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ENERGY PROGRAMS EP-300 LOW INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

9 Section 300 Change #2-2026 May 1, 2026 You must: 1. Verbally or in writing notify the applicant that the application was received after the deadline, and it will not be processed; and 2. Document your verbal contact with the applicant or file a copy of the letter in the case record. 3. You may, for easy reference, maintain a log of all applications received after the deadline. 300.07 ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Eligibility for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program is based on certain non- financial and financial requirements. Each applicant’s household must meet all requirements. Eligibility criteria is discussed in Sections 300.08 through 300.10, and 300.13. 300.08 VULNERABILITY To be eligible, a household must be vulnerable at the time of application. A household is vulnerable if it has a heating source billed separately and it is subject to the rising cost of heating for the heat expense. Accept the applicant’s statement about the vulnerability status for the household. 1. If a household lives in a private living arrangement with a heating source and heat costs are billed separately, it is fully vulnerable. 2. If a household lives in public housing where heat costs are billed separately from the rent, it is fully vulnerable. 3. An applicant who lives in a private living arrangement who does not receive a separate bill from the energy provider, they are not vulnerable. 4. A household living in public housing where utilities for heat are billed separately from the rent or where utilities for heat are included in the rent, and the household has paid an excess in utilities for heat in the last 12 months at the current address, is fully vulnerable. County needs to have the public housing/housing authority sign a vendor contract for the payment check to be written to them directly or the public housing/housing authority needs to provide the account number for the household applying for benefits. For additional verification of a heating arrangement in public housing, contact the local public housing authority. 5. A person living in an institution is not vulnerable. NOTE: Receipt of a utility allowance does not affect vulnerability status. Section 8 households are considered in a private living arrangement. If an applicant is living in another arrangement which is not listed above, contact the Economic and Family Services Section for assistance at 919-527-6300 or dss.policy.questions@dhhs.nc.gov