How to Get Help with Utility Bills: LIHEAP and Other Resources

Behind on utilities? Here’s how to get help before the lights go out.

Energy assistance can move fast when you know where to start; use this guide to apply quickly, avoid shutoffs, and stretch your budget. If you’re in Chicago, Illinois, program names and intake sites aren’t always the same—follow the local option that serves your neighborhood.

What Is LIHEAP?

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federally funded initiative that helps households with:

• Heating and cooling bills
• Crisis assistance during shutoff notices
• Weatherization improvements

The program is administered at the state and local level, and eligibility depends on your household size and income.

Start here: what to do first

• Submit an application now to lock your place in line; you can upload missing paperwork after you get a case number.
• Build a “proof packet”: photo ID, address, recent utility bill, account number, income for all adults, and any shutoff/disconnect notices.
• Call your utility’s assistance line and ask for a payment plan or medical hold while your LIHEAP is pending.
• Note special situations: seniors, people with disabilities, and households with young children may get priority during extreme weather.
• Keep a simple log: dates, who you spoke with, confirmation numbers, and what documents you sent.

“Shutoff clocks” and grace periods: how to buy time (and avoid fees)

When a disconnection notice drops, timing and documentation matter.

• Act within the window on the notice. Many utilities pause shutoffs if you prove you’ve applied for aid or entered a payment plan.
• Crisis appointments exist. If you have a disconnect notice, ask for a crisis slot and be ready with your bill and ID at check-in.
• Medical protections. A note from a licensed provider can trigger temporary protection for medically vulnerable customers.
• Partial payments help. Even a small good-faith payment can reduce fees and show you’re actively resolving the balance.
• Tiny scenario: You upload your application receipt and a payment plan agreement the same day the notice arrives—shutoff is paused while the case is reviewed.

State rules, different outcomes: why your neighbor qualified and you didn’t

LIHEAP is federal funding with state-run rules, so eligibility and processes vary.

• Fuel type matters. Households using delivered fuels (oil/propane) may access different crisis help than electric-only homes.
• Seasonality shifts priority. Some states emphasize heating season; others have summer cooling programs and heat-mitigation rules.
• Documentation flavors. One state may require the lease; another may accept a landlord statement. Follow your state checklist exactly.
• Income lookback periods differ. Thirty-day vs. annual income reviews can change results—ask which window your state uses.
• Appeals exist. If denied, request the written reason, correct that element (income proof, household size, address), and reapply.

“LIHEAP is just a critical piece of maintaining affordable monthly utility bills.” — Sandra Padgett, Missouri
(NPR Illinois, After Trump cuts staff at federal utility assistance program, what happens next?)

FAQs for Chicago, Illinois

References