Cumberland County: Low Income Energy Assistance Available Through DSS

Press release from the Cumberland County:

Dec 09, 2021

The Cumberland County Department of Social Services is accepting applications for the North Carolina Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) 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.

The month of December is when priority is given to households containing an elderly person aged 60 and above, or those containing persons with disabilities,  services through the Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS). Disabled persons are defined as receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Administration (SSA) or Veterans Affairs (VA) disability.

Due to COVID-19, the state has established an automatic payment for applicants who received LIEAP benefits last year (2020-2021). These benefits will be paid directly to their energy vendor. The traditional application process will be eliminated for this targeted population of elderly and disabled individuals who normally are required to apply for LIEAP. The criteria for the Pandemic LIEAP Automated Payments, targeted of elderly and disabled population must meet the following criteria:

• Households with persons aged 60 or older
• Households with disabled individuals receiving DAAS services and
• Currently receiving Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) and
• Received during the 2020-2021 LIEAP season

Any household may apply from Jan. 3 through March 31, or until funds are exhausted.

The following verifications must be provided in order to determine eligibility:

• Identification for Applicant
• Social Security numbers for all household members
• Copy of heating bill
• Proof of gross income received in the prior month
• Proof of childcare expenses and legal support obligations paid in the prior month

Apply for LIEAP online at ccdssnc.com/energy-assistance-programs or submit applications via:

• Fax to 910-677-2885
• email to energyprogram@ccdssnc.com
• mail to P.O. Box 2429 Fayetteville, NC 28302
• dropped off at CCDSS drop boxes located on the Hillsboro Street side of the building at 1225 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28301.

Households that include a Native American who is 18 years of age or older residing in Cumberland County, who wish to apply for LIEAP benefits, must do so through the Lumbee Tribe at

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.

This press release was produced by the Cumberland County. The views expressed here are the author’s own.