Low-Income Energy Assistance Program offers heating assistance to eligible households

Press release from N.C. Department of Health and Human Services:

Low-income households with a person 60 or older or someone receiving disability benefits and services through the Division of Aging and Adult Services that need help covering the cost of heating their home this winter can apply for assistance starting Dec. 3.
The assistance is available to eligible households through the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program from Dec. 3 through Dec. 31. Beginning Jan. 2, all other low-income households may apply for assistance through March 29 or until funds are exhausted.
“This funding can help assist eligible individuals and families with their heating expenses during the winter months,” said David Locklear, Deputy Director of Economic and Family Services in the Division of Social Services. “We want to ensure families are healthy and safe during some of the most difficult times of the year.”
The federally funded program helps low-income households with a one-time payment directly to their heating vendor to offset the high cost of warming their homes during the cold weather months. Depending on the household’s primary heating source, the payment will be $200, $300 or $400.
Last year, the program provided approximately $32 million to help more than 128,000 households pay their heating bills from December 2017 through March 2018.
To be eligible, a household must:
  • Have at least one U.S. citizen or non-citizen who meets eligibility criteria
  • Have income equal to or less than 130 percent of the federal poverty limit, such as:
    • For a household of one, an income of $15,782 or less
    • For a family of four, an income of $32,630 or less
  • Have resources, such as saving and checking accounts, cash on hand, at or below $2,250
  • Be responsible for their heating cost
Households with Native Americans age 18 or older residing in Cumberland, Hoke, Robeson or Scotland counties applying for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program must contact the Lumbee Tribe at www.lumbeetribe.com.
Households that include an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) living in the five-county service area of Cherokee, Graham, Haywood, Jackson and Swain counties wishing to apply for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program must do so through the EBCI at https://ebci.com. This includes enrolled EBCI members on and off the Qualla Boundary in the five counties.
SHARE
About Community Bulletin
Mountain Xpress posts selected news and information of local interest as a public service for our readers. To submit press releases and other community material for possible publication, email news@mountainx.com.

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.