Low Income Energy Assistance Program (North Carolina LIEAP)
Last updated August 2026
The Low Income Energy Assistance Program, LIEAP, is a one-time yearly payment that North Carolina sends straight to your heating vendor to help with the winter bill. The money does not come to you; it lands on your account with the utility or fuel supplier. Apply at your county Department of Social Services or online at epass.nc.gov.
The calendar is the first thing to get right. Households that include someone 60 or older, or a disabled person receiving services through the NC Division of Aging and Adult Services, get the whole month of December to themselves: December 1 through 31. Every other household applies January 1 through March 31. But funds routinely run out before the end date, so early in your window beats late.
Eligibility rests on income and a heating cost. Your household income must be at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level, you need to be responsible for a heating expense, and at least one member must be a U.S. citizen or a non-citizen who meets the rules. The state posts a current income chart, and there is also a reserve limit on assets the county checks at application.
It is one payment per heating season, not an ongoing discount. LIEAP takes the edge off one bill during the cold months. If your heat is already at risk, a disconnect notice or a home with no working heat, that is a different program: the Crisis Intervention Program runs year-round for exactly that emergency, and you can ask about both at the same county office.
Bring what proves the pieces. The county verifies identity, address, citizenship or immigration status, income, assets, and your heating expense, usually with a copy of a bill. Have those in hand so a single visit finishes the application. Questions about where to start go to the state help line at 1-800-662-7030.
Stack the help while you are there. Pair LIEAP with the Weatherization Assistance Program, which lowers the underlying bill by fixing the home, and dial 2-1-1 for any other local utility funds. Households applying for LIEAP often qualify for Food and Nutrition Services too, so let ePASS check.
Updated August 2026 Program details can change — confirm with the program directly.
Who qualifies
- Household income at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level, plus a reserve limit; you must have a heating cost or responsibility
- The payment is one-time per heating season and is paid directly to your heating vendor, not to you
You may qualify. The program makes the final decision.
How to apply
- 1
Confirm your application window: December 1-31 for households with a member 60 or older or disabled, January 1 to March 31 for everyone else.
- 2
Apply early in your window at your county DSS or online at epass.nc.gov; funds can run out.
- 3
Provide proof of income, assets, citizenship or immigration status, and your heating cost.
- 4
If a shut-off is already looming, ask about the Crisis Intervention Program in the same visit.
What to have ready
- ID and proof of address for the household
- Proof of income and assets for household members
- A copy of your heating bill. The county confirms the exact list at application.
What the application looks like
Common questions
When can I apply for LIEAP in North Carolina?
Households with a member 60 or older, or a disabled person getting services through the Division of Aging and Adult Services, apply December 1 through 31. All other households apply January 1 through March 31, or until funds run out.
What is the income limit for LIEAP?
Household income at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level, plus a reserve limit on assets. You also need to be responsible for a heating cost. The state posts a current income chart.
Does LIEAP pay me directly?
No. It is a one-time payment sent to your heating vendor, so it lands on your utility or fuel account rather than coming to you.
My heat is about to be cut off. Is LIEAP the right program?
For an active emergency, ask about the Crisis Intervention Program, which runs year-round for heating and cooling crises. You can apply for both at your county DSS.
Not sure this is the right program for your situation?
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