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Need Help Paying
Your Utility Bill?

Because we all need a little help now and then.

We understand how important your utilities are in creating a safe and comfortable home for you and your family. That’s why we work hard to provide the help you need to offset the rising utility cost. With CEDA’s Utility Assistance Programs, you can take comfort knowing there’s help with your gas, electric, and water bills, as well as repairing or replacing your heating system.

See your bill assistance options below.

Organizations that help with heating assistance:

LIHEAP

CEDA’s LIHEAP programs offer heat and electricity assistance through the DVP and PIPP programs. DVP issues a one-time benefit applied directly to your utility accounts. PIPP enrolls you in a budget bill program that provides a monthly benefit toward your bill and offers the opportunity for past due balance forgiveness.

The LIHEAP DVP Program will end on Wednesday, May 31, 2023.  The application period resumes Fall 2023.

Share the Warmth

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

Organizations that help with electricity assistance:

LIHEAP

CEDA’s LIHEAP programs offer heat and electricity assistance through the DVP and PIPP programs. DVP issues a one-time benefit applied directly to your utility accounts. PIPP enrolls you in a budget bill program that provides a monthly benefit toward your bill and offers the opportunity for past due balance forgiveness.

The LIHEAP DVP Program will end on Wednesday, May 31, 2023.  The application period resumes Fall 2023.

Organizations that help with water and sewer assistance:

UBR

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.

LIHWAP

For all Cook County residents, the LIHWAP program can prevent disconnection and restore water and wastewater services by applying a benefit directly to your utility account.

The LIHWAP program will end on Wednesday, May 31, 2023.

Organizations that help with furnace assistance:

LIHEAP Furnace Assistance

If your household is LIHEAP eligible and your heating system isn’t working properly or is red-tagged, CEDA can help repair or replace your furnace or boiler. If you reside in a single family home, a building of up to 4 units, or a condo, you may be eligible.

Application Period Resumes Fall 2023

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Most CEDA utility assistance programs determine income eligibility based on the gross income of the household in the last 30 days.  The table below can be used to estimate your household’s potential income eligibility:

Household Size 30-Day Gross Income
1 $2,265
2 $3,052
3 $3,838
4 $4,625
5 $5,412
6 $6,198
7 $6,985
8 $7,324

Click the “Save Time, Apply Online” button to begin step one of the online application for the LIHEAP-DVP program. LIHEAP-DVP is the only program with an online application at this time. Please answer all questions accurately and completely. You will need to provide social security numbers and income information for your entire household over the past 30 days, so please have that information and documentation at hand.

When you have entered all of your household information to complete step one of the process, you will receive an email and a letter from CEDA with your application ID and instructions on how to upload the documentation required to complete step two of your application. Once everything has been uploaded, CEDA will verify your application with 45 days and communicate your application’s status via mail.

Yes. All assistance programs can accommodate an undocumented resident in your household. The LIHWAP program will require at least one member of the household to be documented. Please reach out to a CEDA Partner Intake Site or our Phone Intake Hotline at (800) 571-2332 to begin an application.

Yes. We offer Intake over the phone for applicants who are homebound. Applicants who are unable to complete the application themselves may authorize a proxy to complete the application on their behalf. Any adult in the household can complete the application without any additional paperwork. A non-household member may complete an application if they provide a signed, dated, letter from the head of household authorizing them to complete the application on the household’s behalf.

Yes. Renters may apply for the LIHEAP-DVP program. They will need to submit documentation proving that their light and/or gas bills are included in their rent. If eligible, the benefit will be paid directly to the renter.

When you have entered all of your household information to complete step one of the process, you will receive an email and a letter from CEDA with your application ID and instructions on how to upload the documentation required to complete your application.

If it has been more than 30 days since you filled out the online application and you have not received any follow-up documentation from CEDA, please call CEDA at 1-800-571-CEDA (2332) to seek assistance.