Funds For Utility Bills Available To Will Co. Residents

WILL COUNTY, IL — The Will County Center for Community Concerns, as administrator of the Home Energy Assistance Program, will be distributing funds to assist income-eligible households with their utility bills and furnace assistance. The assistance for utilities will be available from July 27 through June 30 next year, until funds have been exhausted.

LIHEAP Furnace assistance will be available from July 27 through April 30, 2021, to income-eligible, owner-occupied households whose existing heating systems are not operational or have been red-tagged by their utility company.

Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Households in need of energy assistance, especially those with disconnection notices, high past due balances and the general population that have been most likely affected by wage fluctuations due to COVID-19 are encouraged to apply.

Households with persons 60 years or over, with someone who is currently receiving disability and families with children age 5 or under can also apply at this time. In addition, propane customers are strongly encouraged to apply in the month of August when prices are at its lowest.

Households must be at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level to receive a benefit from the LIHEAP Program. Beginning Sept. 1, there will be an option to accept a one-time
payment to your utility provider, or to enroll in Percentage of Income Payment Plan, which will consist of a monthly benefit residents will receive as long as they make the monthly payment that will be determined at the time of intake.

The 30-day income guidelines for PIPP are based on 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Level and the number of persons living in the household.

Benefits are paid directly to utilities on behalf of eligible households. The exception is households whose heating costs are included in their rent.

Applications will be accepted at the Will County Center for Community Concerns located at 2455
Glenwood Ave., Joliet, Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m or until the daily sign-in sheet is full.

To submit an application, the following will be required:

• Social Security Cards for everyone in the household
• All household income for the last 30 days starting with the application date for members.
• Printouts from other agencies
• Current gas/electric Bills issued within the last 30 days.

For questions. call (815)722-0722 or visit www.wcccc.net.

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