by Sarah DeMaranville
Geneseo Current
Applications open today for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, Illinois' winter utility assistance program.
LIHEAP helps eligible households pay natural gas, propane, electric, and other home-energy costs. Assistance is generally provided as a one-time benefit, with payments made to the household's energy provider. Renters whose heating costs are included in their rent may also qualify for assistance.
Additional help may be available later in the program year for households facing disconnection, reconnection costs, or certain furnace emergencies.
Who can apply — and when
Illinois uses a staggered application schedule intended to give households considered most vulnerable earlier access to available funding.
Beginning October 1, applications are open to households that include an adult age 60 or older, a person with a disability, or a child age 5 or younger.
Households experiencing an energy emergency may also apply beginning October 1. That includes households whose utilities have already been disconnected, those with a scheduled disconnection within seven days, and propane customers with less than 25% of their tank remaining.
Beginning November 1, applications open to all other income-eligible households.
LIHEAP eligibility is based in part on a household's gross income during the 30 days before applying. However, income limits can vary depending on the household's utility or energy provider.
That distinction is particularly relevant in the Geneseo area. Customers of Geneseo Municipal Utilities may still qualify for LIHEAP, even though the city's electric system is municipally owned. However, they should not assume that income limits published for customers of large investor-owned utilities such as Ameren Illinois or ComEd apply to them.
Henry County residents can contact Project NOW to determine the income guidelines that apply to their household and energy provider.
How to apply in Henry County
Project NOW, Inc. administers LIHEAP for Henry, Mercer, and Rock Island counties.
Henry County residents can receive Energy Services assistance through Project NOW's Kewanee Outreach Office. Applicants should contact Project NOW at 309-793-6391 for current intake information, locations, and schedules.
Information is also available through Project NOW.
Statewide LIHEAP information and application guidance are available through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Residents can also call 1-833-711-0374 for assistance.
What you'll need
Applicants should be prepared to provide proof of gross income for household members for the previous 30 days and their most recent heating and electric bills.
Applicants who have Social Security numbers or Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers should also have that information available. Illinois says residents who do not have an SSN or ITIN may still apply and should work with their local agency to determine what documentation is needed.
Renters whose heating costs are included in their rent should have a rental agreement showing the utilities included in the rent, the monthly rental amount, and landlord contact information.
Assistance continues through the summer
Applications are scheduled to remain open through August 13, 2027, or until available funding is exhausted.
Because LIHEAP funding is limited and applications are processed as the program operates, eligible households do not have to wait until they are behind on their utility bills to seek assistance.
For Geneseo residents, the key point is that receiving electricity from the city's municipal utility does not automatically prevent a household from receiving LIHEAP assistance. Income eligibility and the type of assistance available can depend on the household's energy provider, so residents should contact Project NOW for an eligibility determination specific to their situation.
