North Carolina financial assistance directory
Low-Income Help and Resources in North Carolina
If household costs are hard to manage, North Carolina has programs that may help with food, housing, utilities, healthcare, child care, and other basic needs. Start with the statewide options below, then follow the county, regional, or local application route when a program is administered closer to home.
Money Fit serves North Carolina residents statewide. If debt or monthly payments are also part of the problem, call 800-432-0310 or start a confidential debt review.
Where to start
North Carolina uses ePASS for several major benefits, but many services are administered through county Departments of Social Services, local child care agencies, housing authorities, weatherization providers, and regional aging or crisis systems.
Apply for food or health coverage
ePASS is the state's online benefits portal for Food and Nutrition Services and NC Medicaid. Work First and energy assistance also use county DSS offices and state application tools.
Find nearby help statewide
NC 211 serves all 100 counties with free, confidential referrals for housing, utilities, food, healthcare, transportation, child care, legal needs, disaster resources, and other community services.
Housing or energy assistance
County DSS offices handle LIEAP and Crisis Intervention applications, while NCHousingSearch.org and local housing agencies can help with affordable-rental searches and housing resources.
County administration matters in North Carolina. Food, cash, energy, Adult Protective Services, and several other programs are handled through county DSS offices. Child care subsidy uses county or local purchasing agencies, and those agencies can place applicants on local waiting lists when funding, staff, or provider capacity is limited.
Food assistance
For ongoing grocery help, start with Food and Nutrition Services or WIC when the household may qualify. For food needed sooner, Feeding the Carolinas and NC 211 can help locate the food bank, pantry, or meal program serving your community.
Food and Nutrition Services
Food and Nutrition Services is North Carolina's SNAP program. Applications can be submitted online through ePASS or through the county Department of Social Services serving the household.
North Carolina WIC
WIC provides healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals for eligible pregnant and postpartum participants, infants, and children under age five. Local health departments and WIC agencies complete enrollment.
NC WIC: 844-601-7464
Feeding the Carolinas food-bank network
Seven major food banks serve North Carolina, working with thousands of local pantries, churches, meal programs, and community organizations in every county. Use the statewide food finder or the regional food bank serving your area.
SNAP work rules changed. NCDHHS says General Work Registration applies to many adults ages 16 through 59, while ABAWD time-limit rules can apply to certain adults ages 18 through 64. County DSS must screen applicants for exemptions at application and recertification, so do not rely on older age ranges or county assumptions.
Housing, rent, and utility help
North Carolina housing and utility help is spread across county DSS offices, local housing authorities, homelessness providers, weatherization agencies, legal-aid organizations, utilities, and statewide search tools. Funding and waiting lists can change.
NCHousingSearch.org
NCHousingSearch.org is a free statewide rental-search service for market-rate, affordable, accessible, senior, veteran, and other rental housing. Contact properties directly to confirm rent, eligibility, accessibility, and current availability.
Housing search help: 877-428-8844, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
Low Income Energy Assistance Program
LIEAP provides a one-time vendor payment toward eligible household heating costs. Households with a person age 60 or older, or certain disabled people receiving Division of Aging services, can sign up during December. Other households may apply from January 1 through March 31, or until funds are exhausted.
Crisis Intervention Program
CIP helps qualifying households facing a heating or cooling-related health or life-threatening crisis. Applications are accepted through county DSS from July 1 through June 30 or until that year's allocation is exhausted.
North Carolina Weatherization Assistance Program
Weatherization provides free energy-efficiency and certain health and safety improvements for eligible households. Applications are made directly to the local weatherization provider serving the home, and eligible applicants may be placed on a waitlist based on priority.
Local public housing authorities
Public housing and Housing Choice Voucher programs are administered by local housing authorities. Waiting-list status and application periods differ by agency, so residents should contact the authority serving their area directly.
HUD public housing help: 800-955-2232
NC 211 and local homelessness services
Emergency shelters, coordinated-entry systems, rapid re-housing, prevention, and Emergency Solutions Grant services are administered locally. NC 211 can identify the current shelter and housing resources serving the caller's county.
Call: 211 or 888-892-1162
Legal Aid of North Carolina
Legal Aid of North Carolina provides free civil legal help to eligible residents and handles matters involving eviction, subsidized housing, foreclosure, housing discrimination, public benefits, consumer debt, family safety, and other basic needs.
Legal Aid NC Helpline: 866-219-LANC (5262), Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Healthcare coverage and clinics
NC Medicaid covers different eligibility groups, including children, adults, pregnant people, older adults, and people with disabilities. Applications are accepted year-round through ePASS, local DSS offices, and other approved routes.
NC Medicaid
Residents can apply for NC Medicaid online through ePASS, through a local DSS office, by phone, or with a paper application. The correct coverage category depends on age, income, disability, pregnancy, household circumstances, and other program rules.
NC Medicaid Contact Center: 888-245-0179
NC Medicaid Ombudsman
The NC Medicaid Ombudsman is independent of local DSS and can help beneficiaries understand notices, managed-care problems, and other Medicaid concerns. It does not determine eligibility but can help people understand their rights and next steps.
NC Medicaid Ombudsman: 877-201-3750
Community health centers
Federally supported health centers provide primary care and may offer dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, substance-use treatment, and other services. Health centers serve insured and uninsured patients and use sliding-fee programs based on income and family size.
NC Medicaid has major federal eligibility changes in 2026-27. Many non-U.S. citizens will lose Medicaid eligibility beginning October 1, 2026. Starting January 1, 2027, some adults ages 19 through 64 will need to work, attend school, volunteer, or otherwise meet an 80-hour monthly requirement unless exempt, and affected members will generally renew every six months instead of annually. NCDHHS recommends keeping contact information current and responding quickly to official notices.
Child care, family, and cash assistance
Child care subsidy and Work First cash assistance are both statewide programs, but local agencies make eligibility and service decisions within state rules.
Subsidized Child Care Assistance
North Carolina's child care subsidy program helps eligible families pay part of child care costs when a parent or guardian is working, in school or training, seeking work through Work First, or meets another approved need. Families apply through the child care agency serving their county.
DCDEE: 800-859-0829
Work First Cash Assistance
Work First is North Carolina's TANF program and provides temporary cash assistance and employment-related services for eligible families. Applications can be submitted through ePASS or at the local Department of Social Services.
Work First Emergency Assistance
County DSS offices may provide short-term emergency assistance to eligible families in crisis under Work First rules. Availability, eligible expenses, and local procedures can vary, so contact the local DSS office for current information.
Head Start and Early Head Start
Head Start programs provide early learning, health, nutrition, and family support for eligible young children and families. Local programs handle eligibility, applications, openings, and waiting lists.
Locator help: 866-763-6481
Child care waitlists are local, not one statewide list. North Carolina policy allows county DSS offices and Local Purchasing Agencies to place applicants on county waiting lists when subsidy funds, staff, or provider capacity are insufficient. Local agencies also set service priorities within state policy, so ask the county child care worker about current waitlist status when applying.
Work, legal help, and essential services
Job loss, a legal problem, or loss of affordable phone or internet service can quickly affect housing, healthcare, transportation, and the rest of the household budget.
North Carolina unemployment insurance
Eligible workers who lose their main job through no fault of their own may qualify for temporary unemployment benefits. North Carolina currently provides up to $350 per week for up to 12 weeks, subject to eligibility and current law.
DES Customer Call Center: 888-737-0259
NCWorks Career Centers
NCWorks Career Centers and partner agencies provide job-search assistance, career planning, training information, resume help, veteran services, reemployment resources, and access to job listings.
Legal Aid of North Carolina
Legal Aid provides free civil legal help to eligible North Carolinians. Areas of service include housing, public benefits, consumer debt, unemployment, family safety, healthcare access, and other basic-needs legal issues.
Legal Aid NC Helpline: 866-219-5262, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Federal Lifeline benefit
Lifeline may reduce the monthly cost of qualifying phone or broadband service. Eligibility can be based on household income or participation in certain public benefit programs.
Lifeline Support Center: 800-234-9473
Older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers
North Carolina's Division of Aging, Area Agencies on Aging, senior centers, county DSS offices, and other community partners provide navigation, meals, transportation, caregiver support, home-based services, legal assistance, and protective services.
Area Agencies on Aging
North Carolina's Area Agencies on Aging are located within regional Councils of Government and help coordinate meals, transportation, caregiver support, home and community services, legal assistance, benefits information, and other aging resources.
NCDHHS Customer Service: 800-662-7030
North Carolina senior centers
Senior centers can provide information and referral, meals, transportation, health-insurance counseling, legal assistance, job and training support, caregiver resources, wellness programs, and other community services.
Adult Protective Services
County Departments of Social Services receive and evaluate reports of suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation involving disabled adults who may need protective services. Eligibility for APS protection is not based on income.
NCDHHS Customer Service: 800-662-7030
Crisis, safety, and disaster resources
If someone is in immediate danger, has a life-threatening medical emergency, or cannot stay safe, call 911.
North Carolina 988 Lifeline
Call or text 988 for free, private, 24-hour crisis support involving emotional distress, depression, suicidal thoughts, mental health concerns, or substance use. North Carolina also offers mobile crisis teams and community crisis centers.
Call or text: 988
North Carolina domestic violence service providers
The North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence maintains a county-based directory of local agencies serving all 100 counties. Local providers may offer 24-hour crisis hotlines, shelter, advocacy, support groups, and counseling. The coalition itself does not provide direct crisis services.
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233, available 24/7
NC 211
NC 211 is free, confidential, and open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. It serves all 100 counties and can also act as a public-information resource during disasters.
Call: 211 or 888-892-1162
North Carolina and federal disaster assistance
North Carolina Emergency Management coordinates disaster recovery and administers state Individual Assistance when authorized. FEMA household assistance is available only after qualifying federal declarations for designated locations and eligible losses.
FEMA Helpline: 800-621-3362
Review the household budget and unsecured debt together
Public assistance may help with food, housing, healthcare, child care, or utilities while credit cards, medical bills, collections, personal loans, payday loans, or other unsecured debts continue affecting the household budget. Money Fit nonprofit credit counseling can help North Carolina residents review income, expenses, debts, and possible next steps.
A debt management plan may help organize eligible unsecured debts into one monthly payment to Money Fit, which then sends payments to participating creditors. It is not a new loan or debt settlement. Creditor participation, concessions, account treatment, fees, and payment changes can vary.
Money Fit does not provide cash assistance, food benefits, rent assistance, utility benefits, government benefits, or emergency grants. The counseling form below is for help reviewing debt and monthly payments.
Open the Money Fit debt review form
Share a few details so Money Fit can respond to your request. Your information stays with Money Fit and is not sent to a marketplace of lenders or debt companies.
Related Money Fit resources
These resources can help with debt, housing, financial education, and assistance in other states.
