Low Income Energy Assistance Department of Social Services
Eligibility:
you must complete an application
your total gross income may not exceed maximum income guidelines
you must be responsible for paying home heating costs

Energy assistance funds are distributed on a first-come basis. Eligibility and assistance amounts are based on the number of people in your home, income of everyone in your home, type and cost of heating and where you live. If you are eligible, the payment is made to your energy supplier.

How do I apply?
1. Visit your local DSS Office. See details on this page.
OR
2. Apply online. See applicatnio here:
https://dss.sd.gov/economicassistance/energyassistance/lowincome.aspx

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance program is called LIHEAP. They assist low income people and families with their heating and cooling bills. This program is therefore, a year long program that is available 12 months a year. To qualify for the LIHEAP assistance, you need to qualify. We provide the current Federal Poverty Rates nationwide below.

You are automatically qualified for LIHEAP assistance if you participate in the SNAP food stamps program, TANF Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or the SSI program through Social Security.

Federal Poverty Guidelines for 2024

Persons In Family	Earnings (100% Fed Poverty Guideline)
1	$15,060
2	$20,440
3	$25,820
4	$31,200
5	$36,580
6	$41,960
7	$47,340
8	$52,720

*Alaska and Hawaii have different rates for HUD federal poverty guidelines.
These numbers above represent 100% of the Federal Poverty Rate. In order to get legal aid from some offices, they use a sliding fee scale. When they use a sliding fee scale, the 100% rate can be different than 100%. In those cases, using for example a 200% federal poverty level, you will only need double the 100% number listed above to 200%.

User questions & answers

Have you used the SalemCounty DSS LIHEAP Low Income Energy Assistance service before? If so, please help our website users by answer these questions below.