Michigan Energy Assistance Program: Who Qualifies and How to Apply

The Michigan Energy Assistance Program helps households at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level pay heating and electric bills. For 2026, that ceiling is $23,940 a year for one person and $49,500 for a family of four.1U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2026 Poverty Guidelines Getting help takes two steps. You apply to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for State Emergency Relief (SER), and if you qualify, MDHHS refers you to a local MEAP grantee who handles ongoing support.2Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws – Act 615 of 2012

Who Qualifies

Eligibility is based on the combined income of everyone in your household, not just yours. The 2026 annual income limits at 150 percent of the federal poverty level are:3United States Courts. 150% of the HHS Poverty Guidelines

  • 1 person: $23,940
  • 2 people: $32,580
  • 3 people: $41,220
  • 4 people: $49,500

Assets matter too. If your household holds $15,000 or more in countable cash assets, such as bank accounts or investments, your SER request will be denied.4Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Conditions of Eligibility A separate $15,000 limit applies to non-cash assets.5Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. State Emergency Relief Policy Manuals Several important things don’t count toward either limit: your home, one vehicle, personal belongings, bona fide loans, tax refunds, and money in 529 college savings plans or MiABLE accounts.6Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Bridges Eligibility Manual BEM 400

If every person in your household already receives FIP, SDA, SSI, Medicaid, or Food Assistance, the non-cash asset test is treated as met automatically.5Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. State Emergency Relief Policy Manuals You also have to be a legal Michigan resident.

What Counts as an Energy Crisis

SER energy assistance isn’t a general bill discount. You must be facing an actual crisis. MDHHS recognizes five:7Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. State Emergency Relief Manual – Energy Services ERM 301

  • A past-due balance on a utility bill or a shutoff notice
  • A home heating fuel tank at 25 percent capacity or less
  • A need for a delivery of heating fuel, wood, or another non-utility heat source
  • A prepaid utility balance below $100
  • A broken furnace confirmed by a licensed technician

The 25 percent fuel rule is strict. If the delivery driver measures more than 25 percent, the payment won’t go through. One exception applies: if your fuel provider has locked or disconnected your tank over an unpaid balance, you can request a policy exception even with more fuel remaining.7Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. State Emergency Relief Manual – Energy Services ERM 301

How to Apply

The application is MDHHS-1171, a single form that covers several assistance programs.8Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Assistance Application MDHHS-1171 You can submit it online through MI Bridges, the state benefits portal, or bring or mail a paper copy to your local county MDHHS office.9Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Apply For Benefits – MI Bridges

Before you start, pull together:

  • Social Security numbers for everyone in the household
  • Proof of Michigan residency (a current lease, mortgage statement, or utility bill with your address)
  • Income for the last 30 days: pay stubs, Social Security letters, unemployment records, or similar10Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. MDHHS-1171 Assistance Application and Program Supplements
  • Your most recent utility bill showing the past-due balance or shutoff date
  • Bank statements for any savings, investments, or retirement accounts

Incomplete paperwork is the most common reason applications stall. If you’re missing something, submit what you have and tell your caseworker what’s coming. A partial application in the system beats a perfect one you never finish. Once you submit, you can’t edit the application; if you spot a mistake, contact your caseworker or local office right away.

MDHHS has 10 business days to decide on SER.11Legal Information Institute. Michigan Administrative Code – State Emergency Relief Program You may be asked to complete an interview or provide more verification. Decisions come by mail or through your MI Bridges account. If you’re approved, MDHHS refers your case to a MEAP grantee in your area, who then becomes your main contact for ongoing help rather than the state caseworker.

How Much You Can Get

SER crisis payments go straight to the utility company or fuel provider, not to you. Annual maximums depend on how your home is heated:12U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program LIHEAP Model Plan – Michigan 2026

  • Up to $900 per year for deliverable fuel, fuel oil, coal, and all-electric households
  • Up to $600 per year for natural gas, non-heat electric, wood, wood pellets, and other non-traditional heating fuels

Anything above $900 requires special approval from the LIHEAP program office and is rare.12U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program LIHEAP Model Plan – Michigan 2026 If you rent and heat is included in your rent, you can still qualify, but the benefit is reduced by 50 percent unless you document your actual heating costs.13LIHEAP Clearinghouse. LIHEAP and Subsidized Housing

The Home Heating Credit

Michigan’s Home Heating Credit is a separate benefit worth claiming even if you’re getting SER help. It’s a state tax credit you can receive without owing taxes or filing a regular return. You claim it on Form MI-1040CR-7, and for the 2025 tax year, the filing deadline is September 30, 2026.14Michigan Department of Treasury. Home Heating Credit Information

The credit amount depends on your total household resources, household size, and whether you use the standard allowance or your actual heating costs, which are capped at $3,765 for the calculation.15Michigan Department of Treasury. 2025 Michigan Home Heating Credit Claim MI-1040CR-7 You must have owned or rented a Michigan home during the tax year. Full-time students claimed as dependents, people who lived in college housing all year, and residents of licensed care facilities for the whole year don’t qualify.14Michigan Department of Treasury. Home Heating Credit Information The September 30 deadline is firm, and this credit is easy to miss because it’s filed separately from your income tax return.

Winter Protection Plan for Shutoffs

Between November 1 and March 31, Michigan utilities can’t shut off gas or electric service to households enrolled in the Winter Protection Plan. You qualify if you are 65 or older, receive MDHHS cash or food assistance or Medicaid, or have household income at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level.16Michigan Public Service Commission. Energy Assistance and Shut Off Protection

The plan doesn’t erase your bill. Low-income participants pay 7 percent of their estimated annual bill each month during the protection period. Seniors 65 and older aren’t required to make specific payments during those months. Come April, everyone on the plan pays off the remaining balance in installments over the next eight months.16Michigan Public Service Commission. Energy Assistance and Shut Off Protection If you’re facing a shutoff in October, enrolling before November 1 can buy time while your MEAP application is being processed.

What Happens After the First Payment

MEAP grantees do more than pay a bill. They provide energy audits to find where your home loses heat, budgeting help, and negotiation with your utility to set up affordable payment plans.2Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws – Act 615 of 2012 Taking part in these self-sufficiency services is often required to keep receiving assistance through the year.

Michigan also runs a separate Weatherization Assistance Program that pays for insulation, air sealing, and furnace upgrades. Weatherization uses a higher income threshold: households at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level qualify, and MDHHS cash assistance or SSI recipients meet it automatically.17Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Energy and Weatherization MEAP enrollment doesn’t automatically get you into weatherization; you apply separately. If your energy audit reveals major insulation problems or an aging furnace, your grantee can point you there.

If You Are Denied

If MDHHS denies your SER application, you have 90 days from the date on the denial notice to request an administrative hearing. Complete Form DHS-18, Request for a Hearing, and deliver or mail it to your local MDHHS office, addressed to the Hearing Coordinator.18Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Request for a Hearing DHS-18 The request has to be in writing and signed by you or someone authorized to act for you. A hearing officer reviews the facts and either announces a decision at the hearing or issues a written one within 10 business days.19Legal Information Institute. Michigan Administrative Code R 460.157 – Customer Hearing Procedures

Read your denial notice carefully first. Common reasons are income or assets over the limit, missing documents, or not meeting the energy crisis definition. If the problem is missing paperwork, resubmitting a complete application is usually faster than a hearing. If the denial rests on an incorrect income calculation or an asset the department should have excluded, request the hearing.