Circle of Care

Food and Nutrition Services (FNS, also known as Food Stamps) is a program that helps eligible people with limited incomes supplement their budgets so they can purchase food. The program is nationally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP. 

North Carolina’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, called Work First (WF), is based on the premise that parents have a responsibility to support themselves and their children.

The Work First program promotes a strengths-based, family-centered practice approach and shares in the mission of the NC Department of Health and Human Services, in collaboration with its partners, to protect the health and safety of all North Carolinians and provide essential human services.

Work First provides parents with short-term training and other services to help them become employed and move toward self-sufficiency. Families in which grandparents and relatives are caring for their relative children and legal guardians can receive services and support that prevent children from unnecessarily entering the foster care system.

Work First emphasizes three strategies: Diversion, Work and Retention.

Individuals and families experiencing a heating or cooling-related crisis may apply for assistance through the Crisis Intervention Program (CIP). Applicants can complete a CIP application by mail, email, fax or drop-off at their local DSS. A face-to-face interview is not required at this time. In addition, disconnect notices are not required at this time. Applicants can present a final notice or past due utility bill and must have a health-related or life-threatening emergency to potentially be eligible for crisis funds. Access the application. En Espanól aplicar.

Child Support Services (CSS) are available to anyone who needs help collecting child support through a network of state and locally run offices.

• Individuals who receive services through Public Assistance (IV-A) or Foster Care (IV-E) programs are automatically referred for CSS free of charge.

• Custodial parents in Non-Public Assistance cases can inquire about CSS by telephone and receive an application and Supplemental Data Sheet to complete or they can visit any local CSS office.

• Custodial parents are responsible for paying up to a $25 non-refundable application fee.

The CSS program is not authorized to help with custody, visitation or property settlements.

Application: Application for Child Support Services (DSS-4451): English, Spanish

The Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) is a federally-funded program that provides for a one-time vendor payment to help eligible households pay their heating bills.

Households including a person aged 60 or older or disabled persons receiving services through the NC Division of Aging and Adult Services are eligible to sign up for assistance from Dec. 1 – 31. All other households may apply from Jan. 1 – March 31 or until funds are exhausted.

North Carolina's State Refugee Office (SRO) administers a wide range of programs that are part of the implementation of the Refugee Resettlement Program funded under Title IV of the Immigration and Nationality Act, a federal program of public assistance and services to refugees resettling in the United States. NC SRO consist of three service areas: Refugee Public Assistance, Refugee Service Programs, and Refugee Support Activities.

Nonprofit service provider agencies, under contract with the state of North Carolina, also provide specialized services to eligible refugees such as interpretation and or transportation services if available. There are no income eligibility criteria for RSP, but services must be provided in accordance with a written service plan. Refugees are generally not eligible for RSP once they have lived in the US for five years or become US citizens.

Apply for refugee services at your local Department of Social Services.
More information can be found in the DSS Refugee Assistance Manual.