DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) – The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, opens for the season on Thursday, giving residents a chance to apply for help with their utility bills. For the first month, applications are limited to specific groups.

“October is for seniors, those who are disabled as described by the state of Illinois, anyone who has a child five years or younger, or who has a disconnect notice or an imminent disconnect notice,” said David MacDonna, executive director of the Sangamon County Department of Community Resources.

MacDonna said his department started scheduling LIHEAP appointments a week ago. Appointments are already booked for the next seven weeks.

Empowerment Opportunity Center is the LIHEAP administering agency in Macon County. The team is already preparing the lobby for an influx of people coming in with applications.

LIHEAP applicants must make no more than 300% of the federal poverty level. For a family of four, that comes to $99,000 a year.

Both counties served about 5,000 households last year — Macon County had 5,000 applicants, and Sangamon County assisted a little over 5,500 households, according to Murray and MacDonna. Both said they expect demand to increase again this year.

MacDonna and Murray both said their agencies had plenty of money for LIHEAP applicants last year, and they don’t expect to run out this year.

Anyone applying for LIHEAP needs several critical documents. MacDonna said required documents include a printed utility bill, the last four weeks of income for everyone in the household age 18 and older — such as pay stubs or bank statements — or a letter from another government agency showing monthly assistance received.