The WV Department of Health & Human Resources Makes Two Announcements

The WV Department of Health & Human Resources Makes Two Announcements

The WV Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) has made just two announcements concerning programs they provide.

The first was from the DHHR’s Office of Nutrition Services and was released on April 11^th.  It says the U.S. Department of Agriculture has just released their updated income guidelines for the WIC program. The new guidelines indicate that a family of four can earn up to $55,500 a year to receive WIC benefits. This represents an increase of $4,162 a year over last year’s income guidelines, and are adjustments made to compensate for rising inflation.

Other size families have different income limits to qualify for WIC. A family of 1 has an income limit of $26.973.00 per year. A family of 2 has a limit of $36,482 and a family of 3 has an income limit of $45,991 to qualify for the WIC Program. The guidelines represent 185% above the Federal Poverty line.

DHHR estimates these new income guidelines will allow an additional 4,600 West Virginians to receive WIC benefits which are designed to help mothers and young children receive proper nutrition. WIC Serves 86% of all babies born in West Virginia.

The second DHHR announcement which was released on April 12^th was that applications for the low-income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) will be accepted beginning Monday, April 24^th and ending on Friday April 28^th -or until funds are exhausted. This federally funded program assists eligible state residents in paying their home heating bills.

Eligibility for the LIEAP Program is based on income, household size and whether the family is actually responsible for paying their own home heating bills. The applicant’s annual income must be at or below 60% of the state’s medium income.

The maximum allowable gross income levels for LIEAP Fiscal Year 2023 are listed below:

For each additional person, add $590. Households whose countable income exceeds the maximum amount are not eligible; however, some types of income may be excluded from LIEAP.

Applications for this program can be picked up at the local DHHR Office, which in Pocahontas County is located at 211 Valhalla Ln, Marlinton, WV 24954. They are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am until 5:00 pm, and can be reached at: 304-799-2540. Applications can also be picked up at some community action agencies or some Senior Centers, and can be ordered online at www.wvpath.wv.gov. However, completed applications must be delivered or mailed to the above local DHHR office in Marlinton before April 28^th if brought in, or if mailed, must be postmarked no later then April 28^th.