More Minnesotans will be eligible for state help in paying high heating bills this winter.
Gov. Mark Dayton took executive action Tuesday to expand eligibility for the state's heating assistance program. Now, households earning 60 percent of the state median income will be eligible. Previously, the limit was set at 50 percent.
That means a household of four earning less than $52,370 per year will now be eligible under the new income guidelines. A household of two earning less than $35,612 will qualify. For a complete list of income qualifications, see the Department of Commerce guidelines here. For more information on the heating assistance program, including instructions on how to apply, go to the department's heating assistance page here.
Dayton is asking the federal government for increased heating assistance funding on top of the additional $15.8 million it allocated for Minnesota last week. The state's heating assistance program is projected to run out of money between March 10 and March 31, according to a news release. If the federal government does not provide more funding, Dayton will include $17 million in state funds for the program in his supplemental budget proposal, the release said.
Last week, the state established a toll free hotline for Minnesotans affected by this winter's propane shortage at (800) 657-3504 in greater Minnesota or (651) 297-1304 in the Twin Cities.
Meanwhile, state and propane industry officials are encouraging farmers who have excess propane in their tanks to sell the propane back to suppliers to help ease the shortage.
