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.
Organizations that help with heating assistance:
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 be resuming on October 2, 2023. You can apply during your household’s eligibility period.
· Priority Period 1 – starting October 2nd – Households with a senior, age 60 and over, households with a person living with a disability, and families with children under the age of 6. This population is also eligible to apply for furnace assistance.
· Priority Period 2 – starting November 1st – Households who are disconnected from one or more of their utilities OR in jeopardy of being disconnected from one or both utilities. This population is also eligible for furnace assistance. Priority Period 1 customers can also apply during this time.
· Starting December 1st – All eligible households are eligible to apply including Priority 1 and Priority 2 customers.
Applications will be taken on a first come first serve basis through August 15, 2024, or until funds are exhausted.
Call us at
800-571-2332
The Peoples Gas Share the Warmth program provides up to $200 towards the past due balance of your Peoples Gas bill.
Call us at
800-571-2332
Organizations that help with electricity assistance:
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 be resuming on October 2, 2023. You can apply during your household’s eligibility period.
· Priority Period 1 – starting October 2nd – Households with a senior, age 60 and over, households with a person living with a disability, and families with children under the age of 6. This population is also eligible to apply for furnace assistance.
· Priority Period 2 – starting November 1st – Households who are disconnected from one or more of their utilities OR in jeopardy of being disconnected from one or both utilities. This population is also eligible for furnace assistance. Priority Period 1 customers can also apply during this time.
· Starting December 1st – All eligible households are eligible to apply including Priority 1 and Priority 2 customers.
Applications will be taken on a first come first serve basis through August 15, 2024, or until funds are exhausted.
Call us at
800-571-2332
Organizations that help with water and sewer assistance:
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.
Call us at
800-571-2332
Organizations that help with furnace assistance:
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 2, 2023. You can apply during your household’s eligibility period.
· Priority Period 1 – starting October 2nd – Households with a senior, age 60 and over, households with a person living with a disability, and families with children under the age of 6. This population is also eligible to apply for furnace assistance.
· Priority Period 2 – starting November 1st – Households who are disconnected from one or more of their utilities OR in jeopardy of being disconnected from one or both utilities. This population is also eligible for furnace assistance. Priority Period 1 customers can also apply during this time.
· Starting December 1st – All eligible households are eligible to apply including Priority 1 and Priority 2 customers.
Furnace applications will be taken on a first come first serve basis through May 31, 2024, or until funds are exhausted.
If your home is without adequate heat and you need Furnace assistance, make an appointment with a Partner Intake Site during your household’s priority period, to ensure your application is expedited. Select Find a Location to find a Partner Intake Site or contact the Call Center at (800) 571- 2332.
Call us at
800-571-2332
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 | $2,430 |
| 2 | $3,287 |
| 3 | $4,143 |
| 4 | $5,000 |
| 5 | $5,857 |
| 6 | $6,713 |
| 7 | $7,570 |
| 8 | $7,775 |
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. 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.
