Assistance Programs in South Dakota

South Dakota Housing helps income-eligible renters through the Housing Choice Voucher, also called Section 8, which pays part of your monthly rent, plus security deposit assistance and other programs. There is no open pandemic-era emergency rental assistance program right now, so for a rent crisis dial 2-1-1 for local funds. Call South Dakota Housing at 1-800-540-4241 to ask about vouchers and current waitlists.

The Low Income Energy Assistance Program, LIHEAP, helps income-eligible South Dakota households pay winter heating costs and can step in for a heating emergency. Apply online through the state portal or with a paper application you email to DSSHeat@state.sd.us or mail to the Office of Energy Assistance in Pierre. Call 1-800-233-8503 to apply or check your status, Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm Central.

The Weatherization Assistance Program makes free energy-efficiency improvements for income-eligible South Dakota households: weather-stripping and sealing, adding insulation in attics, walls, and under floors, and repairing or replacing a non-working heating system so future bills drop. It runs through local community action agencies alongside energy assistance. Contact the Office of Energy Assistance at 1-800-233-8503 to get started.

SNAP is South Dakota's food assistance program: monthly food money on an EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. Apply online through the DSS Benefits Portal at eaportal.sd.gov, at your local Department of Social Services office, or with a paper application you mail or drop off. For help, call the Department of Social Services at 605-773-3165.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children up to age 5. South Dakota WIC runs through the Department of Health. Apply at sd.gov/wic, or call the Department of Health at 605-773-3361 to find your local WIC clinic.

South Dakota Medicaid is free or low-cost health coverage for children, pregnant people, parents, seniors, people with disabilities, and, since the state expanded Medicaid in 2023, low-income adults ages 19 to 64. CHIP covers children in families that earn a little more. Apply online through the DSS Benefits Portal at eaportal.sd.gov, or call the Department of Social Services at 605-773-3165.

Reemployment Assistance is South Dakota's unemployment program: temporary weekly payments if you lost your job through no fault of your own, run by the Department of Labor and Regulation. File your claim online at sd.gov/rabenefits, which is the fastest way, or call the Reemployment Assistance line at 605-626-2452 for help.

The Child Care Assistance program helps low-income working families in South Dakota pay for child care. You qualify by meeting income guidelines and a minimum work or school requirement, and you may owe a small co-payment based on your income and family size. Apply through your local Department of Social Services office. Call 1-800-227-3020 for help.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, TANF, is South Dakota's monthly cash assistance for low-income families with children. Most adults must take part in work activities, generally 30 hours a week, or 20 hours if you care for a child under 6. Apply online at eaportal.sd.gov or at your local Department of Social Services office. Call 605-773-3165 with questions.

South Dakota's legal aid nonprofits provide free civil legal help to low-income residents on housing, family, consumer, public benefits, and other noncriminal matters. East River Legal Services covers eastern South Dakota; call 1-800-952-3015. Dakota Plains Legal Services covers western South Dakota and the tribal nations; call 605-856-4444. All three legal aid programs share one online application at sdlawhelp.org.

Dial 2-1-1, or call 605-339-4357, to reach the Helpline Center for free, confidential help finding local assistance with food, housing, utilities, healthcare, and more across South Dakota. The Helpline Center is a round-the-clock resource, and its specialists search for programs near you while you are on the line. You can also search at helplinecenter.org.