Utility Bills Weighing You Down? We’ve Got Your Back.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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
Proof of gross income from all household members aged 18 and older for the prior 30-day period beginning with the date of application. The includes wages, SSA/SSI, pensions, unemployment, TANF, AABD, cash, etc. and income for children who receive Child Support or Social Security benefits.
Proof of Social Security numbers or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) for all household members. Individuals without an SSN or ITIN can still apply.
A copy of the household’s most recent heating and electric bills.
Cash assistance is available for those who can provide a copy of their lease/rental agreement showing that all utilities are included in the rent and proof that the rent is more than 30% of the household income.
Other documents may be needed based on your household situation.
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 encourage all income eligible households to apply whether they are current or behind on their utility bills.
Yes. Individuals without income are eligible to apply.
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.
Next Steps
Please scroll through and read the below information in its entirety before proceeding.
Before continuing, you will need to have several documents in your posession. For more details, click on the specific document you have questions about. Please have the following:
Proof of 30-day gross income for every household member ages 18 and older
(Wages, Social Security Benefits, TANF, AABD, Unemployment, proof of cash wages, etc.). These documents must be for the 30 days prior to your application date.
Income for children
who receive child support or Social Security Benefits.
Proof of social security numbers of all household members.
For proof of Social Security or Supplemental Security income benefits go to socialsecurity.gov/myaccount for an instant letter. If you or a member of your household does not have a Social Security number, please call our help line at (800) 571-2332 (CEDA).
Current heat and electric bills
Please provide the entire bill.
Rental agreement if utilities are included in rent
we need proof of rental agreement stating monthly rental amount, that utilities are included, and landlord contact information. (Rent costs must be greater than 30% of current household 30-day gross income)
Sometimes our Team may ask for additional documents, depending on your living, working, and financial situation. Our team will reach out to let you know if this applied to you.
By pressing ‘Continue’ below, you will be taken to a different website to fill out your pre-approval application. After successfully completing the application you will be sent back to this website to read further instructions.
Disclaimer
Please scroll through and read the below information in its entirety before proceeding.
The online application is for the LIHEAP-DVP program only. The LIHEAP-PIPP program is only available through phone intake or at a CEDA partner intake site.
If both programs are open, applicants who apply at a partner intake site or over the phone have the opportunity to receive an estimate comparing what the household’s benefit may be for each program. They can then choose the LIHEAP program that best suits their household. Households may only receive a benefit from one of the two LIHEAP programs each program year, which runs from July through June or until funds are exhausted.
By continuing with this online application, you are forgoing your LIHEAP benefit comparison and choosing to apply for the LIHEAP-DVP program. If you would prefer to explore your benefit options or apply for LIHEAP-PIPP, please exit back to the homepage and follow the instructions to apply over the phone or at a CEDA partner intake site. Do you still want to continue?
Question
Do you currently live in Cook County?
You must be an active resident of Cook County to apply through CEDA. Non-Cook County residents can click here to find your local provider.