Fix First Home › Illinois › Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP)
Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP) open
Administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), through local community action agencies.
Free air sealing, insulation, and furnace and water heater repair or replacement for households at or below 200% of the federal poverty level ($66,000 a year for four), owners and renters alike. Up to $20,000 of energy work per home, plus up to $4,000 for health and safety.
source · verified 27 September 2026 · amounts in US dollars
What it pays
| Upgrade | Condition | Up to |
|---|---|---|
| Energy-related weatherization and repair work | Per home: air sealing, attic and wall insulation, heating and water heater repair or replacement, lighting and refrigerator replacement, ventilation | $20,000 |
| Health and safety measures | Per home, on top | $4,000 |
Local agencies keep waiting lists and serve priority groups first; the 2027 program year's federal money runs from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027.
Who is eligible
| People in household | Annual income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $31,920 |
| 2 | $43,280 |
| 3 | $54,640 |
| 4 | $66,000 |
| 5 | $77,360 |
| 6 | $88,720 |
| 7 | $100,080 |
| 8 | $111,440 |
- larger households
- Add $11,360 for each person over 12. From eight people up, the state-funded share uses a lower line, 60% of state median income ($109,578 for eight).
- automatic
- A LIHEAP benefit in the last 12 months, SSI or TANF cash assistance, or HUD and USDA means-tested housing assistance qualifies a household.
- renters
- Yes: the program weatherizes homes and apartments.
Where the application goes
Apply to the community action agency for your county, not to DCEO.
| If this is you | Apply here |
|---|---|
| Find your agency | dceo.illinois.gov |
| Help Illinois Families | 1-833-711-0374 |
| Cook County (CEDA) | cedaorg.net |
The thing most pages get wrong
Some utility pages put this program's income line at 150% of the poverty level: ComEd's Home Energy Savings FAQ for state and HHS funds, and Corn Belt Energy's rebate page. DCEO's current table is 200% for all three funding sources, $66,000 for a family of four.
A broken furnace: LIHEAP's Furnace Assistance
Homeowners who receive a LIHEAP benefit can get a furnace tune-up, repair or replacement through Furnace Assistance while its allocation lasts; renters are not eligible, since the landlord is responsible. LIHEAP's 2027 applications opened on 1 October 2026 for priority groups (60 and over, disability, a child five or under, a disconnection notice) and open on 1 November for everyone else.
Windows are not usually part of it
Cook County's agency says windows are not typically eligible. The audit of the home decides the work; air sealing and insulation come first.
Sources
- https://dceo.illinois.gov/communityservices/homeweatherization.html — primary source, read 27 September 2026
- https://dceo.illinois.gov/communityservices/homeweatherization/weatherizationstateplan.html
- https://dceo.illinois.gov/communityservices/utilitybillassistance/howtoapply.html
- https://dceo.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/dceo/communityservices/utilitybillassistance/documents/fy26-liheap-state-plan--accepted--detailed-model-plan-liheap-10-01-2025.pdf
- https://www.cedaorg.net/en/find-services/home-weatherization