October has a priority window
Illinois began its new LIHEAP application period October 1 with priority groups first. The state lists adults age sixty or older, people with disabilities, households with children age five or younger, and specified urgent disconnection or low-propane situations. Other income-eligible households may begin November 1.
The stated program window runs through August 13, 2027 or until funding is exhausted. An online Request for Services begins the agency review; it does not instantly establish eligibility or the size of a grant. Households with heat-related disconnection notices should contact their county agency directly.
Income tests depend on the utility category
The official page distinguishes income categories. Customers of the listed major utilities use a 300-percent federal-poverty-guideline framework based on gross income in the thirty days before application. The page says federally funded utility or energy-vendor customers use sixty percent of state median income. Do not apply one chart to every provider.
Renters whose heat is included in rent may qualify, and local agencies review household documents and bills. If no agency reply arrives after three weeks, the state advises direct follow-up. The newly opened priority window is useful for planning when to apply, but it does not guarantee aid, a fixed discount or universal enrollment merely because a household has a high energy bill.