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NC LIEAP funding delayed: What low-income households need to know
More in Government:
As of November 25, 2025, the State of North Carolina has not received its notice of funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program from the federal government. Due to the delay in receiving this notice, county Departments of Social Services will not be able to accept new applications for LIHEAP on December 1, 2025. We are closely monitoring the situation and will notify the public as soon as the funding is received and the application process begins.
Please note: People who qualify for the auto-renewal are not impacted and their energy provider will receive the benefit on December 1, 2025 as expected. Households meeting the requirements for the automatic payment were notified through November 2025 and do not need to re-apply for LIEAP.
The Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) is a federally-funded program that provides for a one-time vendor payment to help eligible households pay their heating bills.
Households including a person aged 60 or older or disabled persons receiving services through the NC Division of Aging and Adult Services are eligible to sign up for assistance from Dec. 1 – 31. All other households may apply from Jan. 1 – March 31 or until funds are exhausted.
Households that meet the following criteria may be eligible:
- Have at least one U.S. citizen or non-citizen who meets the eligibility criteria.
- Meet an income test.
- Be responsible for its heating costs
Eligibility
The following chart describes the Low Income Energy Assistance Eligibility Requirements.
| Eligibility Requirement | What’s Needed | How Often |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ID, Contact with someone knowledgeable of your situation. | At application |
| Address | Lease, rental agreement, any other shelter expenses, contact with someone knowledgeable of your situation. | At application or situation, if moving |
| Citizenship/ Alien Status | Verification of citizenship/alien status via Immigration and Naturalization Service. | At application |
| Social Security Number | Valid social security card or number. | At application |
| Earned Income: Wages/Self-Employment | Wage stubs, tax forms contacting employer. | At application |
| Unearned Income: Public Benefits/ Private Retirement Benefits/Trust, etc. | Documents from provider, award letter. | At application |
| Assets/Resources | Ownership and tax records – bank and court documents. | At application |
| Heating Expense | Copy of bills. | At application |
Low-Income Energy Assistance Income Levels Based on 130% of Federal Poverty
How to Apply
Households including a person aged 60 or older or an individual receiving disability benefits and services through the NC Division of Aging and Adult Services are eligible to sign up for assistance from Dec. 1 – 31. All other households may apply from Jan. 1 – March 31, or until funds are exhausted. Contact your local Department of Social Services for the application dates and for additional information on LIEAP. To apply for Energy Assistance online please visit NCDHHS – ePASS.
Contact
For more information, please contact your local Department of Social Services or the NC Division of Social Services.
Nov. 30, 2025
Contributed by https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/social-services/energy-assistance/low-income-energy-assistance-lieap
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