The Delinquent Tax Program
Northwest Home Equity Assurance Program, Northwest Side Elected Official, and Northwest Center are proud to be introducing the Delinquent Tax Program. The program is designed around the mission of NWHEAP, stabilizing neighborhoods by keeping our homeowners in their homes and being able to shift the trajectory of homeowners losing their homes to scavenger sales as well as tax sales.
Our goal with the DTP (Delinquent Tax Program) is just the start, and in the coming years, we plan to make this program permanent. The results will show the need and demand for this innovative program.
** APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN OCTOBER 31ST **
Delinquent Tax Program Pilot Eligibility
You are eligible to apply if you:
- Elder/Disable/Veteran
- Households Below the low 80% Income Limit Cook County (see chart)
- Households above the 80% Income Limit in Cook County with school-aged children (see chart)
- Northwest Home Equity Assurance Program Member
| FY 2022 Income Limit. Category | Persons in Family | |||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |
| Low 80% Income Limits | 58,350 | 66,700 | 75,050 | 83,350 | 90,050 | 96,700 | 103,400 | 110,050 |
For Application Assistance, please call and set up an appointment with our team.
About the DTP Pilot Program
What is the Delinquent Tax Program Pilot?
The NWHEAP Delinquent Tax Program will provide no-strings-attached payment toward delinquent taxes in our taxing district. The goal is to assist as many homeowners as possible in the Northwest corridors who may experience financial hardships and cannot pay their property taxes.
Who is running this program?
This program is run solely by Northwest Home Equity Assurance Program in conjunction with Northwest Center, which has come on board as our financial literacy partner.
Am I eligible for the Delinquent Tax Program Pilot?
Homeowners who reside in the Northwest Home Equity Assurance Program Taxing District meet all of the following eligibility requirements; however, we encourage everyone in the district who is experiencing hardship with property taxes to apply.
Requirements:
- You reside in the Northwest Home Equity Assurance Program.
- You are the owner or owners occupy of the property
- Elder/People with Disabilities/Veteran
- Households Below the low 80% Income Limit Cook County (see chart)
- Households above the 80% Income Limit in Cook County (see chart)
- Northwest Home Equity Assurance Program Member
How do you define a household?
A household includes yourself and anyone who depends on you to cover most of their expenses or someone who covers most of your costs. To determine your household size, you should count yourself, your spouse, and any other family members who depend on you to cover most of their expenses (for example, children, students, elderly, sick, or disabled family members).
What is household income?
Household income is the sum of all income earned by the members of your household in a year. This includes all money for jobs, gifts, and cash benefits like Social Security, disability, and retirement.
How will payments be submitted?
NWHEAP will submit delinquent tax payments directly to either the Cook County Treasurer’s Office or the Cook County Clerk’s Office, depending on each circumstance.
Do I need to be a permanent or US resident to participate?
The Delinquent Tax Program is open to all residents within the Northwest Home Equity Assurance Program’s area, regardless of immigration status. If you are undocumented, or your household is mixed-status, and you meet the eligibility criteria above, you are eligible to participate. We will not share your information on immigration status with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
When can I apply?
Applications are open from October 31, 2022, to May 30, 2023. All applications are reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis.
How do I submit my application?
All applications must be submitted online by computer, tablet, or smartphone. All documents can be uploaded as photos from a tablet or smartphone. You can also mail applications to our office or stop by fill out an application in person at 3234 N. Central Ave. Ofc 2 Chicago, IL 60634.
What if I need help filling out the application?
If you need assistance filling out the application, you can visit our office Monday – Thursday. Our official hours are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 10 am – 4 pm and Wednesday from 12:30 pm – 5:30 pm.
What do I need to apply?
You will be asked questions about yourself and your finances during the application. You will need to be able to provide a copy of your current delinquent tax bill, home pin number, a copy of your ID, and a completed application. You will also be asked to provide an email address or mobile number that we can use to get in touch with you and send you updates about your application. If you do not have an email address or mobile number, we encourage you to provide contact information for a trusted family member, friend, or organization who can inform you when you receive updates about your application.
If you do not have photo identification with your current address, you can provide supporting documents showing property ownership. Please provide all these documents at the time of application; if you fail to do so, our office will contact you for additional information to complete your application.
Can I apply more than once?
No. Duplicate applications will be flagged and removed from our system. Each household/owner can only take this grant out once for the duration of the program.
Can more than one person from my household apply?
Only the property owner can apply, and the owner or family member, as defined by The Home Equity Act (65 ILCS 95/), can reside in the property to qualify for the grant.
How long will the application process take?
Most individuals will be able to complete the application in about an hour.
May I complete the application on behalf of someone else?
Any adult household member can apply on behalf of the owner, provided they have the current owner’s consent on the property. Individuals using on behalf of someone else MUST have the applicant’s explicit consent. Individuals requiring assistance to apply may have a caseworker, our office, our community partners, or a trusted friend or family member use on their behalf.
What if I have additional questions?
If you have questions about the Delinquent Tax Program, we recommend first reviewing the FAQs. We may not be able to respond immediately, but we will get back to you within 48 hours. If you have additional questions for our team, please submit them to info@nwheap.com or by calling (312) 622-0700.
How will households be selected to participate?
Homeowners who are interested in applying to this program must complete an application through our website and have their eligibility verified. Our approval is based on the following tiers:
Elder/People with Disabilities/Veteran
Households Below the low 80% Income Limit Cook County
Households Above the low 80% Income Limit Cook County with School Aged- Children (documents need to be provided)
Northwest Home Equity Assurance Program Member
* Please note that applications are open and available to all residents in the Northwest Home Equity Assurance Program territory. All applications will be reviewed and considered. *
When will I know if I have been selected?
You can expect to receive notification regarding whether you have been selected within 30 to 45 days after we have received your completed application. This notification will be sent to the email address and mobile phone number you provided in your application.
If you provide another person’s email address and mobile number on your application, please inform them that you expect to receive an update on your application status during this time frame and contact them to find out whether a notification has been received.
How much money can I request if selected to participate in the DTP?
You can request up to $5000.
Do I need to pay taxes on this money?
No, you will not pay taxes on this money.
How will my information be used?
This application will ask questions to help us determine your eligibility for this program and understand the needs of our community members.
NWHEAP will share none of the information you provide with other parties outside of our community partner who will be providing financial counseling. We will securely store any information you share in the application stage. We will immediately inform you in the unlikely event of a data breach.