Funding Available to Assist with Household Energy Costs

The Virginia Department of Social Services is providing financial help with funding from the new COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program and other energy assistance resources.  The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act of 2020, the CARES Act, has provided funding to assist households impacted by COVID-19.

The new program will assist low-income households that would not typically be eligible for other energy assistance programs offered by the Virginia Department of Social Services. Eligible households will receive a one-time payment of $300 to address their immediate energy costs, including energy debt accumulated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Applications will be accepted through November 20, 2020 or until funds are exhausted, whichever comes first. Applications may be submitted online from the COVID-19 Virginia Resources website at https://covid.virginia.gov/ or through the COVID-19 Virginia Resources mobile app that can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play. All questions about applying should be referred to 1-833-829-2767.

In order to be eligible for assistance you must be a resident of Virginia, have a heating or cooling expense responsibility, be a United States citizen or an eligible immigrant and meet income requirements.

Households that received Fuel, Crisis, or Cooling assistance (except equipment-related services) from the Virginia Department of Social Services within the 12 months are not eligible to receive COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program benefits.  However, households may qualify for other heating assistance through the Department’s normal Fuel Assistance application process, which begins October 13 and ends November 13.

For additional information regarding the COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program and other available energy assistance resources, visit dss.virginia.gov/benefit/ea/ or contact the dedicated energy assistance line at 1-833-829-2767.

Story By

Bonnie Ralston

Bonnie Ralston is the Assistant Station Coordinator at WVLS and a Highland County news reporter. She began volunteering at Allegheny Mountain Radio in the fall of 2005. In 2006 she became an AMR employee and worked in Bath County for eight years as the WCHG Station Coordinator and then as the news reporter there. She began working in radio while in college and has stayed connected to radio, in one way or another, for more than thirty years. She grew up in Staunton, Virginia, while spending a lot of time on her family’s farm in Deerfield, Virginia. She enjoys spending time outside, watching old TV shows and movies and tending to her chickens.

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