North Carolina’s Energy Assistance Program to Open for Applications in December
As the colder months approach, North Carolina is preparing to assist low-income households with their heating expenses. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) will soon open applications for its Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) starting December 2, 2024. This program is designed to help older adults and people with disabilities who are receiving services from the NCDHHS Division of Aging.
This federally funded initiative provides a one-time payment directly to heating vendors to alleviate the financial burden of high heating costs for low-income families during winter. The program’s payments will be automatically distributed to eligible households beginning in December 2024, provided they meet specific criteria.
Eligibility and Application Process
Households eligible for automatic payments will be informed of their status by November 2024. These households will not need to reapply for the assistance. However, those who qualify but have not received notification can apply through the online portal at epass.nc.gov. Alternatively, applications can be submitted by contacting the local county department of social services by phone, in person, or by mailing, faxing, or dropping off a printed application from epass.nc.gov.
Qualification Criteria
To qualify for LIEAP, households must satisfy the following conditions:
- Include at least one U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen,
- Have an income at or below 130% of the federal poverty level, and
- Be responsible for their heating expenses.
Beginning January 2, 2025, other eligible households can submit their applications, with the deadline set for March 31, 2025, or until the funds are depleted.
In the previous year, the program distributed approximately $48 million, assisting over 134,000 households with their heating bills from December 2023 to March 2024. For further details on the program and its eligibility requirements, visit the NCDHHS website.
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