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Home Heating Credit and State Emergency Relief (LIHEAP) in Michigan
Michigan pays its regular LIHEAP heating help through the Home Heating Credit, a claim you file with the Department of Treasury even if you don't file a state income tax return.
Emergency help with heating fuel or a shut-off comes through State Emergency Relief (SER) from the Department of Health and Human Services, which you apply for on MI Bridges.
How to apply in Michigan
- In person
- For emergency help (State Emergency Relief), apply on MI Bridges or contact the MDHHS office in the county where you live; an appointment is generally required. For the Home Heating Credit, fill out Treasury's form MI-1040CR-7, available from Treasury, most public libraries and MDHHS county offices.
- By mail
- Mail the Home Heating Credit claim (MI-1040CR-7) to the Department of Treasury. Households that got a credit last year are mailed a form automatically.
- Who runs it
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), with the Michigan Department of Treasury for the Home Heating Credit
Applying is free. Nobody should charge you to apply.
Apply on the official siteWho may qualify in Michigan
| Income limit for regular heating help (FY 2026; dollar amounts not confirmed) | 110% of the federal poverty level |
|---|---|
| Income limit for crisis help (FY 2026) | 150% of the federal poverty level |
| What sets the Home Heating Credit | Income, the number of exemptions in your household, and your heating costs. You don't need to file a state income tax return to claim it. |
Source: LIHEAP Clearinghouse (source 1)
What you may get
| Home Heating Credit (FY 2026 state plan; 2026–27 amounts not found) | $1 to $2,205 |
|---|---|
| State Emergency Relief energy payment (FY 2026 state plan) | Up to $900 for deliverable fuel, fuel oil, coal and all-electric homes; up to $600 for natural gas, non-heat electric, wood and other fuels. Larger payments need an exception from the state. |
Source: LIHEAP Clearinghouse (source 2)
Dates, renewals and waiting lists
| Home Heating Credit filing period | Forms come out in mid- to late January, and you can file through Sept. 30 |
|---|---|
| Crisis help (FY 2026) | Year-round |
Source: LIHEAP Clearinghouse (source 1)
How Michigan is different
Where Michigan's rules differ from the federal rules for LIHEAP heating and cooling help.
- Regular heating help is paid as a Home Heating Credit through the state Treasury, not through a separate energy assistance application
- The regular heating benefit has a lower income limit (110% of poverty) than crisis help (150%)
Source: LIHEAP Clearinghouse (source 1)
Good to know
- Michigan's Winter Protection Plan, run through utilities, protects customers 65 or older and low-income customers from gas and electric shut-offs from Nov. 1 to March 31. Seniors in the plan don't have to make set monthly payments from Dec. 1 to March 31 but must pay what they owe in installments from April to November. Ask your utility to enroll.
Source: LIHEAP Clearinghouse (source 1)
Free help
Free help with this in Michigan
Aging and Adult Services Agency
Your local Area Agency on Aging can help with meals, rides, help at home, caregiver support and applying for benefits.
More help in Michigan
Help with heating and cooling bills in another state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Sources
- LIHEAP Clearinghouse, Michigan state profile (last updated April 20, 2026) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- LIHEAP Clearinghouse, Michigan LIHEAP Plan, FY 2026 (copy posted by the LIHEAP Clearinghouse) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
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