You Can Apply: Medicaid, Food Assistance, Energy Program and Work First

While Buncombe County Economic Services is under emergency closure, residents can still apply for Medicaid, Food Assistance, Energy Program and Work First at epass.nc.gov. 

Applications are also available on the Buncombe County website and they can be emailed to dssmail@buncombecounty.org or dropped off at 40 Coxe Avenue in Asheville Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. An Economic Service Call Center (828-250-5500) is running on a limited basis Monday-Friday.  

EBT Updates: EBT cards can be used to purchase hot foods. There is now an extension to the 10-day reporting rule to 90 days, and everyone on food assistance has 70% of their September benefits loaded back to their EBT card. Replacement EBT cards can be requested by calling 866-719-0141 Monday-Friday. 

Medicaid: There are many flexibilities for providers to provide services to recipients such as filling more than one month’s worth of prescriptions. Recipients will not have to recertify their current case for the next three months 

Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): WIC services in Buncombe County are still under an emergency closure. The state WIC office is supporting benefits issuance to all active WIC participants. Benefits will be automatically loaded onto WIC debit cards. WIC offices from our surrounding communities are available to provide support services to Buncombe County WIC participants. Click here for WIC office locations.