If you live in Seattle and you’re behind on your water, sewer, or garbage bill, there’s a city program that can put money directly toward what you owe. It’s called the Emergency Assistance Program (EAP), and it’s run by Seattle Public Utilities (SPU). If you qualify, you could get up to $537 a year — or up to $1,074 if you have kids under 18 in the home — credited straight to your account.
Here’s what you need to know.
What Is the Emergency Assistance Program?
The Emergency Assistance Program is a City of Seattle benefit that helps income-qualified households pay down their current Seattle Public Utilities balance — that’s water, sewer, and garbage service. It’s designed for people who are struggling to keep up with their bill and at risk of falling further behind or facing a shutoff.
The assistance comes in the form of “pledges,” which are payments SPU makes directly toward your account. You can receive up to four pledges in a calendar year, and the total across all four can’t exceed the yearly maximum.
How Much Money Can I Get?
For 2026, eligible households can receive up to $537 a year in emergency assistance. If you have children under 18 living with you, that maximum doubles to $1,074 a year.
You can receive this in up to four separate pledges throughout the year rather than as one lump sum, which can help if your balance grows over time.
Who Is Eligible?
To qualify for the Emergency Assistance Program, you generally need to meet these requirements:
- You live in a single-family home (duplexes, apartments, and commercial properties don’t qualify for this program)
- Your Seattle Public Utilities account is in your name — or, if you rent and your landlord’s name is on the SPU account, your Seattle City Light (electric) account is in your name instead
- Your gross household income is at or below 80% of Washington’s State Median Income
For 2026, that income limit works out to $58,536 a year for a one-person household and $76,548 a year for a two-person household, with the limit rising for each additional person in the home. “Household income” means the combined income of everyone 18 or older living with you, whether or not they’re related to you, added up before taxes.
Big news for the future: Seattle recently announced it’s expanding this income limit significantly. Starting in January 2027, the limit will rise to $92,160 for a one-person household and $105,405 for a two-person household — meaning many more people will qualify. If your income is currently a bit too high, it may be worth checking again once that change takes effect.
If you receive SNAP, it’s even easier. If you or the person whose name is on the utility bill receives SNAP benefits, you don’t need to submit any separate income documents — your DSHS SNAP award letter (both the cover page and the calculation page) can be used as your proof of income instead. This is sometimes called an “Express Application.”
What Documents Will I Need?
To apply, gather the following for every adult (18 and older) living in your home:
- A photo ID (state driver’s license or ID, passport, U.S. military ID, tribal ID, or permanent resident card — you only need to submit the front of the ID or the photo page of a passport, and IDs that expired within the last year are still accepted)
- Proof of income or benefits from the most recent full month. What counts depends on your situation:
- Paychecks: all pay stubs from the last full month
- Social Security, SSI, or Survivor Benefits: an award letter or a bank statement showing the deposit
- SNAP, TANF, or other DSHS benefits: your DSHS award letter (cover and calculation pages)
- Unemployment: your Employment Security Department form
- Self-employment: last year’s tax return plus a Declaration of Self-Employment form
- Child support, veteran’s benefits, pensions, or disability benefits: the relevant award letter or statement
If you’re not sure your situation fits neatly into one of these categories, it’s worth calling ahead — the program has a form for irregular or limited income situations too.
How Do I Apply?
One application lets you apply for several assistance programs at once, including the Emergency Assistance Program, the Utility Discount Program, and Seattle City Light’s Emergency Bill Assistance. Here’s how to apply:
- Confirm your account details. Make sure your name is listed on the bill, and know your account number (it’s on your bill or on the My Utility Services website).
- Set up a City of Seattle online account, if you’re applying online — you’ll use the same login as the Utility Services website. If you don’t have an email address, use the paper application instead.
- Work through the application, which asks about your housing situation (do you own or rent, what type of home, how you heat it), your income or SNAP status, and everyone living in your household. Note that your uploaded documents are only saved once you officially submit the application, so it’s best to gather everything before you start.
- Upload your documents, including photo ID and income proof for every adult in your household.
- Review and submit. You’ll get an on-screen confirmation and a follow-up email once your application goes through.
You can also apply by phone by calling the office, or download a paper application to submit by mail, fax, or email. To have a paper application mailed to you, email SPUCustomerService@seattle.gov. If you don’t have a scanner or printer at home, you can scan, copy, or fax documents for free at any Seattle Customer Service Center, the Downtown Utility Services Counter, or your local Seattle Public Library or King County Library branch.
If your application is complete, SPU will check your eligibility. If anything is missing, they’ll contact you for it — but incomplete applications take longer to process, so it helps to send everything at once. If you’re approved, your assistance is applied directly to your account and backdated to your application date. If you’re denied, you’ll need to wait 30 days before reapplying.
If you’ve already received a shutoff notice, don’t wait on the full application — call Seattle’s Customer Service Center right away to talk through your options while your application is processed.
What If I Live in an Apartment or My Landlord Pays the Bill?
Since the Emergency Assistance Program is limited to single-family homes, renters in apartments or duplexes should look into the Utility Discount Program instead, which offers an ongoing 50% discount on Seattle Public Utilities bills and 60% off Seattle City Light bills. If your landlord pays your building’s utilities directly, you may still be eligible for a utility credit — it’s worth applying to find out.
If you live in designated affordable housing, check with your housing provider before applying on your own. Many affordable housing communities have automatic enrollment or streamlined applications already set up with the city.
Relief Recap
Seattle’s Emergency Assistance Program offers real, direct help for single-family homeowners and qualifying renters struggling to keep up with water, sewer, and garbage bills, and having children under 18 in the home doubles what you can receive. If you receive SNAP, applying is especially simple since your DSHS award letter takes the place of most other income paperwork. With income limits expanding again in 2027, it’s worth applying now if you’re close to qualifying — and checking back if you’re not quite there yet.
