Cash Assistance Programs in North Carolina

Financial challenges are being experienced all over the world today and the United States is no exception. A post-pandemic fiscal crisis is continuing to afflict individuals and families in the form of rising oil, food, and utility expenses along with unemployment and other economic problems. Many have resorted to taking out loans, applying for cash advances, and maxing out their credit lines only to find themselves still in debt and far from financial freedom.
In the state of North Carolina, actions have been rolled out to support constituents who are suffering from budget constraints. In this article, we’ll guide you through the details of how North Carolina cash aid programs aim to help with easing the monetary burden for eligible families and individuals.
Here are some of the financial assistance programs available in North Carolina.

Work First or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

Work First is the equivalent program of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) in North Carolina. Under this cash assistance scheme, parents, grandparents, or guardians support their children to become self-sufficient through employment and other support from the NC Department of Health and Human Services.
The State of North Carolina also offers Benefit Diversion under the Work First program. It is a one-time cash payment amounting to the equivalent of three months' monthly payment that can be provided to eligible candidate families.

Who qualifies to apply?

For Work First, you are eligible if you meet the following requirements:

1. US citizen, legal or qualified alien
2. Resident of North Carolina
3. Unemployed or underemployed having an income below or 200% of the poverty level

You must also be either one of the following:

1. Pregnant
2. 18 years old or younger
3. Have children 18 years or younger
4. Living with children 18 years or younger as a legal guardian or grandparent

For Benefit Diversion, referrals to the case worker are done by the community or an agency. To be eligible, they must meet all three of the following requirements:

1. Families undergoing a crisis that need immediate help
2. Crisis must be nonrecurring
3. Benefits must not extend beyond three months to maintain independence from financial assistance

How can I apply?

The benefit diversion program is based on referrals and is not offered for application. Recipients can only avail of this aid once a year and are assisted by a caseworker to prevent any further dependence on financial help.
On the other hand, Work First is open to applicants who qualify with the before-mentioned requirements. They can apply by calling 1-800-662-7030 to make an appointment at their Local County Department of Social Services.
To find one nearest you, simply check the list of locations on the NC DHHS website. Be sure to bring all documents needed to avoid delays in the processing of your application.

How long does it take?

Applicants who can talk to a representative by phone may be called in for an interview on the same day or the day after so be sure to complete all the necessary forms and other paperwork before calling your local County DSS. The interview will then be done by a caseworker and will take a couple of hours.
The applicant can expect approval or denial to be made within 45 days from the date of application.
If denied because of incomplete requirements, the applicant is given 10 calendar days to complete and submit the missing documents. The approved amount is based on household size and family income.
Once approved, the recipient must sign a Mutual Responsibility Agreement (MRA) and comply with the work components of the program to continue receiving financial assistance.

Do I need to pay the money back?

No, the Work First cash assistance program does not require the applicant to pay the money back. However, non-compliance to the MRA and commission or omission of covered sanctionable actions may mean forfeiture of eligibility for a month.
For some cases, the number of family members eligible may be deducted until the desired solution is complied with, resulting in a lower monetary payout for the said period.

Emergency Assistance

Aside from the Work First program, North Carolina counties have mandated emergency cash assistance aid for households that are under a form of emergency.
The Emergency Assistance program is not designed to support the family until they become self-sufficient but the proceeds are intended to ease the recipients current financial obligations like an eviction notice, water, and power cut-offs.

Who qualifies to apply?

To qualify, the family must

1. Have no resources to alleviate their present emergency
2. Have a total gross income of 150-200% of the poverty level
3. Meet the citizenship and resource limits provided in the Work First Cash Assistance
4. Have at least one child who meets the age requirement and is living with a parent, grandparent, or guardian as stated under the Work First policy
5. Have not received Emergency Assistance within the past 12 months

How can I apply?

Applicants who meet the above requirements may visit their local county Department of Social Services. If you are not familiar with the DSS local office, you may check out the one nearest your location on the NC DHHS website.
Simply bring your notice of eviction or utility bill and proof of identification. A case worker will check and verify your documents to see if you are eligible for the Emergency Assistance program.

How long does it take?

The time limit for processing applications is 45 days. Should the county department need additional information from the applicant, a written request is sent out and the applicant is given additional 10 days to meet the requirements.
Cash assistance amounting to a maximum of $300.00 may be given and must be authorized within 30 days.

Will I need to pay the money back?

No. The funds are covered by the State of North Carolina block grants so they do not need to be repaid.

North Carolina Food and Nutrition Services (Food Stamps)

The federal food assistance program in North Carolina is the Food and Nutrition Services program or the Food Stamps. It aids families with low income to purchase food items and receive their daily nutritional requirements.

Who qualifies to apply?

Eligible applicants must meet the following Food Stamps requirements:

1. Must be a US citizen or a non-US citizen legally living in the US
2. Must be a resident of North Carolina
3. Must have a social security number or proof of application
4. Total income must be below the gross income limits indicated per family size
5. Must have $2,500.00 household resources, or $3,750.00 if there is one disabled person or person aged 60 and above in the family

The head of the household does not need to be the same authorized representative. However, if the two are not the same person, proof of identity of both will be verified through an identification card.
If the family is also entitled to receive aid from other financial assistance schemes, verification of receipt is also submitted.

How can I apply?

Once qualified, you can apply online by going to the self-service website, ePass, intended for applying for and managing the Food Stamps benefits of North Carolinians.
Applicants can also print and submit their completely filled-out paper applications through mail or drop them off at their nearest local county DSS office. However, if the candidate has limited access, the application can be done by dropping by the local DSS office in person.
Caseworkers will conduct an interview either by phone, video conference or in person. They can talk to either the spouse or the head of the household, the authorized representative, or any adult living in the same household.

How long does it take?

If you choose to drop by the local county DSS office in person, you will be asked the same day to process the interview. Once the case worker receives your application, it will be processed in the next 30 days.
You will know you are approved if they send you an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card where your Food Stamps benefits are credited monthly. It replaced the previous issuance of food stamps coupons so that you can also have the option to use it to buy groceries online with selected merchants.
The amount to be credited will depend on the number of members living in your household. It can be a maximum of $250 for a single person, or $1.504 for a household with eight members. The date when it will be put into your EBT card depends on the ending number of your social security number regardless if it is a working day or not.

Will I need to pay the money back?

No, you are not required to pay the money back. However, for cases of over-payment, DSS asks you to return it in installments, usually in a term of one year. They will deduct a portion of the over-payment amount from your monthly Food Stamps benefit proceeds.