Written by a parent, not a doctor. Nothing here is medical advice.

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Michigan program

Help with heating or electricity bills (State Emergency Relief)

State Emergency Relief can help with an eligible household energy crisis.

What it is

State Emergency Relief can help with an eligible household energy crisis.

A past-due utility bill can be worth discussing even when health coverage is in place. SER checks household income and the requested expense. A medical shut-off hold is a separate protection.

Eligibility rules
  • Income under 150% of poverty: about $3,331 a month for three people, $4,019 for four. (merge with item [1])
  • Monthly standards by household size: 1: $1,956; 2: $2,644; 3: $3,331; 4: $4,019; 5: $4,706; 6: $5,394.
What you get
  • A payment toward an eligible heating or electricity expense, subject to the current service rules.
What the help covers
  • MDHHS checks the energy crisis, service type, earlier payments and current program-year rules. Heating, non-heating electricity and any water request need separate checks.
  • The payment limit, household contribution and any amount left unpaid depend on the utility service and the current SER rules. The social worker can ask MDHHS to check heating, non-heating electricity and water separately, including any earlier payment in the program year, the crisis documents and the decision deadline. MEAP is a separate assistance route and may use an income or qualifying-benefit test different from SER; neither program promises to clear the whole account.
If you decide to apply
  1. Ask the hospital social worker about requesting SER through MI Bridges.
  2. Have income information, the utility bill and any shut-off notice ready.
  3. Ask the utility whether it can hold action during the decision and whether another assistance program applies.

MDHHS: 1-855-789-5610 · Official page ↗

If you decide to apply
  • MDHHS decides the request after receiving the bill and household information. A hold from the utility needs its own confirmation.
Good to know

SER and Michigan Energy Assistance Program use different income tests. A medical hold delays shut-off but does not pay the bill.

Other details
  • Michigan Energy Assistance Program is separate from SER. It uses a 60%-of-state-median-income route or listed qualifying-benefit routes, with participating utilities and agencies.
  • SER’s program year runs October through September. The separate Home Heating Credit filing season is January 1 through September 30, and the Winter Protection Plan runs November 1 through March 31. Each has its own eligibility and payment rules.

Federal background: Energy assistance (LIHEAP).

Official sources
Ask your social worker

“Could SER help with a utility bill? What limits or remaining payments would apply, and could you help us compare it with utility assistance before we request it?”

Why I’m asking: I want to understand which help pays the bill and which help only delays a shut-off.

More background and detailed requirements
Additional program information and published rules

Who does what

The three parts, side by side. The agency decides; nobody on this page does.

You

Discuss a possible request and provide the bill, notice and household records if you decide to apply.

Your social worker

The utility can hold action while it is decided; ask.

The care team

Nothing.

Who decides
MDHHS.
Ask your social worker
“We have a past-due energy bill. Can we apply for State Emergency Relief, and is there a credit from the utility too?”

How to apply

First step: Discuss the notice, current bill and possible SER request with the social worker.

  1. Discuss SER and other assistance routes with the social worker using the bill and notice.
  2. Ask the utility which income credits or payment arrangements fit.
  3. The separate Home Heating Credit filing season ends September 30; a tax preparer can explain whether it fits.

Official application / program page ↗

Where it starts: Discuss a possible SER request through MI Bridges with the social worker.

What to gather

  • The bill and any notice
  • This month’s income
  • Your account number

How long: No decision time was published for this programme.

What a yes looks like

An approval identifies the amount paid toward the account; the utility separately confirms any remaining balance and shutoff hold.

What a no looks like, and the next move

MDHHS explains the service and household decision. A different energy-assistance route may have different rules.

Watch out

  • Michigan Energy Assistance Program is separate from SER. It uses a 60%-of-state-median-income route or listed qualifying-benefit routes, with participating utilities and agencies.
  • MDHHS confirms current award limits, household contributions and the effect of prior payments.

The numbers and the rules

The arcane layer, kept on purpose. Checked September 11, 2026.

What it is worth

Payment toward an eligible energy crisis, subject to the current income, service and contribution rules.

  • $1,956/month — Monthly income need standard, household of one
  • $2,644/month — Monthly income need standard, household of two
  • $3,331/month — Monthly income need standard, household of three
  • $4,019/month — Monthly income need standard, household of four
  • $4,706/month — Monthly income need standard, household of five
  • $5,394/month — Monthly income need standard, household of six

Covers: Payment toward eligible energy costs; water has separate rules confirmed by MDHHS.

Legal protection: The utility separately confirms any disconnection hold; an assistance request alone does not stop collection or shutoff.

What it costs the family: None to apply.

The eligibility facts, as published

Income
150% of the poverty level on the ERM 208 table, effective October 1, 2025

The trap: The payment limit, household contribution and any amount left unpaid depend on the utility service and the current SER rules. The social worker can ask MDHHS to check heating, non-heating electricity and water separately, including any earlier payment in the program year, the crisis documents and the decision deadline. MEAP is a separate assistance route and may use an income or qualifying-benefit test different from SER; neither program promises to clear the whole account.

Where I read this

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