Assistance Programs in Hawaii

The Hawaii Home Energy Assistance Program (H-HEAP), formerly LIHEAP, gives income-eligible households a one-time payment toward an electric or gas bill for heating or cooling. It has two parts: Energy Crisis Intervention (ECI) for households with a utility disconnect notice, accepted year-round with a limited number of approvals each month, and Energy Credit (EC) for bill help without a crisis, accepted only June 1 through June 30 each year. Applications are processed only by the Community Action Agency serving your island, not by DHS offices.

The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) makes free energy-efficiency improvements so your utility bill shrinks, based on a home energy audit. Measures can include high-efficiency faucet aerators and shower heads, LED lighting, and an energy-efficient solar water heater, all at no cost. On Oahu the program is run by the Honolulu Community Action Program (HCAP), funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Hawaii State Office of Community Services. Neighbor-island households apply through their county Community Action Agency.

SNAP is Hawaii's food assistance program, run by the Department of Human Services (DHS): monthly food money loaded onto an EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. The fastest way to apply is online through the DHS Public Assistance Information System (PAIS) at pais.dhs.hawaii.gov, which handles SNAP and financial assistance on one application. You can also mail or drop off a paper form at a processing center, or call the Public Assistance Information Line at 1-855-643-1643, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

WIC gives healthy supplemental foods on an eWIC card, plus nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and health referrals for pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, and for infants and children under age 5. Hawaii WIC runs through the Department of Health. Apply online at hiwic.org and find your nearest clinic. For information, call the WIC Info Line at 808-586-4400.

Med-QUEST is Hawaii's Medicaid program: free or low-cost health coverage for children, pregnant women, parents, seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income adults. Hawaii expanded Medicaid, so low-income adults without children can qualify too. Apply online at the Med-QUEST Online Portal, medical.mybenefits.hawaii.gov, or call Med-QUEST Customer Service at 1-800-316-8005.

Hawaii's Earned Income Tax Credit is refundable and equal to 40 percent of the federal earned income credit you claim on your federal return. Because it is refundable, it can pay out as a refund even when it is larger than the tax you owe. Claim it on your Hawaii return using Form N-356; you must qualify for the federal EITC first.

General Assistance (GA) is Hawaii's state cash program for adults ages 18 through 64 who have little or no income, do not have minor children, are temporarily disabled, and do not qualify for federal aid like Social Security. A DHS medical board must certify that you cannot work at least 30 hours a week for at least 60 days. Apply through the Department of Human Services, and call the Public Assistance Information Line at 1-855-643-1643 for information.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is Hawaii's monthly cash assistance for low-income families that include a minor child and a caretaker relative. Families with mixed or non-citizen immigration status may instead qualify for the state-funded Temporary Assistance for Other Needy Families (TAONF), which provides the same benefits. Apply online through the DHS Public Assistance Information System at pais.dhs.hawaii.gov or by paper form. As a condition of eligibility, most families take part in the First-To-Work program.

Unemployment Insurance from the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) pays weekly benefits if you lost work through no fault of your own. File your claim online through the UI website at labor.hawaii.gov/ui, then file a claim certification for each week. For help, the statewide UI Call Center is 1-833-901-2272 toll-free, or 808-762-5752.

The Legal Aid Society of Hawaii provides free civil legal help to low-income residents statewide on housing and eviction, public benefits, family, elder, and consumer matters. It does not handle criminal or personal injury cases. Call the intake line at 808-536-4302 on Oahu, or 1-800-499-4302 from the neighbor islands, Monday through Friday from 9:00 to 11:30am and 1:00 to 3:30pm. You can also start an application through online intake.

Dial 2-1-1 anywhere in Hawaii to reach the Aloha United Way 211 helpline, a free and confidential service that connects you to local help with food, rent, utilities, healthcare, and more, drawn from a database of over 1,400 agencies and 4,000 programs. Specialists answer from 7am to 10pm, seven days a week. From outside Hawaii, or to text, use 1-877-275-6569, and you can search anytime at search.auw211.org.