Short-term Payment Plan LIHEAP Share the Warmth Additional Resources

Additional Resources

Weatherproofing Assistance Program
Weatherproofing your home is simple and affordable and will make a difference in your winter heating bills, and programs are available to help low- and fixed-income customers with weatherproofing projects. People with financial difficulties are encouraged to take advantage of these programs to reduce their bills.

The Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program provides eligible households with home energy audits, insulation installation and other weatherproofing services.

To apply:
In Chicago call CEDA at 1-800-571-CEDA (2332)
In the suburbs call Community Action Partnership of Lake County at 1-847-249-4330

Emergency Housing Assistance Program (EHAP)
The Emergency Housing Assistance Program (EHAP) is a City of Chicago program that provides grants to help low-income home owners make emergency home repairs. Grants are available to address dangerous, hazardous or life-threatening conditions in single-family properties. These include:

Replacement of heating units or other heat-related repairs (utility service must be connected) and outdoor plumbing repairs;
Roofing and unenclosed porch repairs.

For more information, call 311, or visit the EHAP Web site

Neighborhood Lending Program
Through the City of Chicago and Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS), this program provides a combination of loans and grants for rehabilitation projects in owner-occupied one- to four-unit buildings. Loans cover the costs of home improvement, fix fire and safety hazards and offer the option to refinance high interest loans and to refinance loans to obtain financing for home improvement.

For more information, visit the NHS Web site

Tax Savings and Assistance Programs

The Home Improvement Exemption allows homeowners to increase the value of their home with up to $45,000 worth of improvements without increasing their property taxes for at least four years.

To learn more about opportunities to save on taxes and other assistance programs, contact the Chicago Tax Assistance Center at 1-312-744-1000 or 311.

Savings for Seniors

Upkeep and Repair Services Program
This program provides free minor home repairs to eligible seniors. This program enables elderly, low-income homeowners to maintain their homes for safe and comfortable living. Types of repairs include: light plumbing, replacing faulty light fixtures or switches, repairing or maintaining weather stripping and caulking, installing handicap access grab bars and railings and other similar repairs.

Eligibility Requirements:

Senior must be at least 60 years of age and live south of North Avenue.

Application Process
The senior should contact Housing Opportunities & Maintenance for the Elderly (H.O.M.E.) at 1-773-921-3200 to make a referral for service. Once the referral has been completed, H.O.M.E. repair staff will visit the senior's home to determine if the requested repair can be completed by the agency.

To learn more about assistance programs for senior citizens, call 311.

Illness & Medical Certificates
If you are having trouble paying your natural gas bill due to an illness, let us know. First, call us immediately and then mail us the medical certificate from your doctor within five (5) days. Once notified, we will either halt disconnection or, if your gas was disconnected, turn on your service. Read below for additional information on our policy:

Certificates are valid only for residential accounts, and the Certification of Illness must:

Be signed and dated by a registered physician or local board of health.
Be on the physician’s letterhead and contain the name, business address and telephone number of the physician or board of health.
State the name and address of the ill person (who must be a permanent resident of the premise in question).
State the nature of the illness.
State the period of time during which termination of gas service will aggravate the illness.

Conditions of the Medical Certificate

We will not discontinue service for 30 days from certification.
Certification can be renewed once for an additional 30 days by providing a second Medical Certificate before the expiration of the first certificate.
After two consecutive months (60 days), your account is ineligible for acceptance of additional medical certificates for one year from the date of the original certification.
You will be entered into a Short-term Payment Plan within 30 days of the issuance of the certificate. No initial payment is required.
If service has been disconnected, medical certification for service restoration must be received within 14 days of the disconnection date.
The Medical Certificate must be dated no more than 21 days prior to the date of presentment.
The certifying party must sign the Medical Certificate.

To learn more, Peoples Gas customers should call 1-866-556-6001 and North Shore Gas customers should call 1-866-556-6004.

Payment Plans

LIHEAP

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