Fewer cash-strapped Illinois senior citizens and struggling families will have to go it alone when it comes to scrounging up the money to pay their heating bills this winter. An increase in federal funding will translate into an additional $118 million -- or $265 million in all -- worth of bill-pay assistance for low-income households struggling to keep up with a spike in home energy costs.

Last year, Illinois provided assistance to only half of the 788,749 Illinois households who qualified for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) because there wasn't enough federal grant money to go around. With home energy prices rising sharply, advocates for the poor expressed concern that thousands of needy households -- most of which include the elderly, children and disabled people -- would face an even tougher winter this year.  Back in July, the National Governors' Association said an increase in funding was essential in averting a public health crisis this winter.

Despite opposition from Republicans -- including Illinois Reps. Judy Biggert, Peter Roskam, Don Manzullo, John Shimkus, and Ray LaHood -- an appropriation bill that increased LIHEAP aid was signed into law in September.

Not surprisingly, the same members of the Illinois Republican delegation who voted against additional LIHEAP funding also shot down two other bills this fall which sought to rein in subsidies and tax breaks for big energy companies who have posted record profits as consumer energy prices have gone through the roof.

Qualified Illinois residents can begin applying for the LIHEAP aid on Nov. 1 at community centers across the state.