Minnesota · LIHEAP · Heating season 2026-27
Minnesota LIHEAP income limits.
Check your household against Minnesota's heating assistance limit, then see dates, benefit range and how to apply.
Minnesota limits heating help to 50% of state median income: $71,998 a year for a household of four and $37,438 for one on the federal FFY 2026 tables. The state had not posted a FFY 2027 figure in the sources read, so confirm with the state office for the season that starts October 2026.
Your household
Result
Minnesota LIHEAP income limits by household size
Minnesota sets heating eligibility at 50% of state median income for every household size, the lowest percentage of any state in this set. FFY 2026 limits are the state standard applied to the ACF tables that were mandatory for October 2025 to September 2026.
| People in household | FFY 2026 limit (a year) | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $37,438 | $3,120 |
| 2 | $48,958 | $4,080 |
| 3 | $60,478 | $5,040 |
| 4 | $71,998 | $6,000 |
| 5 | $83,518 | $6,960 |
| 6 | $95,038 | $7,920 |
| 7 | $97,198 | $8,100 |
| 8 | $99,358 | $8,280 |
| 9 | $101,518 | $8,460 |
| 10 | $103,678 | $8,640 |
| 11 | $105,838 | $8,820 |
| 12 | $107,998 | $9,000 |
No FFY 2027 column: this state had not posted one in the sources read, and the state median income estimates it needs were not found.
When Minnesota LIHEAP is open
- Heating assistance: October 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026. Applications must be received or postmarked by May 31.
- Crisis assistance: October 1, 2025 to July 1, 2026. A crisis may be started and funded through July 1.
- Next season: The FFY 2027 plan dates were not posted in the sources read. Minnesota's plan says primary heat and crisis open when the first federal award arrives.
Dates come from the state's FFY 2026 plan as compiled by the LIHEAP Clearinghouse. The Clearinghouse notes that actual application periods depend on available funding. OCS announced the first FY 2027 LIHEAP block grant funding release on October 9, 2026 (about $3.6 billion, 90% of funds under the continuing resolution signed September 2, 2026), so states are receiving money now, but each state still sets its own opening date and rules.
What Minnesota LIHEAP pays
The plan lists a minimum heating benefit of $200 and a maximum of $1,400. Minnesota sets the amount from annual energy cost (or fuel-cost averages if the bill is unavailable), income, household size, fuel type and dwelling type.
Winter crisis help is capped at $600 in the plan, and crisis requests are answered within 48 hours. Households with a disconnect notice or a low or empty fuel tank are treated as high priority.
Who gets priority and who is excluded
Minnesota serves applicants first come, first served. Households with an energy emergency go first, and the Commerce Department mails applications to the previous year's households, fixed-income households first. The plan counts about 75% of applicants as vulnerable.
Households in government-subsidized housing with heat and electric included in income-based rent are not eligible, because they are not exposed to rising energy costs. Renters in subsidized housing who pay their own heat or electric bill may qualify.
How to apply and what to have ready
Where to apply: Minnesota's statewide online application (listed in the state's plan).
- A verifiable Social Security number for every household member, or the documentation for an SSN exception under Minnesota's EAP Policy Manual. Minnesota does not count ineligible non-citizens as household members but does count their income.
- Proof of your heating costs. The plan says the benefit uses your annual energy cost where available.
Minnesota runs its program through 28 local administering agencies, so the office that processes your application depends on your county.
The agency that runs the program is the Minnesota Department of Commerce.
LIHEAP pages for other states
Indiana Maryland Colorado Tennessee Washington Connecticut Iowa Kentucky Oregon Kansas Nebraska
Frequently asked questions
What is the LIHEAP income limit in Minnesota?
Minnesota uses 50% of state median income. On the FFY 2026 federal tables that is $37,438 a year for one person and $71,998 for four people.
How much does Minnesota LIHEAP pay?
The plan lists a minimum heating benefit of $200 and a maximum of $1,400.
When can I apply for LIHEAP in Minnesota?
Heating assistance: October 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026. Applications must be received or postmarked by May 31.
Does Minnesota LIHEAP count ineligible non-citizens?
Minnesota does not count ineligible non-citizens as household members, but their income is counted when the household's income is totaled. Every member who is counted needs a verifiable Social Security number or an accepted exception.
Is this the official Minnesota limit?
No. It is a lookup of published federal tables and state plans. Minnesota Department of Commerce decides eligibility, and rules for crisis, cooling or equipment help can differ from the heating limit.
Sources
Read November 1, 2026. Figures are copied from these primary sources; anything calculated or projected is labelled on the page.
- Minnesota FFY 2026 LIHEAP model plan (federal copy, Clearinghouse)
- LIHEAP Clearinghouse, LIHEAP income eligibility for states and territories
- LIHEAP Clearinghouse, state and territory program dates (FY 2026 plans, updated November 25, 2025)
- ACF Office of Community Services, LIHEAP IM2025-02 (poverty guidelines and state median income, mandatory for FY 2026)
- LIHEAP Clearinghouse home, news of the FY 2027 funding release (October 9, 2026)
- Minnesota Department of Commerce, Energy Assistance Program (page returned a bot check when fetched, so facts here come from the state's plan)
Lookup, not an eligibility decision
Limits shown are for heating assistance. Minnesota Department of Commerce and its local offices decide eligibility and can change rules during the season. Everything runs in your browser; nothing you enter is sent anywhere.