The Cumberland County Department of Social Services is accepting applications for the North Carolina Low Income Energy Assistance Program to help qualified families with their heating costs. The federally funded program provides a one-time vendor payment to help eligible households pay their heating bills.

Households including a person age 60 or older or disabled persons receiving services through the N.C. Division of Aging and Adult Services are eligible to sign up for assistance until Dec. 31. Disabled persons are defined as receiving Supplemental Security Income, Social Security Administration or Veterans Administration disability.

All other households may apply from Jan. 4 through March 31 or until funds are exhausted.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services announced Nov. 30 that it will issue assistance to 2019-2020 LIEAP recipients. These benefits will be paid directly to their energy vendor. The traditional application process will be eliminated for elderly and disabled individuals who normally are required to apply for LIEAP funds.

Eligible households may qualify to receive the LIEAP payments for the 2020-2021 season if a member of the household:
•is age 60 or older or a person with a disability receiving DAAS services, and
•is currently receiving Food and Nutrition services, and
•received LIEAP during the 2019-2020 season.

To be eligible for the LIEAP program, a household must:
•Have at least one U.S. citizen or non-citizen who meets the eligibility criteria
•Have income equal to or less than 130% of the federal poverty limit
•Have resources, such as saving and checking accounts and cash on hand, at or below $2,250
•Be responsible for their heating cost

The following verifications must be provided to determine eligibility:
•Identification for the applicant
•Social Security numbers for all household members
•Copy of the heating bill
•Proof of gross income received in the prior month
•Proof of childcare expenses and legal support obligations paid in prior month

Since the Cumberland County DSS building remains closed to the public, applications can be accessed at www.ccdssnc.com/energy-assistance-programs/ and may be returned by:
•fax to 910-677-2885
•email to energyprogram@ccdssnc.com
•mail to P.O. Box 2429, Fayetteville, NC 28302
•drop off at CCDSS drop boxes at 1225 Ramsey St. in Fayetteville

Households that include a Native American who is 18 years of age or older who wish to apply for LIEAP benefits, must do so through the Lumbee Tribe at www.lumbeetribe.com/services.

For more information, contact the DSS LIEAP message line at 910-677-2821 or the Cumberland County Department of Social Services at 910-323-1540.