Carbondale Reporter

State Representative Paul Jacobs shared information about utility payment assistance in an October 2 Facebook post. He said, "This energy bill assistance program can assist with natural gas, propane, electricity bills and furnace assistance."

"The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is available for income qualified households," said Jacobs, according to Facebook. "This energy bill assistance program can assist with natural gas, propane, electricity bills and furnace assistance. Applications are open now through August 15, 2025, or until funds are exhauste."

According to Jacobs, the post included a link to a Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) website that focuses on community action agencies and programs available to help Illinois residents. The list includes the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps households pay for home energy services such as heating gas, propane, and electricity. Applicants must fill out a request for services form by April 15, 2025, or apply through a local administering agency until August 15, 2025, or later if funding remains.

Screenshot of State Rep. Paul Jacobs' Oct. 7 Facebook post. | State Representative Paul Jacobs' Facebook page

The DCEO states that LIHEAP applications are accepted from October 1 to August 15. Individuals over 60, disabled individuals, households with at least one child under five years of age, or households that have already had utilities disconnected can apply starting October 1. All other households may apply for LIHEAP assistance on November 1.

Households may be eligible for assistance if their monthly income is up to $6,993 for a household of six individuals. The range for the 30-day gross income eligibility extends from $2,510 for a single-person household to $6,993 for a household of six. Local agencies can provide information for larger households. To prove eligibility, applicants must verify income through documents such as pay stubs or checks showing fixed income amounts. They also need to provide a utility bill if seeking utility assistance and a social security card for each household member who has one. Illinois residents should work with local agencies in their counties to complete an application. The request for services form is not an application for the program.

Jacobs was first elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 2020. Before joining the Illinois legislature, he was an optometrist and owner of Von Jakob Vineyard in Alto Pass. He served in the US Navy from 1965 to 1971 and has four grown children and ten grandchildren.