Nevada’s Energy Assistance Program application is Form 2824-EL, available as a PDF from the Division of Social Services (DSS), as a paper copy at any DSS or EAP office, or as an online application through the Access Nevada portal at accessnevada.nv.gov.1Division of Social Services. Energy Assistance Program – Apply for Assistance Once completed, you can submit it by mail, fax, email to energyassistance@dss.nv.gov, or by dropping it off at a DSS office lobby or drop box. Applications are accepted from July 1 through June 30 each program year, or until funding runs out, so applying early matters.2Division of Social Services. Energy Assistance Program
Gather Your Documents First
Starting the form without the paperwork in hand is the most common reason applications stall. DSS requires income proof for every person in the household, not just the applicant.1Division of Social Services. Energy Assistance Program – Apply for Assistance Pull together:
- Pay stubs, Social Security award letters, pension statements, unemployment notices, or similar records showing gross income for the last 30 days for each adult in the home. Self-employed members can use tax returns or a profit-and-loss statement.
- A government-issued photo ID for the head of household, such as a driver’s license or state ID.
- Proof of citizenship or legal status for anyone in the household born outside the United States.
- Your most recent heating or cooling bill showing the account holder’s name, service address, and account number (from NV Energy, Southwest Gas, or whichever utility serves you).
- A signed authorization letter if the utility bill is not in the applicant’s name. That letter needs to list the account holder’s address, phone number, and signature.
- A short written explanation of how you cover basic costs if your household expenses exceed your reported income.
A roommate’s unreported paycheck or a spouse’s side income left off the form can derail the whole application, so collect for everyone under the roof.
Filling Out Form 2824-EL
The form moves through a few clear sections.3Nevada Department of Health and Human Services. Energy Assistance Program Application Begin with the primary applicant’s personal information: name, date of birth, address, phone. Then list every person living in the household and their relationship to you.
The income section asks for gross dollar amounts earned by each adult over the previous 30 days. Match these figures to the pay stubs and award letters you gathered rather than estimating. In the utility section, enter the energy provider’s name, your account number exactly as it appears on the bill, and the fuel type used to heat and cool the home.
If you’re using the paper form, write in black or blue ink so the scan is legible. Check the utility account number twice; a transposed digit sends your benefit payment to the wrong account. Sign and date the declaration at the end, which certifies the information is accurate.
Where and How to Submit
DSS runs two regional EAP offices.3Nevada Department of Health and Human Services. Energy Assistance Program Application For Northern Nevada, mail to Energy Assistance Program, 2527 N. Carson St., #260, Carson City, NV 89706, or fax to (775) 684-0740. For Southern Nevada, mail to Energy Assistance Program, 3330 E. Flamingo Rd., #55, Las Vegas, NV 89121, or fax to (702) 486-1441.
You can also email the full application and supporting documents to energyassistance@dss.nv.gov, or drop them in the lobby or drop box at any DSS office.1Division of Social Services. Energy Assistance Program – Apply for Assistance Email and fax tend to move faster than mail because they skip the sorting delay. If you do mail your application, a certificate of mailing from the post office documents your submission date, which matters since DSS processes files in the order received and funding can run out before the program year ends.
Who Qualifies
Household income must be at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, counting gross income from every person living in the home.4Nevada Legislature. Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 702 – Energy Assistance Under the 2025 guidelines, that works out to $23,475 for a single person, $31,725 for two, $39,975 for three, and $48,225 for a family of four, with each additional person adding $8,250.5HHS ASPE. 2025 Poverty Guidelines – 48 Contiguous States If updated guidelines have been published by the time you apply, DSS will use the newer figures. There is no asset or savings test; only income counts.6LIHEAP Clearinghouse. Assets / Resource Tests
What Happens After You Apply
DSS aims to process applications within 30 calendar days of receipt, though high volume can push the timeline to 60 days.7Division of Social Services. Energy Assistance Program Manual If an eligibility worker needs more information about your income or residency, they will mail a request. Respond quickly; a slow reply drops your file to the back of the line.
Benefit amounts depend on household income, household size, fuel type, and the share of income going to utilities. The program is designed to bring your energy costs down to the statewide median percentage of household income spent on energy.4Nevada Legislature. Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 702 – Energy Assistance Annual benefits typically range from $360 to $3,136 across heating and cooling combined.8LIHEAP Clearinghouse. LIHEAP Benefit Levels for Heating, Cooling, and Crisis Payments go directly to your utility provider as a credit on your next bill, not to you as a check.
If You Have a Shutoff Notice or Other Emergency
When a household faces a shutoff, a broken furnace in winter, or a similar threat to health or safety, DSS can act on an expedited basis. NRS 702.260 authorizes emergency help when “an emergency related to the cost or availability of natural gas or electricity threatens the health or safety of one or more members of the household.”4Nevada Legislature. Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 702 – Energy Assistance Under the program’s Fast Track guidelines, emergency cases are processed within 18 or 48 hours once DSS has the documentation it needs.7Division of Social Services. Energy Assistance Program Manual Attach any shutoff notice to your application and flag the emergency when you submit.
Even in normal processing, applications from households with elderly members, people with disabilities, or children under six move to the front of the queue.7Division of Social Services. Energy Assistance Program Manual List ages and note any disability so the eligibility worker can flag the file.
If You’re Denied
DSS sends a written Notice of Decision by mail explaining the outcome and the reasoning. If you are denied or believe the benefit is too low, the notice includes instructions for requesting a fair hearing and the deadline for doing so. Appeal windows are short, so act quickly. If the denial came from a missing document or an incomplete section of the form, bringing that piece to the hearing is your strongest move. An appeal rarely succeeds when the issue is that household income simply exceeds the 150 percent threshold.