(305 ILCS 21/20)

Sec. 20. Eligibility, conditions of participation, and water and sewer assistance.

(a) Any person who is a resident of the State of Illinois and whose household income is not greater than an amount determined annually by the Department may apply for assistance pursuant to this Act in accordance with rules adopted by the Department. In setting the annual eligibility level, the Department shall consider the amount of available funding and may not set a limit higher than the eligibility limit for assistance under the Energy Assistance Act.

(b) Applicants who qualify for assistance pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section shall, subject to appropriation from the General Assembly and subject to the availability of funds to the Department, receive water and sewer assistance as provided by this Act. The Department, upon receipt of moneys authorized pursuant to this Act for water and sewer assistance, shall commit funds for each qualified applicant in an amount determined by the Department. In determining the amounts of assistance to be provided to or on behalf of a qualified applicant, the Department shall ensure that the highest amounts of assistance go to households with the greatest need for financial assistance in relation to household income. The Department shall include factors such as water and sewer costs, household size, household income, and region of the State when determining individual household benefits. In adopting rules for the administration of this Section, the Department shall ensure that a minimum of one-third of funds are available for benefits to eligible households with the lowest incomes and that elderly households and households with persons with disabilities are offered a priority application period.

(c) If the applicant is a customer of a water or sewer provider, such applicant shall receive water or sewer assistance in an amount established by the Department for all such applicants under this Act.

(d) The Department may, if sufficient funds are available, provide additional benefits to certain qualified applicants:

(i) for the reduction of past due amounts owed to water or sewer providers; and

(ii) to assist the household in responding to excessively high usage costs. Households containing elderly members, children, or a person with a disability, shall receive priority for receipt of such benefits.

(Source: P.A. 102-262, eff. 8-6-21.)