Millions of dollars still available to help with utility bills but deadline looms

MECKLENBURG COUNTY — You may turn your heater way up while you sleep to keep you warm, but not all families have that luxury. Some are struggling to keep the lights on, and they are sacrificing the warmth in the process.

The Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services has been offering help to residents this winter, so they won’t have to choose between heating their homes and buying other necessities.

There’s still time to sign up for the valuable resource, but the deadline is soon.

The Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) is a federally funded program that provides a one-time payment to the utility company or heating vendor of an eligible household 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.

Bernard Torrence lives in Davidson and says he’s still struggling to make ends meet more than a year into the pandemic. Spring is right around the corner but Torrence is still trying to pay off his electric bill from the winter, which keeps the lights on and his apartment warm.

“My bill was running pretty high so I needed some help,” Torrence said.

He relies on Mecklenburg County’s Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) which pays utility bills directly to the utility company. It’s federally funded but run by officials in Charlotte.

“I am on a fixed income. I’m a disabled veteran, so any help I can get really helps,” Torrence told Channel 9.

Household eligibility requirements:

• At least one eligible U.S. citizen or legal resident.
• Cash resources at or below $2,250.
• Responsible for heating bill.
• Income at or below 130% of the Federal Poverty Limit. Click here to see chart of income guidelines.
• You do not have to be behind on your power or natural gas bill to qualify for assistance.

Torrence checks all those boxes and LIEAP paid hundreds of dollars on his utility account.

“I get to save the money that I would have paid for my light bill.” He said. “I can actually save that.”

The county still has more than $1 million to give away. You don’t have to be behind on your bills to apply, but the deadline closes March 31. Whatever isn’t used will be sent back to the state.

Torrence said it’s an opportunity worth seizing.

“Thank God we still have programs like that to help people like me,” he said.

As of March 19, the county said it’s used about 60% of the allocated $3.4 million given from the federal government. Many of our surrounding counties have similar programs.

How to apply:

Download the LIEAP application from the county website mecknc.gov/LIEAP and,

• Mail completed application to 301 Billingsley Road, Charlotte, N.C., 28211
• Email completed application to lieap@mecklenburgcountync.gov.
• Drop-off completed application at one of these Charlotte DSS locations:

1. Wallace Kuralt Building at 301 Billingsley Road
2. Community Resource Center at 3205 Freedom Drive, Suite 1000

• Call the DSS Call Center at 704-336-3000 or JUST 1 CALL at 704-432-1111 to complete a telephone application. A LIEAP representative will contact you to begin the interview process.
• Visit the All Access Point at allaccess.mecknc.gov to apply for benefits and submit documents for existing cases.

Households with a person age 60 or older, or someone receiving disability benefits and services through the North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services can apply for help covering the cost of heating their homes beginning Dec. 1.

All other households can apply starting Jan. 4 through March 31.

For more information, go to mecknc.gov/LIEAP.

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