Behind on Your Water Bill? This NC Program Can Help

A program for lower-income households is helping pay outstanding water bills for struggling North Carolina residents. 

If you’re at risk of getting your water cut off, you may be able to get help taking care of the outstanding bills.

The Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program is one of several temporary emergency programs set up after the COVID-19 pandemic left many without jobs or ways to pay their bills. Funding came from the American Rescue Plan, the Biden administration’s economic relief package to address the pandemic. The program pays utilities directly for low-income people that have had their water disconnected, or are at risk of it. 

You are eligible if you:

• Have a household income less than 150% of the federal poverty level ( $20,385 for a single person or $41,625 for a family of four).
• Are at risk of having your water disconnected, or have an outstanding bill.
• Are responsible for the water bill.

The program has helped more than 20,000 households since December 2021, but only distributed $7 million of the $38 million in federal funds North Carolina was given, according to a press release from the NC Department of Health and Human Services. 

 The program will run until September 2023, unless funds are depleted before then.  

To apply online for help, go to epass.nc.gov. You can also get a paper application in Spanish and English here or call your county social services department.