The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services are now accepting applications through county social services departments for the state’s Low-Income Energy Assistance Program.

Households including a person aged 60 or older or disabled individuals receiving services through the Division of Aging and Adult Services who have a life-threatening or health-related emergency due to a lack of heating are eligible to sign up for assistance Dec. 2–31. All eligible households may apply from Jan. 2 to March 31, 2020, or until funds are exhausted.

The federally funded program helps households with low incomes with a one-time payment made directly to their heating vendor to offset the high cost of keeping their homes warm.

To apply, individuals should contact their county department of social services. Applications will be accepted until funds are exhausted.

To be eligible, a household must:

– Have at least one U.S. citizen or non-citizen who meets the eligibility criteria

– Have income equal to or less than 130 percent of the federal poverty limit; for example: for a household of one, a gross monthly income of $1,353; for a family of four, a gross monthly income of $2,790.

– Have resources, such as saving and checking accounts or cash on hand, at or below $2,250.

– Be responsible for heating costs.

For more information on the program and eligibility, visit ncdhhs.gov/assistance, then go to low income services.

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