LIHEAP Funds Still Available for Energy Costs

The C.E.F.S Economic Opportunity Corporation’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) still has energy assistance funding available for winter utility assistance. Any household that has applied as of last July 27, 2020 or after would not be eligible to apply again unless they are being disconnected from their utility service. LIHEAP provides one-time grants to help income eligible households pay for their winter utility expenses.

C.E.F.S. began taking LIHEAP applications on July 27th for the current program year 2021. To date in Effingham county energy benefits totaling $245,311.00 have been approved for 456 households. The average payment per household was $538. Additionally, in Effingham county 80 households received $44,874.00 in emergency reconnection assistance. The average reconnection assistance payment was $561.

Items needed at the time of application are the household’s proof of all income for the previous 30 days including the day of application, proof of Social Security numbers for all members of the household and current heating and electric bills.

Thirty-day income eligibility guidelines for LIHEAP for the 2021 program by size of household are as follows:                                                                                                                                                                         

                                                                        1          -           $2,127

                                                                        2          -           $2,873

                                                                        3          -           $3,620

                                                                        4          -           $4,367

                                                                        5          -           $5,113

                                                For each additional member add $747

Due to COVID-19 restrictions intake is conducted by phone, internet and very limited in-person contact. The application process can be started with the on-line LIHEAP pre-application at www.cefseoc.org/LIHEAP-application.

Phone appointments for LIHEAP can be made by contacting the C.E.F.S. Effingham County Outreach office at 1010 W. Jefferson St. Effingham, phone 217-347-7514, Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Funding for LIHEAP is provided through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO). C.E.F.S. Economic Opportunity Corporation is the local administering agency for Christian, Clay, Effingham, Fayette, Montgomery, Moultrie, and Shelby counties.