Virginia’s Fuel Assistance Window Closes Nov. 13, While Crisis Help for Broken Heating Equipment Opens Nov. 1

Friday, Nov. 13, is the last day Virginia will take applications for this winter’s Fuel Assistance benefit, the main state program that helps low-income households pay for heat. A separate stream of crisis money, for furnaces that quit and heating systems that are unsafe to run, opens on Sunday, Nov. 1, and stays open into March. Under the state’s schedule, the regular heating benefit will not take new applications again until October 2027.

The Virginia Department of Social Services runs both through its Energy Assistance Program, which is open to households with a heating or cooling expense and gross monthly income at or below 150% of the federal poverty level.

Nov. 13: The Fuel Assistance Window Shuts

Virginia sets its fuel window by formula: it opens on the second Tuesday in October and closes on the second Friday in November. This year, that put the dates at Oct. 13 through Nov. 13, 2026, as listed on Norfolk’s Energy Assistance page and in an Oct. 7 bulletin from Fairfax County.

Fairfax County told residents that some people will be pre-approved for the benefit, while others will need to apply. Households that are unsure which group they fall into can check with their local Department of Social Services before the deadline.

The benefit offsets home heating costs for households responsible for their own heating bills. It can be used to buy heating fuel or pay energy bills, according to Norfolk’s Department of Human Services, which describes the program as aimed at low-income households with urgent heating needs. The benefit itself is federally funded through LIHEAP and administered by VDSS, Columbia Gas says.

Three ways to apply remain open through Nov. 13, according to Fluvanna County’s Department of Social Services: online through the state’s CommonHelp portal, in person at any local social services office, or by phone through the Enterprise Customer Service Center at 855-635-4370, weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Paper applications in English and Spanish can also be downloaded from the state’s site and dropped off.

The CommonHelp portal and the 855 number are the same channels Virginians use to apply for food and medical benefits, Fairfax County noted. Columbia Gas of Virginia adds that income may not be the only requirement for the program, and it points customers to an online eligibility calculator to see which programs they might qualify for.

Nov. 1: Crisis Help Opens for Broken and Unsafe Equipment

Crisis Assistance works differently. It has its own application, separate from Fuel Assistance, and it is meant for heating emergencies, which VDSS defines as situations such as having no heat, receiving a cut-off notice, or having heating equipment that is not safe to use.

From Nov. 1 to March 15, the crisis program can pay to repair or replace heating equipment, buy supplemental heating equipment, or cover a security deposit for a household’s primary heat source. Norfolk lists fuel tanks as an example of supplemental equipment, and also names reconnection fees and imminent utility cutoffs among the emergencies the program addresses.

A household whose furnace fails in late November does not have to wait for the regular Fuel Assistance decision to seek help.

Other states in the region run their own versions. Pennsylvania’s LIHEAP crisis grants open Nov. 2 for broken furnaces and low fuel supplies, and Maryland’s winter crisis season opens Nov. 1 with up to $600 a household.

Late December: When Fuel Assistance Decisions Arrive

Applying by Nov. 13 does not mean money arrives right away. VDSS says eligibility notices for Fuel Assistance are sent in late December.

That gap is one reason the crisis program exists. Households that run into trouble before their Fuel Assistance decision arrives can apply for crisis help without waiting.

The First Workday in January: Crisis Money for Fuel and Bills

The crisis program adds a second category after the new year. From the first workday in January through March 15, it can also pay for primary heating fuel and primary heat utility bills, according to both VDSS and Norfolk.

That timing is confirmed by Columbia Gas of Virginia, which tells customers that help with inactive service and termination notices runs from the first working day in January through March 15, while equipment repair and replacement and security deposits are available from Nov. 1.

Columbia Gas customers who have already used other energy assistance can also apply to HeatShare, a company-sponsored fund administered by the Dollar Energy Fund, if their income is at or below 175% of the federal income guidelines. HeatShare takes applications from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, subject to available money. The utility’s assistance line is 1-800-543-8911.

March 15: The Last Day for Winter Crisis Help

All winter crisis assistance ends on March 15. After that, Virginia’s next energy window is Cooling Assistance, which VDSS runs from June 15 to Aug. 17 for households that pay cooling costs and include someone 60 or older, a person with a disability, or a child under 6.

Cooling Assistance can pay for a window air conditioner, repairs to central air or heat pumps, and help with electric bills or deposits. Separately, the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development runs a Weatherization Assistance program that pays for improvements such as insulation and air sealing.

Norfolk residents can pick up paper applications at the Department of Human Services, 741 Monticello Ave., or call 757-664-6035 for more information. Residents elsewhere can find their local social services office through VDSS. Fraud involving the program can be reported to VDSS at 800-552-3431.

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This article was produced with AI assistance and edited for accuracy against the sources linked above.

Image: Farragutful – CC BY-SA 4.0/Wikimedia Commons