Agencies
Services
Community Action Agencies
SCAM ALERT!
The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) and Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) do not provide direct grants to individuals; CSBG nor LIHEAP charge a fee for receiving a benefit. If you receive a message offering you a CSBG or LIHEAP grant or requesting a fee, please contact the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Fraud Hotline at 1-800-447-8477.
For more information, please visit the Grant Fraud and Scams: Grant-Related Scams | GRANTS.GOV.
Help Illinois Families: Relief for Households Across the State
The Pritzker Administration, in partnership with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), is leveraging federal funds to help Illinois families access and afford home energy assistance and other essential services. Building on the State’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) program, the State’s Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) budget provides LIHEAP and CSBG support for eligible Illinoisans seeking assistance to cover costs of utility bills, rent, temporary shelter, food, and other household necessities.
The Help Illinois Families’ online Request for Services form makes it easier to request information for assistance through the LIHEAP and/or CSBG programs. Assistance is subject to funding availability and completion of the form linked below does not guarantee assistance.
THIS IS A REQUEST FOR SERVICES AND DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE APPLYING FOR LIHEAP OR CSBG. The Local Agency will receive your contact information and contact you to let you know how you can apply for assistance directly from them.
You may be eligible to receive financial assistance for the following services:
Programs:
LIHEAP
LIHEAP helps eligible households with low income pay for home energy services. This includes assistance with heating gas, propane and electricity. More information on services available in your region can be found by visiting your Local Administering Agency (referred to as a local agency) page or look up your local agency by county. Find my Local Agency
You can apply for LIHEAP through your local administering agency from October 1 through August 15, 2026, or until funding is exhausted.
CSBG
CSBG offers Illinoisans an opportunity to receive support for an array of essential services including rent assistance, food, temporary shelter, medicine and more. Check your local Community Action Agency Find my Local Agency page for a list of available services near you.
CSBG funding is available January 1 through December 31, or until funding is exhausted.
Am I eligible?
CSBG and LIHEAP have different income eligibility limits. See table below. If your household’s combined income for the 30 days prior to application (gross income for all household members, before taxes are deducted) is at or below the levels shown in the chart below, you may be eligible to receive CSBG and/or LIHEAP assistance.
| Family Size (Total Number in Household) |
CSBG 30-Day Gross Income Total to Meet Eligibility | LIHEAP 30-Day Gross Income Total to Meet Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,608 | $3,332 |
| 2 | $3,525 | $4,357 |
| 3 | $4,442 | $5,382 |
| 4 | $5,358 | $6,407 |
| 5 | $6,275 | $7,432 |
| 6 | $7,192 | $8,457 |
What documentation do I need to prove eligibility? For each household member, please have the following documents ready for your local agency to verify your eligibility: proof of past 30-day income through paystub, check or copy of check showing fixed income amount (e.g. SSA, VA, DHS benefits), or other proof of documentation for any income source, utility bill if seeking utility bill assistance or lease if seeking rental assistance and a social security card or ITIN for residents who have them. Residents without ITIN or SSN can still apply.
Note – There is no charge ever to submit a Request for Service or to receive LIHEAP and CSBG benefits. Assistance in other languages is also available free of charge through Help Illinois Families website and call center. All households are encouraged to apply for State funding through the local agency, regardless of immigration status.
If you need language assistance and/or for callers with hearing impediments needing enhanced audio services to complete and submit your Request for Services information, contact the call center at 1-833-711-0374 for live support. The call center will provide translation services in English, Spanish, and other languages if necessary. For all others, please call your local agency.
THIS IS A REQUEST FOR SERVICES AND DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE APPLYING FOR LIHEAP OR CSBG. The Local Agency will work with you to complete an application.
When should I expect to be contacted?
After your Request for Services form has been submitted, you will receive an email from your local agency on how to apply. The State estimates that a response could range from a week to a month OR you can bypass the form, click the county where you live and call your local agency directly for faster service Find my Local Agency .
Help Illinois Families is administered by DCEO’s Office of Community Assistance for the following federal programs: Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and Community Services Block Grant Program (CSBG). The Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program can be applied for directly through your local agency.
