Madison County Offers LIHEAP Financial Aid for Utilities

EDWARDSVILLE – Mark your calendars, Madison County residents! Starting October 2, the county will begin accepting applications for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), a lifeline for those struggling with utility costs. This announcement comes courtesy of Madison County Community Development, confirming that a pool of funds is now available to provide much-needed relief to eligible households.

The program aims to help income-qualified families with their natural gas, propane, and electric bills and even offers furnace assistance for those with non-functioning heating systems. Here's how it breaks down:

Application Timeline:

• October 2: Seniors, individuals with disabilities, and families with children under six years old are invited to kickstart the application process.
• November 1: Households that are either disconnected from utilities, have received a disconnection notice, or have less than 25 percent propane remaining, can begin to apply.
• December 1: All other income-qualified households can jump in and submit their applications.

Don't hesitate; the application window will remain open until August 15, 2024. Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis, so the sooner you apply, the better. If you've already received a one-time benefit from LIHEAP, you can reapply for additional perks like Reconnection Assistance or Furnace Assistance during this period.

Income Eligibility: To be considered, your household must be at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. To give you a sense of the numbers involved, LIHEAP’s 30-day income guidelines break down as follows based on the number of persons in your household:

• For a one-person household: $2,430
• For a two-person household: $3,287
• For a three-person household: $4,143
• For a four-person household: $5,000

The income criteria are aligned with Federal Poverty Guidelines, State Median Income, and household size. So if you meet these standards, don't miss this opportunity to lessen the financial burden of your utility expenses. It's a chance you won't want to miss!