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Macomb, IL – Hundreds of residents in west central Illinois could soon receive help paying their summer cooling bills.
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, is set to begin July 19 and last as long as July 30. The program could end sooner if funds are exhausted.
Certain households with the following gross monthly incomes are eligible for assistance:
-One person: $1,354
-Two people: $1,821
-Three people: $2,289
-Four people: $2,756
-For each additional household member, add $467.
Tina Lovejoy is LIHEAP's coordinator for the Western Illinois Regional Council's Community Action Agency, which provides service to Hancock, Henderson, Warren and McDonough counties. She says low-income households wishing to apply for the assistance must also be considered "at-risk."
"At-risk households are defined as one with an elderly person, 60 years of age or older, or a child under three. They consider those to be vulnerable populations," says Lovejoy. "Also if you have a critical medical condition. Those are the households targeted with this program."
Eligible households can receive up to $150 toward their summer cooling bills, which is sent to the utility in one lump-sum. Lovejoy says there will probably be enough money to help 800 to 900 households -- but not that many people will be helped.
"Unfortunately, we're locked into that ten days," says Lovejoy. "It's impossible to process that many applications in ten days, so this funding would then roll over into our winter program."
Those wishing to apply for LIHEAP assistance must wait until July 19 to call, per state rules. Lovejoy encourages those who call within the first two days to keep trying if they can't get through to make an appointment. She says WIRC-CAA staff will take appointments all day, but will take a half hour for lunch.
Eligible applicants will need social security cards for everyone in their household, proof of income, and a recent utility bill. Those applying for medical reasons will need their physicians to fill out a medical form provided by the WIRC-CAA.
Appointments can be made starting July 19 by calling (309) 837-2997.