Energy assistance available for Wayne County households

WAYNE COUNTY — Households in Wayne County containing a person aged 60 or over or someone receiving disability benefits and services through the N.C. Division of Aging and Adult Services can apply for help covering the cost of heating their homes now through Friday, Dec. 30.

All other households can apply from Monday, Jan. 1 through Tuesday, March 31 or until funds are exhausted. The federally funded Low-Income Energy Assistance Program provides eligible households with a one-time payment to their heating vendor to offset the high cost of heating during the cold-weather months. Depending on the household’s primary heating source, the payment will be $300, $400 or $500.

To be eligible, a household must have at least one U.S. citizen or non-citizen who meets eligibility criteria, have income equal to or less than 130 percent of the federal poverty limit, such as having resources, such as savings and checking accounts, cash on hand, at or below $2,250 and be responsible for their heating costs.

Those who want to apply for energy assistance can do so in person at the Wayne County Department of Social Services at 100 S. James Street Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Applications are available for pick up at this location as well as on the county website and may be placed in the drop box on James Street. Applications may also be submitted online at https://epass.nc.gov/.

For more information on the Low-Income Energy Assistance program, go to https://www.ncdhhs.gov/assistance/low-income-services/low-income-energy-assistance.

— From Wayne County Public Information