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ENERGY PROGRAMS EP-300 LOW INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

2 Section 300 Change #2-2026 May 1, 2026 EXAMPLES: a. An applicant aged 50 applies in December. Also, in the home are two children under 18 and another adult age 40 who is disabled and receiving services through DAAS. This household is potentially eligible to receive benefits in the month of December. b. A disabled applicant aged 45 applies in December. There is another adult in the home age 20 who is not disabled. The disabled applicant does not receive any services through DAAS. This household may apply in December but does not meet the target group eligibility requirements to potentially receive benefits during that month. This household will need to reapply beginning January 1st through March 31st, or until funds are exhausted, to be considered for approval. c. An applicant aged 60 applies in January. Also, in the home are two other adults, aged 30 and 42. This household is potentially eligible to receive benefits during the month of December. d. An applicant aged 40 applies in December. Also, in the home is another adult aged 65 and a child aged 10. This household is potentially eligible to receive benefits during the month of December. Any household can potentially receive benefits from January 1st through March 31st or until funds are exhausted if all eligibility requirements are met. If December 1st or January 1st falls on a weekend or holiday, resort to the first working day of the month. If March 31st falls on a weekend or holiday, resort to the last working day of the month. When an applicant comes into an agency that takes applications and requests to apply during the application time frame as defined above, they must be allowed to sign an application on the day they appear. NOTE: Households that include a Native American individual that is eighteen or older, living in Cumberland, Hoke, Robeson, and Scotland counties, who wish to apply for LIEAP benefits, must do so through the Lumbee Tribe. NOTE: Households that include a Native American individual that is eighteen or older, living in the five-county service area of Cherokee, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, and Swain counties, who wish to apply for LIEAP benefits, must do so through the EBCI. This includes enrolled EBCI members on and off the Qualla Boundary in the five counties. B. Applications taken must be completed by state and local government entities or community-based organizations as well as by social services. Examples of community-based organizations are not-for-profit neighborhood-based organizations, area agencies on aging, and community action agencies. (See EP-200 for additional information.) Completed applications must include the