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.
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Organizations that help with heating assistance:
LIHEAP
CEDA’s LIHEAP programs offer heating and electricity assistance through the DVP and PIPP Programs to income eligible households. DVP issues a one-time benefit applied directly to your utility accounts. Assistance is available to help households with their heating (natural gas, oil, or propane), and/or electric bills. Cash payments are also available to eligible renters who do not have heating bills because their energy costs are included in the rent. 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.
Download the Utility Assistance Flyer
The LIHEAP DVP Program has resumed, and all income-eligible households can apply online or with a Partner Intake Site.
Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until August 15, 2025, or until funds are exhausted.
If you are in danger of utility disconnection or are currently disconnected, make an appointment with a Partner Intake Site 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.
All programs are FREE. There is no fee to apply for assistance.
Utility assistance programs are funded through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and/or utility vendors.
Call us at
800-571-2332
Share the Warmth
The Peoples Gas Share the Warmth program provides up to $200 towards the past due balance of your Peoples Gas bill.
Download the Utility Assistance Flyer
Call us at
800-571-2332
Organizations that help with electricity assistance:
LIHEAP
CEDA’s LIHEAP programs offer heating and electricity assistance through the DVP and PIPP Programs to income eligible households. DVP issues a one-time benefit applied directly to your utility accounts. Assistance is available to help households with their heating (natural gas, oil, or propane), and/or electric bills. Cash payments are also available to eligible renters who do not have heating bills because their energy costs are included in the rent. 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.
Download the Utility Assistance Flyer
The LIHEAP DVP Program has resumed, and all income-eligible households can apply online or with a Partner Intake Site.
Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until August 15, 2025, or until funds are exhausted.
If you are in danger of utility disconnection or are currently disconnected, make an appointment with a Partner Intake Site 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.
All programs are FREE. There is no fee to apply for assistance.
Utility assistance programs are funded through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and/or utility vendors.
Call us at
800-571-2332
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. If you are a homeowner residing in a single-family home, two-flat, or three-flat, you may be eligible for assistance. We encourage all qualified homeowners to apply whether you are current or behind on your water bill payments.
Call us at
800-571-2332
Organizations that help with furnace assistance:
LIHEAP 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
Download the Furnace Assistance Flyer
The LIHEAP Furnace Assistance Program will be resuming on October 1, 2024, for eligible households with an inoperable heating system.
Eligibility for the LIHEAP Furnace Assistance Program are as follows:
- The household must have an approved LIHEAP application
- The homeowner resides in a single-family home, condominium, mobile home or multi-family property that has no more than 4 units.
- The home has an eligible existing heating system that is non-operational or red-tagged by the utility
Furnace applications will be taken on a first come first serve basis through May 30, 2025, or until funds are exhausted.
All programs are FREE. There is no fee to apply for assistance.
Utility assistance programs are funded through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and/or utility vendors.
Call us at
800-571-2332
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 | $2,510 |
| 2 | $3,407 |
| 3 | $4,303 |
| 4 | $5,200 |
| 5 | $6,097 |
| 6 | $6,993 |
| 7 | $7,890 |
| 8 | $8,427 |
- 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 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 renters who can provide a copy of their lease/rental agreement showing their heating costs are included in the rent.
- 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 have all eligibility documents available to ensure you can 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 available in a PDF, JPG, or PNG format so that your documents can be uploaded with your application.
Within 24 hours of entering all of your household information and uploading your documents, to complete step one of the online process, you will receive an email notification from [email protected], confirming that your application has been submitted successfully via the online portal. Your LIHEAP ID will not be included in this email.
Within 2 to 3 weeks of successfully submitting your application online, you will receive an email and a letter from CEDA with your LIHEAP application ID and application date, confirmation of your household information and instructions on how check your application status. CEDA will verify your application within 30 days of your application date and communicate your application’s status via mail. You can also check your status online at any time by visiting the LIHEAP Customer Inquiry Portal: www.CEDAorg.net/LIHEAPStatus.
Yes. All assistance programs can accommodate an undocumented resident in your household. Please reach out to a CEDA Partner Intake Site to start an application. Select Find a Location to find a Partner Intake Site or contact the Call Center at (800) 571- 2332.
- 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 program. We assist renters who directly pay their utility company for heating or electric services as well as renters who can prove their heating costs are included in the rent. Renters who can provide documentation proving that their heating is included in the rent may be eligible for a cash benefit to offset utility costs.
Within 2 to 3 weeks of successfully submitting your application and documents. You will receive an email and a letter from CEDA with your LIHEAP application ID.
If it has been more than 30 days since you filled out the online application, received an email from [email protected] stating that your application has been successfully submitted and you have not received an email or mail from CEDA with your LIHEAP application information, please call CEDA at 1-800-571-CEDA (2332) for assistance.