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Program helps low-income households afford heating costs and energy bills this winter

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will begin accepting applications through county social services departments for the state's Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) today.

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RALEIGH, N.C. — With the cost of natural gas up 180%, experts have warned that heating bills could be more than 50% higher than average this winter.

Alongside the 30-year high in inflation, causing the fastest price increases in decades, the increased cost of staying warm during the winter is an unwelcome uptick. To help households stay warm this season, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has began accepting applications on Wednesday for their Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP).

Applications can be submitted through county social services departments.

"More of our neighbors may be facing financial hardships because of COVID-19, and this funding can help eligible households with their heating expenses this winter," said NCDHHS Senior Director for Economic Security, Carla West. "We want to ensure seniors and people with disabilities are healthy and safe during a difficult time of the year."

The federally funded program helps low-income households with a one-time payment directly to their heating vendor. Depending on the household’s primary heating source, the payment will be $300, $400 or $500.

The automated payments will begin Dec. 1 and are designed to help eligible seniors and people with disabilities access winter heating assistance in a safe and socially distanced manner during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thousands of eligible households will receive an automated LIEAP payment.

Last year, the program provided approximately $59 million to help more than 168,000 households pay their heating bills from December 2020 through March 2021.

To learn more about the program eligibility and how to apply, visit the NCDHHS website.

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