LIHEAP in North Carolina
Low-income families and individuals in North Carolina can apply for LIHEAP assistance to help ease the financial strain of high heating and cooling bills. The program is funded by the Department of Health and Human Services with state offices distributing funds to local utilities. Local utility companies working with LIHEAP in North Carolina include:
- Albemarle Electric Membership Corporation
- Blueridge Electric Membership Corporation
- Cape Hatteras Electric
- Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative
- Central Electric
- Dominion North Carolina Power
- Duke Power
- Fayetteville Public Works
- Four County Electric
- Haywood Electric Membership Corporation
- Lumbee River Electric
- Mecklenburg County
- Nashville Electric Service
- Piedmont Electric
- Piedmont Natural Gas
- Progress Energy
- PSNC Energy
- Randolph Electric
- Surry-Yadkin Electric
Some utility companies offer additional programs for low-income customers. If you’ve been approved for LIHEAP, contact your utility company to see if there are any other programs that could reduce the impact of heating and cooling bills on your finances.
North Carolina LIHEAP Assistance
LIHEAP assistance helped more than 350,000 households in 2011. The fund for 2012 was given more than $62 million by the federal government. Applications are accepted for the heating program from December 1 to January 31. Applications from senior citizens and disabled residents are given priority. If you live in a household that does not have a senior citizen or disabled resident, you application deadlines range from February 1 to March 31 if there are funds available to distribute. Crisis applications are accepted year-round as are cooling applications.
The minimum benefit for heating is $40 with a maximum benefit of $400. Cooling and crisis benefits max out at $600.
LIHEAP Applications & How to Apply
You must visit an office of the North Carolina Division of Social Services to apply for LIHEAP assistance. If you have questions about the application process, you can call 1-800-662-7030. You can also choose to visit a local office. There are offices located in each North Carolina County.
LIHEAP Eligibility – Am I Eligible?
There are two income guidelines used to qualify applicants for LIHEAP assistance. If you are applying for general assistance under the heating and cooling program, you must earn at or below 130% of the federal poverty line. If you are applying for crisis support, you can earn up to 150% of the federal poverty line.
130% of Federal Poverty
|
Family Size |
130% of Poverty |
|
1 |
$14,157 |
|
2 |
$19,123 |
|
3 |
$24,089 |
|
4 |
$29,055 |
|
5 |
$34,021 |
|
6 |
$38,987 |
|
7 |
$43,953 |
|
8 |
$48,919 |
Add $4,966 for each additional household member above eight.
150% of Federal Poverty
|
Family Size |
150% of Poverty |
|
1 |
$16,335 |
|
2 |
$22,065 |
|
3 |
$27,795 |
|
4 |
$33,525 |
|
5 |
$39,255 |
|
6 |
$44,985 |
|
7 |
$50,715 |
|
8 |
$56,445 |
Add $5,730 for each additional family member above eight.
