Staff Report

ROCKFORD – Information is now available for the annual Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for eligible residents in Winnebago and Boone Counties, the City of Rockford announced this week.

LIHEAP pays a benefit directly to energy companies on behalf of eligible households or directly to eligible renters if all energy costs are included in their rent.

There are many area sites that will be scheduling appointments during the LIHEAP season. Appointments are made by phone only.  Handouts with site lists, program information, eligibility criteria and call-in schedules and sites are available at the City of Rockford Human Services Department, 612 N. Church St. in Rockford, and at the Belvidere City Hall, 401 Whitney Blvd. and Boone County United Way, 220 W. Locust St. in Belvidere. You must have this information before you call to make an appointment.  You can also find information at rockfordil.gov.

Residents can begin calling the sites serving their category on the following dates to make an appointment: Oct. 1 for households with a senior (60 and older) and households with a member receiving Social Security Disability, Nov. 1 for disconnected households and households with children under 6 years old, and Dec. 3 for all other low-income households.

Residents who were not able to receive an appointment during their category month can continue to call monthly on the dates listed on the site list, or visit agency representatives at one of numerous off site dates/location where walk-ins are welcome until funds are exhausted.

The Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) will be available to all eligible clients until PIPP funding is exhausted.  PIPP is a monthly budget plan where on-time payments can help forgive a portion of past due balances.

LIHEAP is a program of the IL Dept. of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s Office of Energy Assistance funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and administered locally by the City of Rockford Human Services Department, A Community Action Agency.