8/16/21 – NC DHHS – LIHEAP Block Grant Plan for Fiscal year 2022
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 plan can be viewed at https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/social-services/public-notices
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 pm. To register please use the link https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/231815950985422091
Comments will be accepted until 5 pm on Monday, August 23, 2021. Comments can be emailed to Jasmyne Simmons at Jasmyne.Simmons@dhhs.nc.gov
8/2/21 – Public Notice: LIHWAP Block Grant Plan
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is seeking public comment on the proposed Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) block grant plan, which outlines how federal LIHWAP block grant funds will be spent in North Carolina in the coming state fiscal year.
LIHWAP provides assistance to low income households with their water and wastewater bills. States are given broad latitude under block grant funding to design and operate their own programs, under certain restrictions.
The plan may be reviewed July 29 – August 4, 2021 at the following locations: • Any of the 100 county departments of social services • Online on the Division of Social Services website – Under Grant Implementation Plan.
Any water or wastewater vendor interested in signing a vendor agreement to accept LIHWAP funds on behalf of customers, please contact Jasmyne Simmons at Jasmyne.Simmons@dhhs.nc.gov.
Written comments will be accepted in writing no later than Thursday August 5, 2021 via: • Any agency where the plan was displayed • Mail, postmarked no later than Thursday August 5, 2021 to:
RE: LIHWAP Plan Comments
Susan Osborne Assistant Secretary for County Operations
2420 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-2420
5/3/21 – NOTICE TO FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES RECIPIENTS
View .PDF in English / Spanish
Effective April 1, 2021
The President’s Executive Order on Economic Relief Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic, issued January 22, 2021, directed all Federal agencies to consider administrative actions to better address the current economic crisis resulting from the pandemic. As a result, United States Department of Agriculture has issued new guidance to states providing emergency supplements to Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) households.
Under this new policy, households who had not been receiving emergency supplements and those whose emergency supplements were less than $95 per month will receive increased benefits. Emergency supplements will not change for households who had been receiving emergency supplements benefits of $95 or more per month.
You have the right to a fair hearing of your case if you do not agree with our decision. You can request a fair hearing by letting your local county department of social services know of your request. You may request the hearing in person, by telephone, or in writing. The hearing may be requested by any member of your FNS unit or by your representative, including an attorney obtained at your own expense. Free legal advice may be available. Contact your nearest Legal Services Office.
You have 90 calendar days from April 1, 2021 to ask for a hearing. If you do not ask for a hearing by 06/30/2021, you cannot have one.
To find out what your benefits are, Download the ebtEDGE mobile app. The app is available as a free download on the Apple Store and Google Play or call Customer Service at 1-888-622-7328 on the day you normally receive benefits.
If you have any other questions about these changes, contact your local Department of Social Services.
3/1/2021 – NC Medicaid Managed Care – Call the DSS Hotline for updates (336) 290-0355
Most people will get the same Medicaid services in a new way – through health plans. You will be able to choose the health plan that is best for you. Medicaid beneficiaries will be able to choose from five health plans – WellCare, United HealthCare, Healthy Blue, AmeriHealth Caritas and Carolina Complete Health.
Open enrollment will begin March 15, 2021, and will continue through May 14, 2021. Enroll in one of these ways:
- Go to ncmedicaidplans.gov
- Use the NC Medicaid Managed Care mobile app
- Call us toll free at 1-833-870-5500 (TTY: 1-833-870-5588)
- When you receive an enrollment form, fill it out and mail or fax it back
To learn more about NC Medicaid Managed Care visit https://www.ncmedicaidplans.gov/
10/6/20 – Corona Virus Relief Act 3.0 – Extra Credit Grant
On September 4, Governor Roy Cooper signed into law the Coronavirus Relief Act 3.0, which was passed by the North Carolina General Assembly. The law includes the Extra Credit Grant program to be administered by the North Carolina Department of Revenue.
According to the law, the purpose of the program is to “use funds from the Coronavirus Relief Fund to help families with qualifying children in North Carolina by providing economic support to assist with virtual schooling and child-care costs during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The grant amount is $335.00 total for each eligible individual, even if the individual has two or more qualifying children.
- NCDOR will award a grant to eligible individuals who report at least one qualifying child (age 16 or younger) on their 2019 state individual income tax return; spouses who file a joint state return count as one individual.
- Eligible individuals who have filed their state return and reported at least one qualifying child do not need to take any action to receive the grant.
- An individual who did not file a 2019 state tax return solely because the individual’s gross income for the 2019 taxable year did not exceed the state filing requirements for the individual’s filing status (generally $10,000 per year if single and $20,000 per year if married) may apply for a grant.
- An applicant must meet the all requirements referenced in the law, including having at least one qualifying child age 16 or younger for the 2019 calendar year, to apply for the grant by October 15, 2020.
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