FINANCIAL CRITERIA FOR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE:  

Asset Disregard - $500  

Applicant MUST have income

without minor children, gross income must equal to or exceed - $835  

(with minor children, must have income based on the TANF*  payment levels according to the size of the unit, see below.)

Net Income Disregard - $2,500  

Income from all sources/individuals in the household will be counted  

Maximum Grant Amount* - $1,000

*All qualifying adults on an application automatically become ineligible to receive Emergency Assistance again for at least 24 months. There is a lifetime limit of $1,500.  

OTHER CRITERIA FOR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE: 

At this time Emergency Assistance is only available for residents of these townships: Cedar, Henderson, Knox, Sparta and Town of the City of Galesburg 

Adults will always be considered for General Assistance first when they apply and will always be allowed to reapply for General Assistance at any time (no waiting period). However, General Assistance and Emergency Assistance cannot be received in the same month  

Adults who receive any amount of SSI or TANF will not qualify for Emergency Assistance.  

Applicants who are presumptively eligible for another government program will be required to show proof of application to that program before EA will be granted.  

NEW: Adults with minor children in the home must have some source of income (employment, child support, unemployment, etc.) AND apply for TANF, bring us paperwork from your first TANF appointment showing denial for income or TANF pending status. Any sanctions or non-cooperation automatically make you ineligible for EA.  

Those with military service will always be referred to the Veterans Assistance Commission first.  

Proof that the grant amount is enough to alleviate the situation OR proof that applicant has resources to cover the remainder. Applicants will need to pay any balance due over the grant amount AND show proof of payment before EA will be granted.  

EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR: 

Food, Meds, Gas Cards, Car Repairs, Mortgage, Security Deposits or First Month’s Rent, and no Furnace/Water Heater Repairs.

EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE FOR THE FOLLOWING:  

Emergency Utility Assistance -- Must have one of the following:

Disconnect or shut-off notice from City of Galesburg Water Department or Ameren IP**   plus account must be in your name **IF no LIHEAP pledge has been made on account   for last 6 months  

Emergency Rent -- Must have one of the following:

Recently issued eviction notice or 5-day notice from landlord and/or lot owner.  Rental units must be registered with the City of Galesburg if in Town of the City of Galesburg 

Emergency Miscellaneous -- Must have one of the following:

Proof of a work-related expense that needs to be paid in order to get/maintain employment.  Proof of another type of life-threatening expense that would be alleviated with assistance.   Catastrophic Assistance includes fire that is documented by the Fire Dept, see below for details.  

CATASTROPHIC ASSISTANCE IS ONLY AVAILABLE IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE: 

Catastrophic Assistance is only available to residents within Cedar, Henderson, Knox, Sparta and the Town of the City of Galesburg Townships. 

A person or family MAY qualify for Catastrophic Assistance In the event of a fire where there is no renters or homeowner’s insurance and the premises are no longer habitable as determined by the Fire Department.  

It is only available to individuals who do not qualify for General Assistance.  

An individual is not eligible to receive General Assistance and Catastrophic Assistance in the same month  

Applicants must follow up on all help from the American Red Cross and any referrals from Chaplain Bocox of the Galesburg Fire Department.  

Catastrophic Assistance is designated for help with a security deposit and/or 1 month’s rent at a registered rental.  

The maximum grant amount for Catastrophic Assistance is  $1,000.00.  

Catastrophic Assistance can only be granted once in a 24- month period and applies to ALL occupants of the home. 

TANF Payment Levels as of 10/01/2025*:  

Size of unit  - Adult/Child  

  • 1 - $456 
  • 2 - $617 
  • 3 - $777 
  • 4 - $938 
  • 5 - $1098
  • 6 - $1259 
  • 7 - $1,419 
  • 8 - $1,580
  • 9 - $1,740 
  • 10 - $1900