Energy Assistance
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The Basics
The Energy Assistance Program helps people who have low incomes pay for their heating costs.
The program offers a variety of services including education and emergency repairs, as well as help with heating bills.
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Housing
Section 8, Housing Support, and other programs help pay for housing.
Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP)
MFIP helps families pay for basic needs like food, clothing, and rent.
Child Care Assistance
State programs help low-income parents pay for child care.
Energy Assistance
- The Basics
- Eligibility and Application
- The Energy Assistance Benefit
- Example
- FAQs
- Pitfalls
- Next Steps
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Eligibility & Application
Eligibility
To qualify for the Energy Assistance Program (EAP), you must live in Minnesota and your household's income must be below a certain level. If you meet these requirements, the state will help pay for your heating costs.
Income Limits
The annual income limits for the program depend on how many people are in your household.
If you have this many people in your house… |
…the annual income limit is |
---|---|
1 |
$35,799 |
2 |
$46,814 |
3 |
$57,829 |
4 |
$68,845 |
5 |
$79,860 |
6 |
$90,875 |
7 |
$92,940 |
These limits are for the period 10/1/2024 to 9/30/2025. The Minnesota Department of Commerce has a list of income limits for larger families.
Applying for Energy Assistance
To apply for Energy Assistance, download an application, fill it out, and submit it to your local Energy Assistance provider. You can also get information on applying by calling 1-800-657-3710 or 651-296-2860 (TTY). You should find out whether or not you qualify within a month of applying.
Things you need to do for your Energy Assistance application |
---|
Gather proof of income over the past 3 months |
Know the name of your heating and electric provider and your account number |
Have your most recent energy bills |
Things you don’t need to do for your Energy Assistance application |
---|
Prove your immigration status |
Go in for an interview |
Application Deadlines
For help paying your heating bills between 10/1/2024 and 9/30/2025, you must apply by 5/31/2025. Try to apply as early in the year as possible.
Learn more
Housing
Section 8, Housing Support, and other programs help pay for housing.
Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP)
MFIP helps families pay for basic needs like food, clothing, and rent.
Child Care Assistance
State programs help low-income parents pay for child care.
Energy Assistance
- The Basics
- Eligibility and Application
- The Energy Assistance Benefit
- Example
- FAQs
- Pitfalls
- Next Steps
Try It
The Benefit
Large families with low incomes and high heating costs tend to benefit the most from Minnesota's Energy Assistance Program.
The amount of assistance your family gets depends on four things:
- Your income
- Your family size
- Your heating costs
- The type of heating fuel you use
The average amount a family on Energy Assistance saves is $500 a year.
Services
In addition to helping pay for your heating bills, the Energy Assistance Program can also:
- Provide information on how to heat your home more efficiently and safely
- Provide information on what to do if your heating gets turned off, and
- Help with emergency repairs
Energy Assistance Providers
Each county works with an organization that provides Energy Assistance services. This organization might be a:
- Community Action Agency
- County Department of Human Services
- Non-profit Agency
- Tribe
You can find your local Energy Assistance provider on the Department of Commerce website.
Weatherization Assistance Program
Some households can also get help decreasing energy costs. This is called the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). The Minnesota Department of Commerce has more information on the WAP.
- Figure out how much energy your home uses
- Educate you on ways to save energy
- Add insulation to your home, and
- Test and repair equipment
Rules for Families with People with Disabilities
Not all households get help from the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). Households that have a member with a disability get higher priority for WAP services.
Learn more
Housing
Section 8, Housing Support, and other programs help pay for housing.
Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP)
MFIP helps families pay for basic needs like food, clothing, and rent.
Child Care Assistance
State programs help low-income parents pay for child care.
Energy Assistance
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Example
Sarah and Jon's Story
Sarah and her husband Jon had just gotten jobs. For the first time in two years, they weren’t getting help from the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP). Even though they were both working and had child care paid for, money was still tight. Winter was just around the corner and their heating bills were very high.
$500 would be paid to the local utility company to help with heating costs.
Luckily, when they had applied for MFIP, they had also contacted their local Energy Assistance provider. This program would help them pay for their heating costs. They had mailed in their application to the Energy Assistance provider when they first applied to MFIP, so by the time winter came around, they knew that $500 would be paid to the local utility company to help with heating costs.
They had also applied for the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), which helps with things like insulation. There was a waiting list for that program, but since Jon had a disability, the family was placed near the top of that list.
Learn more
Housing
Section 8, Housing Support, and other programs help pay for housing.
Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP)
MFIP helps families pay for basic needs like food, clothing, and rent.
Child Care Assistance
State programs help low-income parents pay for child care.
Try It
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Energy Assistance Program?
The Energy Assistance Program helps people with their heating costs. This includes heating costs that you pay as part of your rent.
Who is Energy Assistance for?
Energy Assistance is for people with low incomes who:
- Live in Minnesota
- Don’t live in an institution
- Have housing costs that would increase if the energy bill went up
What are the income limits for Energy Assistance?
The income limits for Energy Assistance depend on how many people are in your family. For example, a family of four can have up to $68,845 in income.
How much help will my family get to pay for heating?
The amount you get depends on your income, family size, and heating costs. The average family on Energy Assistance gets $500 for the year.
What should I do if my heating is turned off because I haven’t paid my bills?
You should contact your local Energy Assistance provider as soon as possible.
What is the Weatherization Assistance Program?
Some families can also get help decreasing their energy costs. The Weatherization Assistance Program helps with energy saving services.
Who is in charge of the Energy Assistance Program?
You can find your local Energy Assistance provider on the Department of Commerce website.
How do I apply for Energy Assistance?
It’s important to apply as early in the year as possible. You can apply with your local Energy Assistance provider. You can also download an application. Fill the application out and mail it to your Energy Assistance provider. You can get more information on applying by calling 1-800-657-3710 or 651-296-2860 (TTY).
Are there different rules for families that have members with a disability?
Families that have members with a disability get priority for the Weatherization Assistance Program.
Learn more
Housing
Section 8, Housing Support, and other programs help pay for housing.
Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP)
MFIP helps families pay for basic needs like food, clothing, and rent.
Child Care Assistance
State programs help low-income parents pay for child care.
Energy Assistance
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Frequent Pitfalls
Not completing application requirements
There are four important things that people often forget to do when applying for Energy Assistance:
- Not signing the application;
- Not providing complete documentation;
- Not providing a copy of your most recent energy bills; and
- Not providing copies and proof of all income.
Doing these things and following all other application instructions will help the state make a decision about your application as soon as possible.
Not providing the right income documentation
Energy Assistance only looks at your last three months of income. They’ll use that amount to figure out how much you would earn in a year. You’ll need to provide documents for your last three months of income. If you have your own business or have rental income, you also have to provide the previous year’s federal income tax return. If you are paid annually or semi-annually, you’ll also need to include documentation of those payments.
Misinformation
It can be difficult to find accurate and complete information about public benefits programs. Some social workers and advocates may have limited knowledge of available options. They may also be unaware of how changes in income or employment can affect eligibility for such programs.
To be sure the information you receive is accurate and complete, Chat with a Hub expert or contact your county or tribal human services office.
Learn more
Housing
Section 8, Housing Support, and other programs help pay for housing.
Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP)
MFIP helps families pay for basic needs like food, clothing, and rent.
Child Care Assistance
State programs help low-income parents pay for child care.
Energy Assistance
Try It
Next Steps
Apply for Energy Assistance
You can apply for Energy Assistance by downloading an application at the Department of Commerce’s Energy Assistance website and contacting your local Energy Assistance provider. You can also call 1-800-657-3710 or 651-296-2860 (TTY) for assistance.
To apply for Minnesota's Weatherization Assistance Program, visit the Department of Commerce's Weatherization Assistance website and contact your local Weatherization Assistance provider.
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Free Legal Help
The Minnesota Disability Law Center (MDLC) provides free assistance to people with civil legal issues related to their disability. Call the MDLC Intake Line at 1-612-334-5970 (Twin Cities metro area), 1-800-292-4150 (Greater Minnesota), or 1-612-332-4668 (TTY).
Find Local Services
You can use MinnesotaHelp.info to find social services near you, from benefits applications to job counseling. |
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Learn more
Housing
Section 8, Housing Support, and other programs help pay for housing.
Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP)
MFIP helps families pay for basic needs like food, clothing, and rent.
Child Care Assistance
State programs help low-income parents pay for child care.