2024 State Emergency Relief Program ends June 15
Wednesday June 5, 2024
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program will end June 15 and will restart October 1, 2024.
What is happening?
The State Emergency Relief (SER) Program provides financial assistance to Michigan
residents facing extreme hardship or emergencies that threaten health and safety.
One part of that program, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
(LIHEAP), consists of federal funds for crisis assistance for energy-related services such
as heating and electricity. Those funds are expected to be depleted by June 15.
Why is this happening?
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the state depleted LIHEAP funds every year.
Supplemental funding provided during the pandemic allowed the program to
continue for the full fiscal year, but that funding is no longer being provided by
the federal government.
What does this mean?
Energy Assistance applications submitted by 5 p.m., Friday, June 14 will be
processed as normal. Applications submitted after 5 p.m., Friday, June 14 through
September 30 will be denied due to the lack of funding.
What other resources are available?
Once an application is denied, the applicant is encouraged to log in to MI Bridges
(Michigan.gov/MIBridges) to explore resources, call 211 or reach out to their local
Community Action Agency to ask about assistance and additional resources.
What happens next year?
MDHHS will resume LIHEAP benefits after the federal government provides funding
for the next fiscal year, which begins October 1, 2024. The dollar values available to
each applicant will be determined by available state and federal funding.