South Carolina LIHEAP program

Low-income individuals in South Carolina, including the elderly, families with children, and people with disabilities may receive utility bill assistance from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The objective is to assist with winter heating bills, and probably more importantly cooling bills in the hot South Carolina summers. The resource is paid for by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services organization, but is administered at the state, county, and town level.

The South Carolina LIHEAP program offers weatherization and energy-related home repairs, help with paying utility bills, and even financial assistance for solving a crisis. This can include an emergency such as broken heating or cooling system, assistance for a crisis such as disconnection, or funds to pay utilities and cooling bills during extreme South Carolina summertime heat.

LIHEAP will help address a renters or homeowners energy crisis through the provision of energy bill assistance, home weatherization, income management counseling, prevention with energy providers on behalf of low-income households, and energy education.

The Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity runs LIHEAP in South Carolina, however people do need to apply at their local community action agency. Fifteen agencies run the program across the state.

The goals of the LIHEAP are to provide ongoing and emergency energy assistance to eligible households with the lowest incomes and highest energy needs. The agencies expand outreach in one or more vulnerable household categories. Case managers and specialists will work with families across South Carolina to increase the efficiency of their homes and lifestyles. Also the LIHEAP program will address efficient home heating cooling systems through repairs and/replacement of units.

 

 

 

 

A crisis component can help South Carolina residents too. This will usually focus on those people who have a termination notice. However that alone won’t always be considered an emergency. Other types of crisis can occur from a medical hardship, extreme temperatures, or an unexpected job loss. The death of primary income provider can also cause an emergency situation.

Sites to apply for LIHEAP in South Carolina

Find your county or town below, or the location nearest to you, and dial the number provided to apply for utility assistance.

Aiken/Barnwell counties - 803-648-6836

Beaufort/Jasper Economic Opportunity Commission - Beaufort/Jasper counties
843-255-7234

Berkeley/Dorchester counties (served by Charleston County Human Services Commission) - 843-761-6935

Chester, Fairfield, York, Union, Lancaster counties - 803-329-5195

Charleston County - 843-723-9285

Chesterfield/Marlboro counties - 843-320-9760

Darlington County - 843-332-1136

Greenwood, Laurens, Edgefield, Abbeville, McCormick, Saluda, Newberry counties - 864-223-8434

Lexington County - 803-794-6778

 

 

Colleton/Hampton counties - 843-549-5576

Orangeburg, Calhoun, Allendale, Bamberg counties - 803-536-1027

Florence, Dillon, Marion counties - 843-678-3400

Horry, Georgetown, Williamsburg counties - 843-234-4100

Sumter, Kershaw, Clarendon, Lee, Richland counties - 803-775-4354