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Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) (LIHEAP) in South Dakota
South Dakota's Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) helps pay winter heating costs, with the payment sent straight to your energy supplier.
The amount depends on household size, income, type and cost of heat, and where you live. The state's Office of Energy Assistance in Pierre handles applications by mail, email or online; there is no summer cooling program.
How to apply in South Dakota
- By phone
- 1-800-233-8503
- By mail
- South Dakota Department of Social Services, Office of Energy Assistance, 700 Governors Drive, Pierre, SD 57501, or email DSSHeat@state.sd.us. Everyone 18 or older in the home must sign.
Applying is free. Nobody should charge you to apply.
Apply on the official siteWho may qualify in South Dakota
| Income limit, one person (2025–26 heating season; 2026–27 limits not yet posted) | $7,825 in total gross income over the 3 months before you apply, for one person |
|---|---|
| Income limit, two people (2025–26 heating season) | $10,575 over 3 months for two people |
| Who pays the bill | You must be responsible for paying home heating costs, directly or as part of your rent |
Source: South Dakota Department of Social Services (source 1)
What you may get
| How the benefit works | Paid directly to your energy supplier. The amount depends on household size, income, type and cost of heat, and location. No dollar range is published. |
|---|---|
| Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) | Help if you have a shut-off notice for your main heat, must pay cash on delivery with less than 20% in your tank, or face eviction for unpaid rent that includes heat. Call 1-800-233-8503 or email the notice to DSSHeat@state.sd.us. |
Source: South Dakota Department of Social Services (source 1)
Dates, renewals and waiting lists
| What heating costs the benefit covers | Gas and electric heat billed Oct. 1 to May 15; propane and fuel oil fills July 1 to April 30 |
|---|---|
| Crisis help for shut-offs | For shut-offs scheduled between Oct. 1 and March 31 |
Source: South Dakota Department of Social Services (source 2)
How South Dakota is different
Where South Dakota's rules differ from the federal rules for LIHEAP heating and cooling help.
- South Dakota runs heating help only; it has no cooling program.
- Income is counted over the three full months before you apply.
Source: South Dakota Department of Social Services (source 3)
Good to know
- Applications can take up to 60 days. Call 1-800-233-8503 and press 1 to check your status. TTY: 1-800-325-0778.
- Six tribes run their own energy assistance programs: Cheyenne River, Lower Brule, Oglala, Rosebud, Standing Rock and Yankton Sioux.
- Weatherization, which gives priority to older and disabled people, is done by four local community action programs.
Source: South Dakota Department of Social Services (source 2)
Free help
Free help with this in South Dakota
Division of Long Term Services and Supports
Your local Area Agency on Aging can help with meals, rides, help at home, caregiver support and applying for benefits.
More help in South Dakota
Help with heating and cooling bills in another state
- Alabama
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- District of Columbia
- Florida
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- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
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- Ohio
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- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Sources
- South Dakota Department of Social Services, Energy and Weatherization Assistance (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- South Dakota Department of Social Services, Low-Income Energy Assistance Application, EA-297 (08/25) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- South Dakota Department of Social Services, South Dakota's Low-Income Energy Assistance Program: Program Overview (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
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