Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) — Stokes County DSS
Last updated August 2026
A shut-off notice on your power bill in July, or no working heat in January, is exactly what the Crisis Intervention Program exists for. CIP pays up to $600 per crisis, sent straight to your utility company, and unlike LIEAP it runs all year. Apply through Stokes County DSS at 1010 Main Street in Danbury, or call (336) 593-2861.
The word to hold onto is emergency. CIP is for households in, or about to be in, a heating or cooling crisis: a disconnection notice, an empty fuel tank, no working heat or air. It is not a program for routine bills. Income has to fall within program limits, and the DSS worker will walk you through that test when you apply.
Two design details work in your favor. Payments go directly to the vendor, which means the utility hears from DSS and a pending disconnection can be resolved at the source. And you can get help more than once in a year if new crises hit, up to $600 total per state fiscal year, which runs July through June.
Phone (336) 593-2861
Hours Mon–Fri 8:30am–5pm; 4th Thursday of each month until 6pm
Updated August 2026 Program details can change — confirm with the program directly.
Who qualifies
- You are having a heating or cooling emergency, or about to have one
- Household income within program limits
You may qualify. The program makes the final decision.
How to apply
- 1
Call Stokes County DSS at (336) 593-2861 or go to 1010 Main Street in Danbury. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 5pm, and until 6pm on the fourth Thursday of each month.
- 2
Tell them you have a heating or cooling emergency and want to apply for CIP. Say the date on your disconnection notice if you have one.
- 3
Complete the application with a worker, including the income check.
- 4
If approved, the payment goes straight to your utility company. Confirm with the utility that the disconnection is on hold.
What to have ready
- Your disconnection or past-due notice (bring the notice itself)
- Proof of income for your household (most offices also want ID and proof of where you live; confirm the exact list when you call)
Common questions
How much can CIP pay?
Up to $600 per crisis, and up to $600 total per state fiscal year (July through June). You can apply more than once in a year if you have not used the full amount. Payments go to your utility company, not to you.
Can CIP pay my water bill?
No. CIP covers heating and cooling emergencies only. For a water bill, call Crisis Control Ministry at (336) 724-7453 or NC 211 at 1-888-892-1162; there is no government water bill program in North Carolina right now.
Is CIP only open in winter?
No, it runs year-round. A cooling emergency in summer counts the same as a heating emergency in winter. LIEAP is the winter-only program.
How fast does CIP move when my power is about to be cut?
Bring your disconnection notice and say the cut-off date when you apply; emergencies are the program's whole purpose. Ask the worker directly what happens before your date, and ask whether DSS will notify the utility.
Not sure this is the right program for your situation?
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