Funds available to help needy with utility bills
September 1, 2012 3:38PM
Updated: October 3, 2012 6:12AM
JOLIET — The Will County Center for Community Concerns, as administrator of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, announced that funds are available to assist income-eligible households with their winter utility bills.
Starting Tuesday, LIHEAP will accept applications for households that contain a family member who is a senior (age 60 or older) or receiving Social Security disability benefits.
Starting Oct. 1, LIHEAP Emergency Furnace Assistance will be available to low-income households whose existing heating systems are not operational or have been red-tagged by their utility company, and households whose service has been disconnected for non-payment. Households with a child under the age of 5 may also apply.
Starting Nov. 1, the program will available to all income-eligible Will County households, including households who are under imminent threat of being disconnected. Applications will be taken through May 31, or until funding has been exhausted.
Households must be at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level to receive a benefit from LIHEAP. 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.
The center has made changes to its intake process.
Applicants are required to bring all documents necessary to start the application process.
Applicants without all required documentation will still have a consultation, during which we will outline every piece of documentation needed at your next visit to have an application taken.
Applications will be taken from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, or until sign-up sheet is full, at the center, 304 N. Scott St.
Applications will also be taken at various locations throughout Will County.
Call the center at 815-722-0722, ext. 3, or visit www.wcccc.net for outreach locations and schedules, and for information on what documents are needed to apply.
Required documents are:
Social Security cards for everyone in the household.
Income for the last 30 days for members 18 years and older.
Printouts from other agencies (food stamps, medical card, TANF and General Assistance).
Gas/electric bills
