Financial Aid

South Dakota provides financial aid to low-income households, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Programs include housing, utility assistance, employment services, and more.

Food Stamps

South Dakota Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), assist low-income households living in SD obtain food stamps to help in the purchase of the food they need to stay healthy.

LIHEAP

South Dakota Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) assists low-income households with financial grants to ensure that such households are not left without heating during cold weather.

Medicaid

Medicaid in South Dakota offers free and low cost health care and medical benefits to low-income residents of South Dakota. The Department of Social Services administers this program throughout the state.

Medical

South Dakota Medical Assistance for Low-Income Families (LIF) program is meant to help low-income South Dakota families (with or without private health insurance) access full medical assistance coverage. LIF is funded through the Medicaid program. Medical assistance programs administered by the Department of Social Services in SD include:

• Families with dependent children (supporting parent(s)/caretaker(s) with dependent children)
• Children's health insurance (supporting only children up to age 19 years)
• Pregnancy programs for pregnant women

In each case, eligibility criteria may be different but in most cases the coverage is very similar.

SSDI

South Dakotans who meet the necessary eligibility criteria can receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. This program supports those in South Dakota who are unable to work as a result of a disability.

TANF

South Dakota's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program focuses on providing temporary financial help to low-income families with children, aiming to foster family stability. The program supports parents and guardians in their journey toward financial independence by requiring participation in work-related activities. This approach emphasizes the importance of self-reliance and the value of employment as a means to improve the family's quality of life.

TEFAP

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) in South Dakota offers a variety of USDA-funded foods to support low-income families and individuals. Through a network of food banks and pantries, TEFAP in South Dakota helps to alleviate hunger and improve food security among the state's most vulnerable populations, ensuring access to healthy and nutritious foods.

Unemployment

The South Dakota Department of Labor oversees the state's unemployment insurance benefits program. The program provides financial assistance while helping unemployed workers transition back into the workforce. If you lost your job through no fault of your own, you should file for benefits right away to begin collecting weekly unemployment compensation.

Veterans Disability

South Dakota offers Veterans Disability Benefits to veterans who were injured or developed a medical condition during their active military service. This is one of the many VA benefits designed to honor the service and sacrifice of American veterans. In addition to disability benefits, South Dakota veterans are entitled to comprehensive healthcare services, VA pensions, VA home loans, and much more.

WAP

South Dakota Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) provides weatherization services to low-income individuals and families living in state of South Dakota. These weatherization services are free and available to all income-eligible households.

WIC

The South Dakota WIC is a federal government sponsored program that provides nutritious foods, nutrition education, health care referrals and other social services to women infants and children. The program targets low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants and children. Since its inception, the South Dakota WIC program has helped increase the long-term health of mothers and their children in the state.