LiHEAP Minnesota

LIHEAP in Minnesota

Anyone who’s ever lived in or passed through Minnesota in the winter understands the need for LIHEAP. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program is designed to help low-income individuals and families keep the heat on during those cold, bitter winter months. After your application is approved, your local utility company will receive funds, which are then credited to your account. Some of the Minnesota utility companies working with LIHEAP include:

• Agralite Electric Co-Op
• Alliant Energy
• Benco Electric Co-Op
• CenterPoint/Minnegasco
• Great Plains Natural Gas
• Kandiyohi Power Co-Op
• Minnesota Energy Resources
• Minnesota Power
• Minnesota Valley
• Otter Tail Power
• Wright-Hennepin Co-Op
• Xcel Energy

Minnesota LIHEAP Assistance

LIHEAP helps families pay heating bills when they could otherwise not pay to keep the heat on during winter months. The program accepts applications between October 3 and May 31 for general heating benefits and October 3 and June 30 for crisis benefits. Crisis benefits are reserved for households facing service interruption for non-payment. About 164,000 households received benefits from LIHEAP during the 2011 calendar year and $87 million is available for the 2012 season.

Applying for LIHEAP assistance does not guarantee immediate relief from heating bills. Contact your utility company for more information on payment plans or extended due dates if you cannot pay your bill, but don’t qualify for crisis benefits. If you have a disconnect notice right now, contact your case worker for possible crisis benefits.

LIHEAP Application & How to Apply?

If you meet the income qualifications, you can contact the Minnesota Department of Commerce at 1-800-657-3710 for information on the local community action agency accepting LIHEAP applications. There is also a provider list published on the Department of Commerce website.

Applicants are required to earn at or less than 50% of the state median income. Income must be proven with proper documentation and a current heating bill is needed to establish benefit amount. Each family member listed on the LIHEAP application will need to be proven with proper identification.

LIHEAP Eligibility – Am I Eligible?

If you meet the following income guidelines, contact your local Department of Human Services or one of the community action agencies for a LIHEAP application.

Families with more than six persons can earn more and still qualify for LIHEAP in Minnesota. The estimated state median income for 2012 is $86,099. 50% of $86,099 is $43,050. Families of six can earn 132% of $43,050 or $56,825. Each additional family member accounts for an additional 3% in earned income, so a family of seven can report $58,118.