The Beaufort County Department of Social Services received funding to assist additional families, in our community with their heating costs. Eligible households may receive these funds once a year. Households that were approved in December 2018 or January 2019 are not eligible for additional funds. Payments will be made directly to the service provider, such as power, gas or oil companies. Beaufort County Social Services will be taking applications Monday-Friday from 8:00-5:00 through March 31, 2019. For additional information please contact the Beaufort County Department of Social Services at 252-975-5500.

The Beaufort County Department of Social Services began taking applications for the Low- Income Energy Assistance Program on Monday, December 3, 2018. Applications were taken in the month of December for households that contained at least one household member age 60 or older or a disabled person receiving services through the Division of Adult and Aging Services. Funds remained available after December 31, 2018 for the agency to begin taking applications for all other eligible households. Funds were quickly exhausted by the middle of January, which prevented the agency from processing any additional applications.

North Carolina has experienced severely cold temperatures and the Division of Social Services anticipates families experiencing higher than usual utility bills that can become overwhelming to households during the next bill cycle. As a result, the Division is reallocating funds for the Low- Income Energy Assistance Program, to counties that have spent the majority or all of their funding.