North Carolina Secures Federal Funds for 2026 Energy Assistance Program
As chilly months approach, ensuring warmth for low-income households in North Carolina becomes a pressing priority. To address this, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has successfully secured funding from federal partners for the 2026 Low Income Home and Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Despite delays due to a federal government shutdown, preparations have been underway to facilitate the opening of new applications for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) once the funds were acquired.
Michael Leighs, the NCDHHS Deputy Secretary for Opportunity and Well-Being, emphasized the significance of this program: “As the weather turns colder, heating and energy assistance is critical to help more than 130,000 households stay warm through the winter months. I am grateful to our team and our county and local partners who have worked diligently to ensure people who need assistance can receive it as quickly as possible.”
LIEAP, along with the Crisis Intervention Program (CIP), is funded by LIHEAP block grants. These programs aim to provide low-income households with a one-time financial aid distributed directly to their heating vendors. The objective is to alleviate the burden of high heating costs during the winter season.
Eligible North Carolina residents who have not received an auto-renewal or notice of automated payment can begin applying for LIEAP benefits from December 10, 2025. Households that qualified for automatic payments were informed of their eligibility by November 2025, and therefore, do not need to reapply.
Individuals aged 60 or older, or those with disabilities receiving services through the Division of Aging, who did not receive an automated payment notice, can apply online starting December 10, 2025, at epass.nc.gov. Alternatively, applications can be submitted by contacting the local county department of social services, either by phone, in person, or by printing a paper application from epass.nc.gov to mail, fax, or drop off at their county department of social services.
To qualify for LIEAP, a household must:
- Include at least one U.S. citizen or non-citizen who meets the eligibility requirements,
- Have an income at or below 130% of the federal poverty level, and
- Be responsible for paying their heating costs.
Beginning January 2, 2026, other eligible households can start applying. The application period extends from January 2, 2026, to March 31, 2026, or until the allocated funds are depleted.
In the previous year, LIHEAP provided around $45 million, assisting over 131,000 households with heating expenses from December 2024 to March 2025. For further details on the program and how to apply, visit the NCDHHS website.
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