Energy Assistance
Energy Assistance provides households with once-per-year payments towards their home heating fuel and electricity. Energy Assistance is generally open from November through April. This service has tribal enrollment, residency, and income eligibility requirements.
Need an application?
Follow this link for our current application: http://www.apiai.org/etr-current-application/
Important Updates
The 2025 Energy Assistance season, which began in November 2024, closed on April 30, 2025.
Households may only apply for one award.
The 2026 Energy Assistance plan (LIHEAP Model Plan) is available here for public comment through June 1, 2025. All comments will be recorded and considered for plan changes. Any comments received after June 1, 2025 will be recorded and considered for the 2027 plan cycle. Comments can be received by Jacob Timmons, ETR Division Administrator, at jacobt@apiai.org or 907-222-9713.
Major changes from last year’s plan includes:
Benefit matrix reduction in point value from $150/point to $125/point.
This change will have the following impact on awards:
| If your 2025 season award was: | Then your 2026 season award (if your income and household composition is unchanged) will be: | This change is being proposed in order to serve the increasing number of households that apply for assistance, which was seen in 2024, 2025, and is anticipated for 2026.
APIA will request additional funds to meet this need. Should sufficient additional funds be approved, this award reduction will be amended back to the 2024 level of $175/point. |
| $750.00 | $625.00 | |
| $900.00 | $750.00 | |
| $1,050.00 | $875.00 | |
| $1,200.00 | $1,000.00 | |
| $1,350.00 | $1,125.00 |
Eligibility
Tribal Enrollment
At least one household member must be Alaska Native or American Indian, documented by tribal card, tribal enrollment letter or Certificate of Indian Blood (CIB.)
Residency List (Service Area)
The applying household must reside in one of the following communities: Akutan, Atka, False Pass, King Cove, Nelson Lagoon, Nikolski, Sand Point, St. George, St. Paul, or Unalaska.
Income Eligibility
Net income (after taxes) for all household members age 18 and above is counted for the last 30 days and must fall within 60% of the State Median Income. Seasonal income is counted for the year and divided by 12 for a monthly average.
Income Limits for Crisis* (Fast-Track) Processing:
| # of household members | Net (after taxes) monthly income |
| 1 | $1,581 |
| 2 | $2,067 |
| 3 | $2,554 |
| 4 | $3,040 |
| 5 | $3,527 |
*Crisis processing also requires an empty/near-empty fuel tank or a shut-off notice.
Income Limits for Regular Processing:
| # of household members | Net (after taxes) monthly income |
| 1 | $3,162 |
| 2 | $4,135 |
| 3 | $5,108 |
| 4 | $6,081 |
| 5 | $7,054 |
Please note that regular processing may take up to 30 days.
Required Documentation
- Completed Application
- Tribal Card or Tribal Enrollment Letter
- Recent fuel bill
- Recent electric bill
Have you had a paycheck in the last 30 days?
- Paystubs from last 30 days (if you are paid biweekly, send in last two paystubs)
Have you had fishing or seasonal income in the last 12 months?
- Proof of Fishing Income (settlement printouts covering last 12 months)
Have you had Social Security Income in the past 30 days?
- Social Security Income will not be counted as income. This will allow for our elders and individuals on Social Security to receive slightly higher awards.
Does anyone in your household, age 18+, have no income to report?
- Each member age 18+ with no income to report needs to fill out, sign and date a no income statement on page 4.
Contact Information
Sand Point households can apply with Patricia Curtis at 907-383-4292; patriciac@apiai.org; PO Box 464, Sand Point, AK 99661; or make an appointment and stop by her office located in the City of Sand Point building.
All other communities can apply through the Anchorage office by contacting Cheyanne Smallwood at cheyannes@apiai.org; fax at 907-222-9711; or mail to APIA at 1131 E International Airport Rd, Anchorage, AK 99518. For questions, call 907-276-2700 and ask for Energy Assistance.
Helpful Information
What can you do to prepare?
- Keep paying your bills. While waiting for a decision on your Energy Assistance application, make regular payments each month to your electric and fuel vendors to prevent crisis.
- Contact your electric and fuel vendors and get on a budget plan. Work with your vendors to spread out the cost of heating, making payments more manageable and easier to budget for.
- Plan ahead! Set aside some (or all) of your PFD, Native Corporation Dividends, paycheck, or fishing settlement to pay for fuel and electricity this winter.