Benefits · Emergency Aid
How to apply for Monroe County Social Services — LIHEAP + Community Support Services
Monroe County Social Services — a department of the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners at 1100 Simonton Street, Suite 1-190, Key West FL 33040; administers LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program) + interim financial, medical, case management, and other community support services for needy, disabled, and elderly Monroe County residents; funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services via the Florida Department of Commerce
Who it's for
Monroe County Social Services is the local Monroe BoCC department administering the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and a broader Community Support Services portfolio (interim financial, medical, case management) for needy, disabled, and elderly Monroe County (Florida Keys) residents. The Florida LIHEAP income gate is set at 60 percent of the State Median Income. LIHEAP provides financial assistance for electric bills, deposits, past-due utility bills, and energy crises. Senior-headed households receive application priority under federal LIHEAP rules. Monroe's BoCC-department delivery model is structurally similar to neighboring rural FL counties (Hendry, Glades, DeSoto, Leon) that use BoCC departments rather than independent Community Action Agency nonprofits — though Monroe is the largest BoCC-department-model county by population (~83,000) and the only one in an island geography. Apply by visiting Monroe County Social Services in Key West, by emailing mcssreferrals@monroecounty-fl.gov, or by completing the intake application online at monroecounty-fl.gov/socialservices. Senior-pathway applicants can also access LIHEAP referrals via Alliance for Aging's ElderHelpline at 1-800-96-ELDER or the ADRC at 305-670-4357. Online statewide LIHEAP application is also available at floridaliheap.com.
Monroe County Social Services administers Monroe County LIHEAP on a first-come-first-served basis — funds can exhaust mid-year. Apply EARLY in the cooling season (typically February-March) and heating season (typically November-December) for the strongest chance of award. Florida LIHEAP uses 60% of State Median Income as the income gate. Monroe's island geography means many residents face HIGH air conditioning costs year-round (Keys climate is hot/humid 10+ months), making LIHEAP cooling-crisis benefits especially valuable here. The BoCC-department delivery model in Monroe (5th in the FL catalog after Leon, Hendry, Glades, DeSoto) is structurally similar but is by far the LARGEST BoCC-department-model county by population. For Monroe seniors who prefer a senior-pathway intake, Alliance for Aging's ADRC (305-670-4357) and ElderHelpline (1-800-96-ELDER) can provide LIHEAP application coordination consolidated with senior services intake. The mcssreferrals@monroecounty-fl.gov email and the floridaliheap.com online portal are distinctive multiple-application-path options unique to Monroe's broader Community Support Services framework.
What you'll need
- Proof of all household income (Social Security award letter, pension statement, pay stubs, SSI award letter)
- Current energy bill (electric — most Monroe residents are served by Keys Energy Services or Florida Keys Electric Cooperative) and any past-due notices
- Photo identification
- Proof of Monroe County residency (utility bill, lease, or government correspondence)
- Documentation of household members and ages (especially seniors, disabled, children under 6 for priority)
- For crisis assistance: shutoff notice
Where to apply
Apply online: official application
By phone: 305-292-4408
Renewals
annual regular benefit + crisis benefits per program year
Not sure if you qualify? Run a free check first.
Find my benefitsNot legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.