Help is on the way for eligible low-income Beaufort County residents who need help with their energy expenses this fall and winter.

Applications for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program may be submitted to Beaufort County Department of Social Services from Dec. 2 through Jan. 31, 2014, or until allocated funds are depleted. Applications will be accepted from households that include at least one household member age 60 or older or a disabled person receiving services through the Division of Aging and Adult Services. If funds remain available after Jan. 31, 2014, any other eligible households may apply during February 2014 through the end of March 2014. Payments will be made directly to the service (energy) provider, such as power, gas or oil companies.

During the 2012-2013 assistance period, the department provided energy assistance to 651 households, according to Amy Alligood, a coordinator of the department’s energy-assistance program.

“The amount that they are approved for is determined by how many people they have in the home and how much income they have. The maximum is $400, It ranges anywhere from $200 to $400,” Alligood said.

A household is limited to one payment per season, with payments going to the energy provider, not the household.

“The number of people we are able to help may differ from year to year because it depends on how much money we get. Just because we helped a certain amount last year may not necessarily be how many we can help his year. We may can help more, which would really be nice,” Alligood said

On Monday, Alligood said $350,000 had been allocated to the program for the 2013-2014 season.

“That’s more than we expected,” she said.

Applications will also be taken at other locations on the following dates and times:

• Aurora Community Center, Aurora, Dec. 3 and Dec. 10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Martha’s Project, Belhaven, Dec. 4 and Dec. 11 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information, contact the Beaufort County Department of Social Services at 975-5500 or visit its office at 632 W. Fifth St., Washington.