Written by a parent, not a doctor. Nothing here is medical advice.

Childhood Cancer Lantern
Search Saved

Illinois program

Help with heat and electricity (Illinois LIHEAP)

A local energy-assistance agency can help eligible households pay heating and electric bills.

What it is

A local energy-assistance agency can help eligible households pay heating and electric bills.

LIHEAP provides help toward home energy bills and can address a shutoff crisis. Your utility determines which income table the agency uses. The application season and available funding also matter.

Eligibility rules
  • The announced PY2027 season opens October 1, 2026 for priority groups and November 1 generally. It closes August 13, 2027 or when funds run out.
  • Ameren, ComEd, Nicor, North Shore Gas and Peoples Gas use the 300% poverty table. Thirty-day limits are $3,990 for one, $5,410 for two, $6,830 for three, $8,250 for four, $9,670 for five and $11,090 for six. For seven people the five-utility limit is $12,510; for eight it is $13,930.
  • Other eligible utilities use 60% of state median income. Your local agency confirms the PY2027 household-size dollar limit for that category; the five-utility poverty table does not substitute for it.
What you get
  • A payment toward eligible heating and electric bills.
  • Crisis help when a utility shutoff threatens eligible service.
What the help includes
  • The local agency decides the award for the household and energy costs. A medical certificate against shutoff is a separate protection.
If you decide to apply
  1. Find your local energy-assistance office through the state’s LIHEAP page.
  2. Have the last 30 days of household income, utility bills and any shutoff notice ready.
  3. Ask the office which utility limit and opening date apply to your household.

Your local LIHEAP agency, listed on the state application page · Official page ↗

What happens next
  • The local agency confirms eligibility, available funding and payment to the utility.
  • The announced October 1, 2026 priority opening includes someone age 60 or older, someone with a disability, or a child age five or younger. It also includes specified emergencies: disconnection, a shutoff notice within seven days, or propane below 25%. General intake starts November 1. Your agency confirms the category, available funds, PY2027 cooling dates and whether new PIPP enrollment is open.
Good to know

The 300% poverty table covers five named utilities. Municipal utilities and cooperatives use a different income standard.

Other details
  • A household’s medical situation can be discussed with the office, but cancer treatment alone does not establish a priority category.
  • Utility bill discounts are separate from LIHEAP. ComEd’s electric discount began January 1, 2026; Ameren’s electric discount is scheduled for October 1, 2026. The utility can confirm its current electric or gas discount and your eligibility.

Federal background: Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

Official sources
Ask your social worker

“Could we receive energy help, and which income table and application date apply to our utility? What would it cover, and could you help with the request if it fits?”

Why I’m asking: I want to understand what help is available if energy bills become difficult during treatment.

More background and detailed requirements
Additional program information and published rules

Who does what

The three parts, side by side. The agency decides; nobody on this page does.

You

Apply at the local agency when the season opens with 30 days of income and the bills.

Your social worker

The social worker writes a letter if a medically fragile child at home supports priority handling.

The care team

Records and letters when the application asks for them.

Who decides
The local community action agency decides for the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
Ask the agency
“My child is on cancer treatment at home. Do we count as a priority household, and what is the income limit for our utility?”

How to apply

First step: Find the local agency at dceo.illinois.gov and apply when the season opens (October 1 priority, November 1 everyone).

  1. Find the local agency on the DCEO page and apply when the season opens.
  2. Bring the last 30 days of income and the utility bills.

Official application / program page ↗

Where it starts: Apply through the local agency listed at dceo.illinois.gov from October 1, 2026 (priority) or November 1.

What to gather

  • Last 30 days of income for everyone at home
  • Current utility bills
  • ID and Social Security numbers

How long: Agency decision after intake; crisis cases faster.

What a yes looks like

A payment credited to the utility account.

What a no looks like, and the next move

Over income or funds exhausted: use the medical certificate to hold a shutoff and ask the utility about its Low Income Discount or a payment plan.

Watch out

  • The 300% table is for the five big utilities; a co-op or municipal customer has a different, unpublished limit.
  • Money runs out; apply early in the season.
  • The season dates come from the state's page for a season that had not opened when we checked.
  • The announced 2026–27 application season opens October 1 for priority groups and November 1 generally, closing August 13, 2027 or when funding runs out. The draft’s August 15 date is not the current applicant deadline.

Dates that change this

2026-10-01: Season dates and the 300%-of-poverty table come from the DCEO page read on 2026-09-08 for a season opening October 1, 2026; not corroborated from a second source. (not yet confirmed against the final rule)

The numbers and the rules

The arcane layer, kept on purpose. Checked September 10, 2026.

What it is worth

PY2027 (October 1, 2026 to August 13, 2027) 30-day income limits for Ameren, ComEd, Nicor, North Shore Gas and Peoples Gas customers: $3,990 for one, $5,410 for two, $6,830 for three, $8,250 for four, $9,670 for five, $11,090 for six. Other utilities: 60% of state median income (table not found).

  • $3,990/month — Household of 1, 30-day income (five investor-owned utilities, PY2027)
  • $5,410/month — Household of 2
  • $6,830/month — Household of 3
  • $8,250/month — Household of 4
  • $9,670/month — Household of 5
  • $11,090/month — Household of 6

Covers: One-time payment toward the energy bill · Reconnection or crisis help with a shutoff notice (component dates not published) · Utility Low Income Discounts, by utility

What it costs the family: None.

The eligibility facts, as published

Season
2026-10-01 (priority groups) / 2026-11-01 (everyone) to 2027-08-13 or until funds run out
Income five utilities
300% FPL, 30-day gross
Income other utilities
60% of state median income (table NOT FOUND)
Cooling crisis dates
not found
Pipp
current enrollment availability not verified

Decisions this site cannot make: Local agency eligibility

Expect friction on: Funds run out · Appointment-based intake at some agencies

The trap: The 300% table is for the five big investor-owned utilities. A co-op or municipal customer has a different, unpublished limit; ask the agency.

Where I read this

← Back to your options