The Rowan County Department of Social Services is inviting certain low-income families to apply for help with their heating expenses.

The Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) provides a one-time, vendor payment to help eligible families and individuals pay their heating expenses. This is not a crisis assistance program. Each county DSS is allocated a specific amount to assist eligible households in their county.

LIEAP applications will be taken through March 31, 2013, or until funds for the program are exhausted, whichever comes first.

North Carolina will target households for the elderly and disabled during December and January and will open the applications up to the general public beginning Feb. 1. It ends March 31, or as long as funds are available.

Apply Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the Rowan County Department of Social Services, 1813 E. Innes St. in Salisbury.

Applications taken during December and January will be for those households that meet the target groups established by state legislation. There are two target groups that may be served during December and January. DSS will accept applications for the following households in December and January:

• Households that contain at least one member who is age 60 or older, and/or

• Households that contain a member who is disabled and the disabled household member is actively receiving services through programs administered by the Division of Aging and Adult Services; and

In order to be eligible for benefits, households must also have:

• A heating source that is billed separately from rent or mortgage, and

• Income is under 130 percent of the Federal Poverty Level, and resources under $2,200