North Dakota Assistance Programs: Food, Health Care, Energy, Child Care, and Cash Help

One application for North Dakota assistance programs

North Dakota keeps most of its safety-net programs under one roof. The HHS Apply for Help page covers food assistance (SNAP), Medicaid, home energy assistance (LIHEAP), and family programs (TANF and child care assistance). You fill out one application and check the programs you want. Staff then decide each program on its own rules.

There are four ways to apply:

• Online: use the Self-Service Portal (SSP). You create a North Dakota login, then apply, upload documents, and complete reviews. The portal also has an “Am I eligible?” screener.
• By phone: call the Customer Support Center at 1-866-614-6005 or 701-328-1000 (711 TTY). HHS lists hours as Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central.
• By mail: request a paper Application for Assistance (SFN 405) and mail it to Customer Support Center, P.O. Box 5562, Bismarck, ND 58506.
• In person: bring a printed application to your county’s Human Service Zone office.

You can also email documents to applyforhelp@nd.gov or fax them to 701-328-1006. If you only need help with one urgent bill, our North Dakota hardship relief guide covers short-term options.

SNAP food benefits and income limits

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program puts money for groceries on an EBT card. You can use it at grocery stores, farmers markets, and other USDA-approved stores. People who live together and buy and cook food together count as one household. Spouses and most children under 22 must apply together.

HHS publishes three income columns. Most households are judged against the 130% gross limit, but some households, such as those with an older or disabled member, are measured differently. The table shows the limits in effect from Oct. 1, 2026 to Sept. 30, 2027.

The maximum benefit is what a household with no income receives. As income rises, the benefit goes down. Adults ages 16 to 64 who can work may need to meet work rules unless an exemption applies. If you want help filling out the form, a Great Plains Food Bank SNAP outreach coordinator can help at 855-405-0000. You can estimate your benefit with our SNAP calculator.

Medicaid, Medicaid Expansion, and CHIP

North Dakota Medicaid covers several groups, and each group has its own income level. HHS updates these limits each April. The levels below took effect April 1, 2026.

• Medicaid Expansion: adults 19 to 64 with household income up to 138% of the poverty level. People who can get Medicare or SSI are not eligible for this group. Coverage is run through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota.
• Children: Medicaid covers children from birth through 18. The monthly limit is higher for children 5 and under.
• CHIP: uninsured children through the month they turn 19 whose family income is above the Medicaid level but not above 205% of poverty.
• Pregnant women: coverage for prenatal care, delivery, and 12 months after the baby is born. The unborn child counts in the household size.
• Children with disabilities: families can “buy in” to Medicaid with a premium equal to 5% of gross countable income, with no asset limit.

Sources: HHS Medicaid Expansion and HHS CHIP. If you are over the limit, HHS points people to the federal Marketplace at healthcare.gov. For a plain explanation of how Medicaid works nationally, see our Medicaid guide.

Home energy help through LIHEAP

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program pays part of the cost of natural gas, electricity, propane, fuel oil, coal, wood, and other heating fuels. In North Dakota it also covers weatherization, furnace cleaning, repair, and replacement, chimney cleaning, emergency help, and help with a cooling device. Homeowners and renters can both qualify.

LIHEAP in North Dakota now takes applications all year. Eligibility runs until your annual review date instead of ending each May. HHS notes that regular heating benefits are still limited to the heating season and available funding, while emergency and furnace help continue in the summer. Household income must be at or below 60% of state median income.

If you have a shutoff notice, are out of delivered fuel, or need a minor repair, call the Customer Support Center right away. Once approved, you take your LIHEAP approval letter to your local Community Action agency for furnace repair, weatherization, and Energy Share help. Tribal LIHEAP programs serve tribal members living on reservations. Learn how the program works in other states in our LIHEAP guide.

TANF cash help and the JOBS program

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families gives monthly cash help to families with children, loaded onto an Electronic Payment Card. A parent or a relative caring for a child may qualify when the child is under 18 (or will finish high school by 19) and lacks support from a parent because of death, disability, or absence. You may also qualify while pregnant.

There is a lifetime limit of 60 months, with some exceptions. Most adults take part in the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS) program, which offers work readiness, training, and job placement. HHS does not list benefit amounts on its TANF page, so ask the Customer Support Center what your family size would receive. A kinship care option helps relatives raising children.

Child care assistance and the waitlist

The Child Care Assistance Program helps pay part of child care costs for families who work or are in school or training. Because enrollment grew fast, HHS made several changes:

• Waitlist: applicants since Dec. 1, 2025 may be placed on a waitlist. Families at or below 30% of state median income and families experiencing homelessness get priority. Payments are not backdated for time spent on the list.
• Attendance: since April 1, 2026, a child must attend at least 40 hours in the month for a payment.
• Age: payments stop after the month a child turns 12.
• Rates: state maximum rates dropped on Jan. 1, 2026, so some families pay a remaining balance. Copays stay waived for families under 30% of state median income and for Child Care Workforce Benefit families.

Even with a waitlist, it is worth applying, since your place in line starts when you apply.

WIC and food banks for extra groceries

North Dakota WIC serves pregnant women, new mothers, babies, and children up to their 5th birthday. It provides healthy foods on an eWIC card, nutrition and breastfeeding support, and referrals. You can get WIC and SNAP at the same time.

Great Plains Food Bank supplies food pantries across the state. Pantries do not use the HHS application, and most ask only for basic information.

Housing and homebuying help

HHS does not run rent programs. For rent help, start with your local housing authority, Community Action agency, or 211. Our North Dakota rent relief guide lists current options.

The North Dakota Housing Finance Agency helps with buying a home. Its FirstHome program serves first-time buyers who have not owned a home in three years, and HomeAccess serves single parents, veterans, and households with a person who is disabled or 65 or older. Both have income and purchase price limits, and all NDHFA programs require at least $500 of your own money. You apply through a participating lender, not directly with the agency.

Unemployment through Job Service North Dakota

If you lost your job through no fault of your own, file for unemployment insurance with Job Service North Dakota. You file and certify each week through the UI ICE online system. The site has a benefits estimator and a claimant guide that explain how weekly amounts are figured. Job Service warns that scammers call claiming you have unclaimed benefits. Its real emails and texts never include a link; call 701-328-1680 if you are unsure.

Local help from FirstLink 211 and Community Action

FirstLink answers 211 across all of North Dakota, 24 hours a day. Dial 211 or text your ZIP code to 898-211 for referrals to rent and utility help, food pantries, shelters, and other services. FirstLink also answers the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline locally.

The Community Action Partnership of North Dakota network has seven agencies covering all 53 counties. They run weatherization, emergency help, and services for veterans and their families.

Program changes to watch

Federal law changes are reaching North Dakota programs. HHS tracks them on its Stay Enrolled page.

To keep benefits, update your address, open your mail, and return renewal packets on time.

What documents do I need to apply?

Expect to show photo ID, Social Security numbers for the people applying, proof of income for the last 30 days, and proof of where you live, plus any paper that shows the emergency itself. Our document checklist explains what counts for each item and what to do if something is missing. If you don't have everything yet, apply anyway and ask the office how long you have to bring the rest.

How to apply, step by step

1. List what you need: food, health coverage, heat, child care, or cash.
2. Gather documents like ID, income for last month and this month, and your heating bill or lease.
3. Apply once in the Self-Service Portal, by phone, by mail, or at your Human Service Zone office.
4. Answer the interview call and send any missing papers quickly.
5. Dial 211 for local help while you wait, such as food pantries or rent help.
6. Report changes within 10 days and complete each review so benefits do not stop.

Related guides

• Hardship grants for individuals
• Emergency food stamps
• CHIP health insurance
• Grants to help the elderly

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information. Income limits and rules change, so confirm with the agency before you apply. National Relief Program is an independent website and is not affiliated with North Dakota Health and Human Services or any government agency.