Minnesotans may have to wait a month for energy assistance after government shutdown

The federal government shutdown is over , but for hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans, relief remains out of reach for energy assistance.

State officials say the federally funded program could take up to 30 days for the money to get to Minnesota.

For Lynn Miller, who is retired and living on a fixed income, this energy assistance is crucial.

"It is always helpful to us," Miller said. "Just wish we could get it going so we don't have to deal with through the winter."

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, is a federal program that provides assistance to low-income households. Minnesota received $125 million from it last year, which helped 125,000 households with utility bills through the state's Energy Assistance Program , according to the Minnesota Department