LIEAP and the Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) are both funded through the LIHEAP block grant and help low-income households manage heating costs during the winter months.
*When to Apply
Starting December 10, 2025, North Carolina households who are eligible for LIEAP and did not receive an automatic benefit or notice of automatic payment can apply for assistance.
“As the weather turns colder, heating and energy assistance is critical to help more than 130,000 households stay warm through the winter months,” said NCDHHS Deputy Secretary for Opportunity and Well-Being Michael Leighs. “I am grateful to our team and our county and local partners who have worked diligently to ensure people who need assistance can receive it as quickly as possible.”
*How LIEAP Helps
LIEAP provides a one-time payment sent directly to a household’s heating provider to help cover high winter heating costs.
*Automatic Payments
Some households received an automatic LIEAP payment at the end of November. To qualify for automatic approval, a household must include someone who:
Is 60 or older, or a person with a disability receiving services through the NCDHHS Division of Aging,
Currently receives Food and Nutrition Services (FNS/SNAP), and
Received a LIEAP payment during the 2024–2025 season.
Households that met these criteria were notified in November 2025 and do not need to apply again.
*How to Apply
Households with someone age 60 or older, or a person with a disability receiving Division of Aging services who did not receive an automatic payment, may apply starting Dec. 10, 2025:
-Online: epass.nc.gov
-By Phone: Call Haywood Health and Human Services at (828) 452-6620
-In Person: 157 Paragon Parkway, Clyde, NC
-By Mail/Fax/Drop-Off: Download an application at epass.nc.gov
*Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for LIEAP, a household must:
-Include at least one U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen,
-Have income at or below 130% of the federal poverty level, and
-Be responsible for paying its heating bill.
-Applications for All Others
Beginning January 2, 2026, all other eligible households may apply. Applications will be accepted January 2 – March 31, 2026, or until all funds are used.
*Program Impact
Last winter, LIHEAP provided approximately $45 million to help more than 131,000 households across North Carolina pay their heating bills from December 2024 through March 2025.
For more information about LIEAP and eligibility, visit the NCDHHS website or contact Haywood Health and Human Services.