bills. If you cannot afford your utilities, you may be eligible for financial assistance through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program–or LIHEAP. LIHEAP helps low-income consumers pay their electric and gas bills. About 350,000 Illinois households get LIHEAP funding of some kind, although that number is expected to increase as a result of the current economic crisis. In anticipation of this uptick in applications for financial assistance, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced on June 15 an additional $275 million in funding for LIHEAP and similar programs. The Illinois General Assembly also amended the Energy Assistance Act to allow more people to qualify for assistance. Previously, qualified applicants for the LIHEAP had to have an income less than 150 percent of the poverty level. The new amendment bumps the threshold for qualification to 200 percent. The new income limit is applicable through June 30, 2021. To see if your income qualifies, consult this chart. If you are interested in applying, you will need the following information/qualifications: Proof of gross income from all household members for the previous 30 days A copy of current heat and electric bills Proof of Social Security numbers, Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers OR immigration status for all household members Proof of anyone in the household receiving TANF, SNAP, Medical Eligibility or other assistance from the Illinois Department of Human Services A copy of rental agreement if utilities are included, showing the rent amount and landlord contact info Funding is currently available and potential program participants are encouraged to apply. To see if you qualify, call the LIHEAP Hotline at 1-877-411-9276 (WARM). 

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]]> COVID-19 crisis: How agencies that distribute energy assistance are impacted https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/blog/2020/03/26/covid-19-crisis-how-agencies-that-distribute-energy-assistance-are-impacted/ Thu, 26 Mar 2020 18:31:56 +0000 https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/?p=24794 Agencies that distribute Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds to help people afford their utility bills have been affected by COVID-19. The chart below gives a summary of those agencies. UPDATE for all utility customers: If you have a question about assistance programs to help you pay your utility bills, call the State of Illinois Keep Warm Hotline at 1-877-411-WARM (9276). There, you can get information about applying for LIHEAP and/or the utility financial aid programs like ComEd CARE.   (Also, read CUB’s blog about resources to help you pay your utility bills.)   Agency Illinois County Status COVID-19 Response Agency Phone For More Info on Agency CEDA Cook Offices closed – no new LIHEAP applications; furnace repair or replacement suspended; weatherization applications and in-home services suspended Click here Main Office: 1-312-782-2332 Toll Free: 1-800-571-2332 General Website CAP Lake County Lake Phone applications for CSBG and LIHEAP; each location will have a lockbox for document drop-off (or can scan/email) Click here 1-224-412-8945 General Website BCMW Community Services, Inc. (BCMW) Bond, Clinton, Marion, Washington Closed to in-person appointments or services beginning 3/17/20. Still serving clients by phone (call your county office). Click here Bond County: 1-618-664-3309 Clinton County: 1-618-526-7123 Marion County: 1-618-532-7388 Washington County: 1-618-327-8476 General Website C.E.F.S. Economic Opportunity Corporation (CEFS) Christian, Clay, Effingham, Fayette, Montgomery, Moultrie, Shelby Physical offices are closed but can still call or email the Central Office Click here Central Office: 217-342-2193 or email – cefs@cefseoc.org General Website Champaign County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) Champaign, Ford, Iroquois, Piatt Offices closed until 4/7 – “Individuals or families who have meetings scheduled, such as with the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) will be contacted by their case managers by phone.” Click here Main Office: 1-217-328-3313 General Website Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois (CAPCI) Logan, Mason, Menard, DeWitt, Piatt, Fulton CAPCIL offices will remain open under “Essential Business” during regular business hours – but LIHEAP is not listed as a service currently being offered Click here 1-217-732-2159, live chat on website or Facebook Messenger General Website Community Contacts, Inc. (CCI) Kane, Dekalb Physical offices closed but call or email for LIHEAP Click here For LIHEAP: 1-847-697-4400 or email mail@cci-hci.org Main Office: 1-847-697-8800 General Website Crosswalk Community Action Agency (CCAA) Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Williamson Physical offices closed but “Please call our main office  for information on Alternative Methods of Application. We will do our best to do as much over the phone, e-mail, or fax, if possible.” Click here Main Office: 1-618-937-3581 General Website Decatur Macon County Opportunities Corporation (DMCOC) Macon Closed from March 16 to March 30, 2020. Will reschedule any existing appointments once reopened. Click here Admin Office: 1-217-428-0155 General Website DuPage County Community Services DuPage “The Department of Community Services has cancelled all home visits and in-person interviews. All intakes, interviews and appointments are being handled via phone wherever possible. Call or email for further information on specific programs or services.” Click here DuPage County Community Services: Main Line: 630-407-6500 Toll Free: 1-800-942-9412 or email csprograms@dupageco.org General Website East Central Illinois Community Action Agency Vermilion, Iroquois, Ford Unknown Unknown Services: 1-217-554-9110 Administration: 1-217-554-9122 comaction@comaction.org General Website Embarras River […]

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