Assistance Programs in District of Columbia

The Department of Energy and Environment, DOEE, runs the District's home energy help. As of the last check, DOEE has stopped taking new LIHEAP applications and is directing residents to the Utility Discount Program, UDP. The regular LIHEAP benefit ranges from $200 to $1,800 based on household size, income, heating source, and dwelling type, with a separate crisis benefit for households facing disconnection. Call 311 or (202) 737-4404 to check an application status or ask what help is open right now.

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible District households: energy audits, insulation, duct sealing, and heating and cooling repairs that lower future bills. DOEE runs the program through local nonprofit contractors. Openings are delayed this fiscal year, and DOEE contacts waitlisted applicants first. Apply online, or email your application to energyefficiency.conservation@dc.gov, and reach the Residential Service Line at (202) 299-3316, Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 2:30pm.

SNAP is the District's food assistance program: monthly food money on an EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. Apply online at districtdirect.dc.gov, by phone through the Department of Human Services Public Benefits Call Center at (202) 727-5355, or in person at an Economic Security Administration service center. The District also adds a local Temporary Local Benefit, Give SNAP a Raise, of up to 10 percent of a household's federal maximum benefit.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children up to age 5. DC Health runs it through local WIC clinics. To start, call your local WIC site, or reach the DC WIC team at (202) 442-9397. You can find site locations at dcwic.org/wic-locations.

The DC Health Care Alliance is a locally funded program that provides medical coverage to District residents who are not eligible for Medicaid, have no other health insurance, and are not eligible for Medicare. Because federal Medicaid requires a qualifying immigration status, Alliance is often the coverage route for residents who cannot get Medicaid for that reason. Alliance and the Immigrant Children's Program combined into one program, Health Care Alliance for Adults and Children. Apply the same way as Medicaid, online at districtdirect.dc.gov or by phone at (202) 727-5355.

DC Medicaid is free or low-cost health coverage for children, pregnant people, parents, older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income adults. The District expanded Medicaid to cover low-income adults, so apply even if you were turned down years ago. Apply online at districtdirect.dc.gov or by phone at (202) 727-5355. There is no in-person interview requirement, and it can take up to 45 days to hear back, or 60 days if you are disabled.

The District's Earned Income Tax Credit is one of the most generous in the country. For Tax Year 2025, the DC EITC equals 100 percent of your federal EITC, and it is refundable, so you may receive a refund even if you owe no DC income tax. Claim it on your DC individual income tax return, the D-40. Questions go to the Office of Tax and Revenue at (202) 727-4829, which spells (202) 727-4TAX.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, TANF, is the District's monthly cash assistance for low-income families with children. Most adults take part in the TANF Employment and Education Program, TEP, which coaches you toward work and education goals. Apply online at districtdirect.dc.gov or by phone through the Public Benefits Call Center at (202) 727-5355. Effective October 2025, the maximum monthly benefit runs from $504 for a household of one up to larger amounts for bigger families.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the DC Department of Employment Services, DOES. File your claim online through DCNetworks at dcnetworks.org, which is the fastest way, or get help by phone at (202) 724-7000, toll-free at 1-877-319-7346, Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm.

Legal Aid DC, the Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia, provides free civil legal help to low-income residents on housing and eviction, family and domestic violence, public benefits, and consumer and debt matters. Call the intake line at (202) 628-1161, or apply online at legalaiddc.org/help. Intake hours are limited to certain days, so check the site before you call.

Dial 2-1-1 from any District phone, or call (202) 463-6211 from out of state, to reach the 211 Warmline, the District's centralized hub for social service resources and referrals. Staff help you find local assistance with housing, utilities, food, healthcare, and more. The Warmline answers Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm; after hours, leave a detailed voicemail and a call agent returns your call within 1 to 2 business days.