•September 23, 2015•

By Ariana Cherry
NP Columnist

People and organizations in Illinois are hurting in more ways than one. Families and individuals who depended on government benefits have had to take a serious cut on the financial assistance that they receive. The Ameren PIPP (Percentage of Income Payment Plan) has become non-existent. The LIHEAP program had no summer assistance and will be running a month behind for the 2016 season.

Many people will be far behind or shut off possibly come the Oct 1 date. Although, come October 1, LIHEAP will be available only to seniors and disabled on the first round. Round two, in November, the program will add households with children under six years of age. Then in December, the general public will be able apply. Those who have state regulated utilities might be able to coast by some, as the winter moratorium will take place beginning December 1 and last through March 1. Although residents who have local utilities could be disconnected by the time they can apply in December.

Into its third month of the new fiscal year, Illinois still has not passed a budget, hurting many state funded agencies and organizations, one being the LIHEAP program. Everything has been pushed back a month, and low income families are having to tighten their belts even more.     Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.