The Energy Assistance Program assists low-income households, particularly those with the lowest incomes, that pay a high proportion of household income for home energy.  The program consists of the following components:  Fuel Assistance, Crisis Assistance and Cooling Assistance

The Fuel Assistance component helps eligible households with the costs of heating their homes.  To be eligible for fuel assistance, there are certain income guidelines, resource maximums and living arrangements that must be met.  The household must also be responsible for paying the heating bill.  Fuel Assistance applications are accepted from the second Tuesday in October through the second Friday in November at local departments of social services.  Fuel Assistance applications are processed as soon as possible, and applicants should expect notification of their eligibility determination by mid-December.

The Crisis Assistance component helps eligible households in emergency energy situations which cannot be met by Fuel Assistance or other resources.  Types of crisis assistance may include:  payment of primary heat source utility security deposit: purchase of portable space heater; purchase of primary home heating fuel; payment for emergency shelter; payment of primary heat utility bill; repair of heating equipment; replacement of heating equipment; and/or provision of supplemental heating equipment/maintenance.  To be eligible for crisis assistance, fuel eligibility criteria must be met, the household must contain a vulnerable person, and there must be a heating emergency.  Crisis Assistance applications are accepted from November 1 through March 15 at local departments of social services.  All crisis assistance is based on availability of funds.

The Cooling Assistance component is set up to prevent or alleviate cooling emergencies due to extreme heat.  The availability of this component is contingent upon funding.  Applications are accepted at the local department of social services from June 15 to August 15.  It helps eligible households with their cooling needs.

To be eligible for any type of Cooling Assistance, certain income and citizenship criteria must be met.  In addition, the household must contain at least one vulnerable person, (Age 60 or older, under age 6 or disabled), and there must be a cooling need.  The following types of assistance are available if the eligibility conditions are met and the assistance will ensure cooling:  purchase or replace and install an air conditioner; repair a central air conditioning unit or heat pump; payment of an electric utility security deposit; payment of the electric bill to operate the cooling equipment.

For more information about Energy Assistance, visit the Virginia Department of Social Services' Web Site:  http://www.dss.state.va.us

Questions/Comments
Contact:
Greensville/Emporia Department of Social Services
P.O. Box 1136
Emporia, Virginia  23847
Phone:  434-634-6576
 Monday -  Friday - 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
E-mail:  info@gedss.org

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