North Carolina grants
& benefits: Medicaid expansion, ePASS and SHIIP.
North Carolina opened Medicaid to adults ages 19 through 64 on December 1, 2023, and county Departments of Social Services still handle most cases.
By Subha, Public Benefits Writer ยท Verified
State
North Carolina (NC)
Capital
Raleigh
Main benefits portal
ePASSMost requests start on ePASS, the state's online portal, and then go to your county Department of Social Services (DSS). Medicaid, Food and Nutrition Services, Work First and energy assistance can all be requested there.
Program names here differ from the federal ones. SNAP is called Food and Nutrition Services (FNS), TANF is Work First, and the winter heating benefit is LIEAP.
Medicaid expansion: adults up to 138% of poverty
Since December 1, 2023, NC Medicaid covers people ages 19 through 64 with income up to 138% of the federal poverty line. The state puts that at about $1,800 a month for a single adult and $3,065 for a family of three.
Coverage includes doctor visits, dental, vision and hearing care, prescriptions, hospital stays and behavioral health. If your health plan cannot solve a problem, the NC Medicaid Ombudsman answers at 1-877-201-3750, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
The expansion is not locked in. KFF notes a state trigger law that ends it if the enhanced federal match drops, and House Bill 546, signed July 7, 2025, requires the state to seek federal approval for work requirements.
ePASS sign-up: NCID first, then "Medical Assistance"
On the ePASS application, NC Medicaid is listed as "Medical Assistance." You need an NCID, the state login used for many government services, before you can begin; ePASS shows you how to create one.
Every local DSS office takes walk-ins, and you can call to schedule a phone or in-person interview, which NC Medicaid recommends. Medicaid Ambassadors can guide you through the online form, but they cannot file it for you.
One extra form, the Income/Resources sheet called Appendix D, goes with applications for NC Medicaid for the Aged, Blind, or Disabled, long-term care or in-home services.
Source: NC Medicaid: Apply for Medicaid
Medicare counseling from the Department of Insurance
Free Medicare counseling in North Carolina sits with the Department of Insurance, not DHHS. Its Seniors' Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) gives unbiased help with Medicare Advantage, drug coverage, Medicare supplements and long-term care insurance.
SHIIP trains counselors in every county and runs the NC Senior Medicare Patrol, which helps people catch billing errors and fraud. Call 855-408-1212. Medicare open enrollment runs October 15 to December 7.
Help with heat and cooling bills
County DSS offices take applications for two energy programs: LIEAP, a once-a-year heating payment, and the Crisis Intervention Program for heating or cooling emergencies that put health or life at risk.
Application windows, income tests and county offices are in our North Carolina LIEAP and Crisis Intervention guide.
Food and Nutrition Services under the 2025 federal law
H.R. 1 brought two changes to FNS: broader work requirements from December 1, 2025, and new non-citizen eligibility rules from February 1, 2026. County DSS staff screen for both at your next recertification.
Income limits, EBT dates and the ePASS steps are in our North Carolina food stamps guide.
Explore North Carolina program guides
- Food assistance
Food and Nutrition Services
North Carolina's SNAP program
Read the North Carolina guide
North Carolina agency links
Helpful reading for North Carolina residents
SNAP Benefits by State 2026-27: Averages, Max + EBT Cards
SNAP benefits vary in three important ways from state to state. The first is the maximum allotment, fixed at $808 for a family of three in the 48 contiguous states and DC.
How Much Does TANF Pay in 2026? Payments and Income Limits by State
TANF pays by family size: a parent and one child can get up to $235 a month in Georgia and $331 in Texas. See 2026 maximum payments and income limits for all 50 states and DC.
LIHEAP Application Status: How to Check It Online in Your State (2026-27)
How to check your LIHEAP application status online or by phone, with official status links for 25 states, what each status means, and what to do if your application is stuck.
North Carolina assistance questions
Both names appear. LIHEAP is the federal block grant, and North Carolina's federally funded winter heating payment is called the Low Income Energy Assistance Program, or LIEAP. The Crisis Intervention Program is a second, separate benefit.
It is the label for NC Medicaid on the ePASS application. Choose it to apply for Medicaid, including the expansion coverage for adults 19 through 64. You will need an NCID login first.
It could. KFF reports that North Carolina has a trigger law requiring the expansion to end if the enhanced federal matching rate drops. Proposals to remove or scale back that trigger have been introduced.
SHIIP, part of the NC Department of Insurance, at 855-408-1212. Its counselors cover Medicare Advantage, drug plans, Medicare supplements and long-term care insurance and work in every county.
After moving into the work part of the program, up to 24 months; most families then wait three years before receiving it again. Federal law sets a 60-month lifetime limit. Apply on ePASS or at your county DSS.
Sources
Independent information for your research
GrantsHubUSA is not a government agency and does not process benefit applications. Confirm requirements with the official North Carolina sources.