Written by a parent, not a doctor. Nothing here is medical advice.

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North Carolina program

Help with the heating bill

County help with heating bills, plus a separate program for a heating or cooling crisis.

What it is

County help with heating bills, plus a separate program for a heating or cooling crisis.

LIEAP helps pay a seasonal heating bill. The Crisis Intervention Program covers qualifying heating or cooling emergencies. They have different income rules and application periods.

Eligibility rules
  • LIEAP normally uses 130% of poverty. The crisis route uses 150%, as does the listed older-adult or specified-disability-services LIEAP category.
  • County DSS confirms the winter 2026–27 dollar limits and asset rules. LIEAP’s special 150% category depends on the specified older-adult or disability-service conditions. A child’s diagnosis alone does not establish that category.
What you get
  • A payment toward the heating bill.
  • Separate crisis help when heating or cooling is at risk.
What the help covers
  • LIEAP uses one-time heating-payment bands, and CIP can help with an immediate heating or cooling crisis. Amounts, the period used for a CIP maximum and available funds need confirmation with county DSS; these are not ongoing monthly utility discounts.
If you decide to apply
  1. Ask county social services which energy program is open, or use ePASS.
  2. Have income information, the utility bill and any disconnection notice ready.

The county Department of Social Services · Official page ↗

If you decide to apply
  • Priority applications run December 1–31 for qualifying older-adult or disability-service households. General applications run January 1–March 31.
Good to know

Seasonal assistance and a utility shutoff extension are different decisions. Available funding limits energy payments.

Other details
  • Specified Native American households use the Lumbee Tribe in Cumberland, Hoke, Robeson and Scotland counties. In Cherokee, Graham, Haywood, Jackson and Swain, the route is the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Federal background: LIHEAP.

Official sources
Ask your social worker

“Which heating or crisis program could help our household, and what would it cover? Could you help us check the open season and any notice deadline?”

Why I’m asking: I want to keep heating and cooling reliable during treatment.

More background and detailed requirements
Additional program information and published rules

Who does what

The three parts, side by side. The agency decides; nobody on this page does.

You

Bring the bill and the disconnection notice if there is one.

Your social worker

The county worker checks the season and the income table.

The care team

Records and letters when the application asks for them.

Who decides
The county Department of Social Services.
Ask your social worker
“Can you tell me which energy season is open now, and help me apply for crisis help if there is a notice?”

How to apply

First step: Call the county Department of Social Services and ask which season is open.

  1. Ask the county which season applies now.
  2. If a disconnection notice has arrived, ask for the crisis programme today.

Official application / program page ↗

Where it starts: Apply at the county Department of Social Services in season, or on ePASS. Specified Native American households in Cumberland, Hoke, Robeson and Scotland apply through the Lumbee Tribe, and in Cherokee, Graham, Haywood, Jackson and Swain through the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

What to gather

  • The latest energy bill
  • Any disconnection notice
  • This month’s income

How long: Decided by the county within the season.

Clock: Priority applications run December 1 to 31 for a household with someone aged 60 or over or receiving specified disability services.

What a yes looks like

A payment made directly to the energy company.

What a no looks like, and the next move

Ask whether funds have run out for the year, and when the next season opens.

Watch out

  • The heating programme has a season: December for priority households, January to March for everyone else.
  • The crisis programme runs all year while the county still has funds.

The numbers and the rules

The arcane layer, kept on purpose. Checked September 11, 2026.

What it is worth

A payment towards heating at or under $3,483 a month for four, and separate crisis money.

  • $3,483/month — Family of 4, heating help income limit
  • $2,887/month — Family of 3, heating help income limit
  • $4,019/month — Family of 4, crisis programme income limit

Covers: A payment towards the heating bill · Crisis payment when heating or cooling is about to stop

What it costs the family: No cost.

The eligibility facts, as published

Income
130% of the poverty line for heating help, 150% for the crisis programme and for a household with someone aged 60 or over or receiving specified disability services
Season
priority December 1 to 31; general January 1 to March 31; crisis funding runs July 1 to June 30

The trap: The heating season has dates. Priority applications run December 1 to 31 for a household with someone aged 60 or over or getting specified disability services; everyone else applies January 1 to March 31, while funds last. The crisis programme has its own year, July 1 to June 30.

Where I read this

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