Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program (VICAP)
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Energy Assistance Program (EAP) (LIHEAP) in Virginia
Virginia's Energy Assistance Program (EAP) has three kinds of help with short sign-up windows: Fuel Assistance for heating costs in October and November, Crisis Assistance for heating emergencies in winter, and Cooling Assistance in summer for households with someone 60 or older, disabled, or under 6.
You can apply online through CommonHelp, by phone, or at your local department of social services.
How to apply in Virginia
- By phone
- 1-855-635-4370
- In person
- Apply at your local department of social services; VDSS has a Find Your Local Department page. You must apply in the locality where you live.
Applying is free. Nobody should charge you to apply.
Apply on the official siteWho may qualify in Virginia
| Gross monthly income limit, one person (state information sheet dated May 2025, the latest posted) | $1,956 a month for one person (150% of the federal poverty level) |
|---|---|
| Gross monthly income limit, two people (May 2025 information sheet) | $2,643 a month for two people (150% of the federal poverty level) |
| Who pays the bill | You must be responsible for a heating or cooling expense and live in the locality where you apply |
| SSI households | Households where everyone gets SSI are not held to the income limit |
| Cooling Assistance, who may qualify | Households that pay for cooling and include someone 60 or older, living with a disability, or under 6 |
What you may get
| Fuel Assistance | Helps with heating costs, and can also cover furnace restarts, late, delivery and installation charges, and connection fees. Benefits are set in December. No dollar range is published. |
|---|---|
| Crisis Assistance | For a heating emergency such as no heat, a cut-off notice or unsafe equipment: heating equipment repair or replacement, a one-time security deposit, fuel, or the main heating utility bill, while funds last |
| Cooling Assistance | Buying or installing a window air conditioner, repairing central air or a heat pump, or help with electric bills or deposits |
Dates, renewals and waiting lists
| Fuel Assistance application window | Second Tuesday in October through second Friday in November. Eligibility notices go out in late December. |
|---|---|
| Crisis Assistance application windows | Nov. 1 to March 15 for equipment and security deposits; first workday in January to March 15 for fuel and utility bills |
| Cooling Assistance application window | June 15 to Aug. 17 (VDSS web page; its information sheet says Aug. 15) |
How Virginia is different
Where Virginia's rules differ from the federal rules for LIHEAP heating and cooling help.
- Cooling Assistance is limited to households with someone 60 or older, disabled, or under 6.
- Fuel Assistance has a short sign-up window in October and November; crisis help for fuel bills doesn't open until January.
- Households where everyone gets SSI may qualify regardless of the income limit.
Good to know
- The phone line is the Enterprise Customer Service Center, Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Weatherization is run separately by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.
Free help
Free help with this in Virginia
Division for the Aging
Your local Area Agency on Aging can help with meals, rides, help at home, caregiver support and applying for benefits.
More help in Virginia
Help with heating and cooling bills in another state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Sources
- Virginia Department of Social Services, Energy Assistance Program (EAP) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Virginia Department of Social Services, Need Help With Heating or Cooling? EAP Information Sheet, 032-03-0661-26 (05/25) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Virginia Department of Social Services, Energy Assistance Manual, Volume IX (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
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