CEDA’s Low Income Heating and Energy Assistance Programs (LIHEAP) offers heating and electricity assistance through the Direct Vendor Payment (DVP) and Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) Programs to income eligible households. DVP issues a one-time benefit applied directly to your utility accounts. Assistance is available to help households with their heating (natural gas, oil, or propane), and/or electric bills. Cash payments are also available to eligible renters who do not have heating bills because their energy costs are included in the rent. PIPP enrolls eligible households in a budget bill program that provides a monthly benefit toward their bill and offers the opportunity for past due balance forgiveness. PIPP enrollment is not available for new customers. However, active PIPP participants may continue receiving benefits by completing their annual recertifications and making timely payments to their utility vendor.

The LIHEAP DVP Program will be resuming on October 1, 2025. You can apply during your household’s eligibility period.

• Priority Period 1 – starting October 1st – Households with an older adult, age 60 and over, households with a person living with a disability, families with children aged 5 and under, and households who are disconnected from one or more of their utilities or in jeopardy of being disconnected from one or both utilities can apply for LIHEAP.
• Starting November 1st - All eligible households can apply for LIHEAP including Priority 1 customers.

Applications will be taken on a first come first serve basis through August 15, 2026, or until funds are exhausted.

Apply online for LIHEAP–DVP during your household’s eligibility period. If you are in danger of utility disconnection or are currently disconnected, make an appointment with a Partner Intake Site to ensure your application is expedited. Select Find a Location to find a Partner Intake Site or contact the Call Center at (800) 571-CEDA (2332).

• Watch Utility Assistance Video
• 2025-2026 LIHEAP General Program Flyer

• Apply Online

Am I Eligible?

Program eligibility for LIHEAP is based on your household’s size and 30-day gross income. To qualify for benefits, your household must meet the income guidelines.

What Do I Need?

For each household member, please have the following documents ready to confirm eligibility:

• Social Security Numbers (SSNs) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) for all household members. Individuals without a SSN or ITIN can still apply. A Partner Intake Site can assist you with your application.
• Proof of gross income for all household members (18+) from the past 30 days, including wages, SSA/SSI, pensions, unemployment, TANF, AABD, cash, etc. and Social Security income for children.
• Original or copy of the most recent heating and electric bills or your lease agreement if your heating utility is included in your rent.

Check Your Application Status

Upon successfully submitting your household details online, you will receive an email and a letter from CEDA with your LIHEAP application ID and application date, confirmation of your household information and instructions on how to check your application status. CEDA will determine eligibility within 30 days of your application date and will notify you by mail. Check your status anytime at www.CEDAorg.net/LIHEAPStatus.

All programs are FREE. There is no fee to apply for assistance. Utility assistance programs are funded through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and/or utility vendors.

Share the Warmth

The Peoples Gas Share the Warmth program provides up to $200 towards the past due balance of your Peoples Gas bill.

CEDA’s Low Income Heating and Energy Assistance Programs (LIHEAP) offers heating and electricity assistance through the Direct Vendor Payment (DVP) and Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) Programs to income eligible households. DVP issues a one-time benefit applied directly to your utility accounts. Assistance is available to help households with their heating (natural gas, oil, or propane), and/or electric bills. Cash payments are also available to eligible renters who do not have heating bills because their energy costs are included in the rent. PIPP enrolls eligible households in a budget bill program that provides a monthly benefit toward their bill and offers the opportunity for past due balance forgiveness. PIPP enrollment is not available for new customers. However, active PIPP participants may continue receiving benefits by completing their annual recertifications and making timely payments to their utility vendor.

The LIHEAP DVP Program will be resuming on October 1, 2025. You can apply during your household’s eligibility period.

• Priority Period 1 – starting October 1st – Households with an older adult, age 60 and over, households with a person living with a disability, families with children aged 5 and under, and households who are disconnected from one or more of their utilities or in jeopardy of being disconnected from one or both utilities can apply for LIHEAP.
• Starting November 1st - All eligible households can apply for LIHEAP including Priority 1 customers.

Applications will be taken on a first come first serve basis through August 15, 2026, or until funds are exhausted.

Apply online for LIHEAP–DVP during your household’s eligibility period. If you are in danger of utility disconnection or are currently disconnected, make an appointment with a Partner Intake Site to ensure your application is expedited. Select Find a Location to find a Partner Intake Site or contact the Call Center at (800) 571-CEDA (2332).

• Watch Utility Assistance Video
• 2025-2026 LIHEAP General Program Flyer

• Apply Online

Am I Eligible?

Program eligibility for LIHEAP is based on your household’s size and 30-day gross income. To qualify for benefits, your household must meet the income guidelines.

What Do I Need?

For each household member, please have the following documents ready to confirm eligibility:

• Social Security Numbers (SSNs) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) for all household members. Individuals without a SSN or ITIN can still apply. A Partner Intake Site can assist you with your application.
• Proof of gross income for all household members (18+) from the past 30 days, including wages, SSA/SSI, pensions, unemployment, TANF, AABD, cash, etc. and Social Security income for children.
• Original or copy of the most recent heating and electric bills or your lease agreement if your heating utility is included in your rent.

Check Your Application Status

Upon successfully submitting your household details online, you will receive an email and a letter from CEDA with your LIHEAP application ID and application date, confirmation of your household information and instructions on how to check your application status. CEDA will determine eligibility within 30 days of your application date and will notify you by mail. Check your status anytime at www.CEDAorg.net/LIHEAPStatus.

All programs are FREE. There is no fee to apply for assistance. Utility assistance programs are funded through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and/or utility vendors.

CEDA’s LIHEAP Cash Assistance program offers a cash benefit to renters who can prove their heating utilities are included in the rent. If you are a renter and do not receive heating bills you may be eligible for assistance.

Documentation requirements for the LIHEAP Cash Assistance Program are as follows:

• Social Security Numbers (SSNs) for all household members.
• Proof of gross income for all household members (18+) from the past 30 days, including wages, SSA/SSI, pensions, unemployment, TANF, AABD, cash, etc. and Social Security income for children.
• Lease agreement that shows your heating utility is included in your rent.

Renters who do not receive heating bills but have an active ComEd account may be eligible for both Cash Assistance to offset heating costs and a LIHEAP-DVP benefit to help with their electricity bill. Renters who can verify that both heating and electricity are included in their rent are also encouraged to apply.

Cash Assistance applications will be taken on a first come first serve basis through August 15, 2026, or until funds are exhausted.

All programs are FREE. There is no fee to apply for assistance. Utility assistance programs are funded through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and/or utility vendors.

For City of Chicago residents, the Utility Billing Relief program offers a 50% reduction of the water rate, sewer rate, and water-sewer tax on your City of Chicago utility bill. The UBR program also offers the opportunity for complete debt forgiveness on your City of Chicago utility account. If you are a homeowner residing in a single-family home, two-flat, or three-flat, you may be eligible for assistance. We encourage all qualified homeowners to apply whether you are current or behind on your water bill payments.

Am I Eligible?

Program eligibility for Utility Billing Relief is based on your household’s size and 30-day gross income. To qualify for benefits, your household must meet the income guidelines.

CEDA’s LIHEAP Furnace Assistance program offers vouchers to qualified homeowners to repair or replace broken heating systems, such as furnaces and boilers. If you reside in a single-family home, a building of up to 4 units, or a condo, you may be eligible for assistance.

The LIHEAP Furnace Assistance Program will be resuming on October 1, 2025, for households with an inoperable heating system.

Eligibility for the LIHEAP Furnace Assistance Program are as follows:

• The household must have an approved LIHEAP application.
• The homeowner resides in a single-family home, condominium, mobile home or multi-family property that has no more than 4 units.
• The home has an eligible existing heating system that is non-operational or red-tagged by the utility.

Furnace applications will be taken on a first come first serve basis through May 29, 2026, or until funds are exhausted.

• 2025-2026 Furnace Assistance Flyer

All programs are FREE. There is no fee to apply for assistance. Utility assistance programs are funded through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and/or utility vendors.