Having power to heat homes during the colder months can mean life or death for many Illinois families, especially the most vulnerable. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) assists income-eligible households for that purpose. WIRC-Community Action Agency (WIRC) is pleased to announce that funds will soon be available for the next program season.
WIRC will begin taking applications on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, for older adults (60 years or more); individuals with a disability; families with children ages five years or younger; households with a disconnection notice or that are fully disconnected; and households with 25% or less in their propane tank. All other households can apply starting Monday, November 3.
Households must provide documentation to check that they are eligible for the program. The documentation will include proof of income (gross) for each household member for the past 30 days; proof of Social Security numbers (SSN) for all household members; and a copy of the current heat and electric bill issued within the past 30 days. Individuals without a SSN card can still apply and WIRC staff will advise them on next steps.
The program has expanded income eligibility for this program season. Households must be at or below 60% of the state median income to receive a benefit. The income limits are based on the number of people living in the home, and reference State Median Income and Federal Poverty Guidelines.
Examples of the 30-day income limits include the following: One-person households cannot make more than $3,332; Two-person households cannot make more than $4,357; Three-person households are limited to $5,382; and Four-person households are limited to $6,407. More information about the income limits can be found online at https://www.liheapillinois.com/.
Applications will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis until funding runs out or August 15, 2026, whichever comes first. Households can only get a LIHEAP benefit one time each program season. An exception can be made if the household received a disconnection notice or needs furnace assistance.
To apply, contact WIRC in Macomb or Galesburg to schedule an appointment. Residents of Hancock, Henderson, McDonough and Warren counties should call the Macomb office at 309-837-2997. Residents of Knox County should call the Galesburg branch office at 309-837-5115. Appointments can be held in-person or by phone.
To reduce transportation barriers, WIRC is partnering with several organizations in their service area to provide additional meeting spaces for LIHEAP appointments during the months of October, November, and December. Those outreach sites include Marion Corner Apartments in Carthage, Strom Center in Monmouth, and Strom Center in Oquawka.
WIRC officials say that LIHEAP is a very in-demand program, with thousands of people applying each program season. They also want to alert the public that appointment slots fill up quickly and often must be scheduled several weeks out. Staff are dedicated to processing applications as quickly and accurately as possible, after the household has turned in all of their documentation.
Funding for LIHEAP is provided by a grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).
WIRC is a nonprofit that helps people and communities in multiple western Illinois counties. The Agency offers a wide range of social service and community development programs to improve the quality of life in their service area. For more information about their programs, find them on social media or visit their website at https://wirpc.org. WIRC is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
***Courtesy of the WIRC-Community Action Agency***
