MN Receives Additional LIHEAP Funds

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MN Receives Additional LIHEAP Funds

May 11, 2020

The Minnesota Department of Commerce (DOC) announced May 12 that the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services released the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding. Minnesota’s allocation of $8,998,379 represents about 1 percent of the LIHEAP Cares Act funds, said the DOC, while its typical annual allocation is 3.2 percent of the national appropriation.

Minnesota received the sixth smallest allocation per capita of any state, behind only Hawaii, California, Iowa, Wisconsin, and New York. For the CARES Act LIHEAP funding, pointed out DOC, Minnesota had the second largest change in ranking of per capita funding of any state in the country.

The funds will help the state Energy Assistance Program serve eligible households. The DOC projects it can serve all households who apply by July 1, including those with Crisis and Energy Related Repair (ERR) requests. The state estimates it can serve up to 7,500 new applications for a total of $3 million in primary heat payments, $13 million in Crisis benefits, and $1 million in ERR benefits. It expects these amounts will match current program demand.