Chicago's Utility Bill Relief Program

What is the Utility Billing Relief Program?

The Utility Billing Relief Program (UBR) is a program offered through the City of Chicago and the Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County (CEDA) that helps eligible Chicago residents save on their water and sewer bills. To qualify, residents must meet certain requirements.

Once enrolled, members get a 50% rate reduction on water charges, sewage charges, and water-sewage tax, no penalties on past-due utility bills, and debt forgiveness after one year in the program.

Do I qualify for the City of Chicago's Utility Billing Relief Program?

To be eligible for the UBR program, you must meet a few basic requirements. Here’s what’s needed:

• The property must be a single-family home, 2-unit, or 3-unit.
• You must own and live in the property.
• Provide a Social Security Number (SSN), ITIN, or another form of ID.
• Meet income requirements, including income from everyone in the household over the past 30 days.
• Household income must follow LIHEAP guidelines (about 200% of the federal poverty level).

What do the terms “gross” and “net” mean?

• Gross monthly income is the amount before taxes or other deductions are taken out.
• Net monthly income is what is left of gross income after certain allowable expenses are subtracted.

The graph below shows the income limits to qualify for the Utility Billing Relief Program (UBR). It lists the income levels based on household size to help you see if you’re eligible:

Family size	200% Maximum Monthly Gross Income
1	$ 2,510
2	$ 3,407
3	$ 4,303
4	$ 5,200
5	$ 6,097

Before Applying

Here are some helpful things to know before you start your application:

• You must complete the application in one session, as you cannot save and finish it later. Your session will expire after 30 minutes of inactivity, and you’ll need to start over.

• Make sure to use a current email address that you have access to, as a confirmation will be sent to you once your application is completed.

Preparing to apply

When applying for Chicago's Utility Billing Relief Program, you’ll need to provide certain information and documents. Below is a list of what you’ll need to submit to complete your application.

Make sure you have the following ready before you begin:

• Property Verification
  To start the UBR application, you need to enter your utility billing account number, which is on your bill. If you can’t find it, call the City of Chicago's customer service at 312-744-4426 for help.
• Owner Information
  If you own the property, you’ll need to provide your information as the owner. If you’re not the owner, you must include the owner’s details. Also, the owner, whether it’s you or someone else, must live at the property and have their name listed on the utility bill. Any mistakes in this information could delay your application.
• Household Member Information
  A household member is anyone living in the home, including friends. For each person living at your address, you must provide:
  • Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). If someone doesn’t have either, provide one of the documents listed here.
  • Proof of income and benefits for the past 30 days.
  • If self-employed, fill out the Self-Employment Worksheet.
  • If the income is for a minor, the parent/guardian should report it.
• Income Types and Supporting Documentation
  For each person 18 or older in the household, you need to show proof of income earned in the last 30 days. This includes:
  • Wages or salary
    • Supporting documentation needed: pay stubs
  • Self-employment income
    • Supporting documentation needed: Completed self-employment worksheet
  • Unemployment benefits
    • Supporting documentation needed: Award letter from the Illinois Department of Employment Security.
  • Fixed income (Social Security, SSI, VA benefits, etc.)
    • Supporting documentation needed: Benefit or award letter for current year 

Calculating Income

You must report the total income for each person in the household. For children under 18, report any income they receive, like SSI or Disability, under the parent/guardian’s name. Minors do not need to provide their own income details.

Note: When reporting income, make sure to deduct the following before calculating the total:

• Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)
• Back Pay (wages or benefits)

Verifying Eligibility

Once you’ve calculated your income, you’ll want to verify your eligibility to make sure you qualify for the program.

Verify Eligibility Here

After your income and property are verified, you’ll be asked to complete the online application. If you need help or would rather apply in person or by mail, call CEDA at 800-571-CEDA (2332) to get assistance from a trained specialist.

How do I know if I'm approved for the UBR Program?

You will receive a welcome letter in the mail or by email from the City of Chicago letting you know you’ve been approved. This letter will confirm that you're enrolled in the program and explain the next steps.

I received a denial letter/email; what should I do?

If your application is not approved, you will get a letter or email explaining why. It will also give you instructions on what to do next. If you believe there was a mistake or you don't agree with the decision, you can contact the organization listed in the letter or email for more help.

What's the turnaround time?

It can take up to 30 days for us to process your application after we receive it. This means you should expect a decision within a month, but it might be faster depending on how quickly we get all your documents.

What happens to my previous balance?

For the first 12 months that you're in the program, we’ll set aside any past due balance. This means you won’t have to make payments on that balance during this time. After you successfully complete the first 12 months, the previous unpaid balance will be forgiven, so you won’t owe anything from before you joined the program.

What will my rates be?

Once enrolled, you’ll pay 50% of the regular charges for water, sewer, and water-sewer tax. This means your monthly bills will be half of what they would normally be. You can find more details about the rates for water, sewer, and the water-sewer tax on our website.

Do I have to renew my UBR enrollment?

Yes, your enrollment lasts for 12 months. After that, you will need to reapply to stay in the program and keep receiving the benefits. You will be reminded when it’s time to reapply.