Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides heating, cooling, crisis, and weatherization assistance. States are given broad latitude under block grant funding to design and operate their own programs, under certain restrictions.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is seeking public comment on the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program Block Grant Plan for Federal Fiscal Year 2022, which outlines how the federal LIHEAP block grant funds will be spent in North Carolina in federal fiscal year 2021-2022.
The revisions include:
- Updated Federal Poverty Guidelines which are effective October 1, 2021. Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP), Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) and the Summer Cooling Program will operate on the 150% Federal Poverty Level temporarily for FY 22.
- LIEAP Heating Program will allow the priority group of households with individuals 60 or older or disabled receiving DAAS services to start applying November 1, 2021 instead of December 1st.
- Temporary Summer Cooling Program will begin July 1st – September 30th, 2022.
- The maximum benefit amount for the Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) will be increased to $1,000 instead of $600 temporarily for FY 22.
- Resources will not be counted temporarily for any Energy program for FY 22.
The plan may be viewed from August 16-20, 2021 at the following locations:
- Online on the Division of Social Services website
DSS Public Notices Website - On all 100 Counties DSS websites
County DSS Directory
A virtual public hearing will be held Friday August 20, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. To register please use the link https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/231815950985422091
Comments will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on Monday, August 23, 2021. Comments can be emailed to Jasmyne Simmons at Jasmyne.Simmons@dhhs.nc.gov
