Virginia CommonHelp

Need help with heating or cooling?

Applications for help with your heating and cooling bills or equipment needs are accepted online, by calling the Enterprise Customer Service Center at 855-635-4370, and at your local Department of Social Services.

Fuel Assistance

Fuel assistance helps with home heating costs; but can also be used for furnace re-starts, late charges, delivery charges, installation charges, and connection or re-connection fees. Applications are accepted online, through the Enterprise Customer Service Center, and at local departments of social services from the second Tuesday in October through the second Friday in November. Benefits are determined and authorizations for deliveries or service are sent to vendors in December.

Crisis Assistance

Crisis assistance is intended to meet a household’s emergency heating need, when no other resource is available.

  • Applications are accepted online, through the Enterprise Customer Service Center, and at local departments of social services from November 1 through March 15 for the following:
    • Heating equipment repair/purchase
    • Payment for emergency shelter
    • Portable space heater for temporary use
    • One-time only heat security deposit
  • Applications are accepted online, through the Enterprise Customer Service Center, and at local departments of social services from the first workday in January through March 15 for:
    • Payment of heat utility bill
    • Purchase of home heating fuel

Cooling Assistance

Cooling assistance provides purchase or repair of cooling equipment and/or payment for electricity to operate cooling equipment. To be eligible, a household must contain at least one vulnerable individual who is age 60 or over, disabled, or under age 6. Applications are accepted online, through the Enterprise Customer Service Center, and at local departments of social services from June 15 through August 15. Assistance is based on the availability of funds.

Eligibility

See if you might be eligible at the Virginia CommonHelp website.

Criteria

Eligibility criteria for assistance include:

  • Must be resident of the locality in which application is made
  • Must have a heating or cooling expense responsibility
  • Monthly gross income may not exceed:
Household SizeMaximum IncomeHousehold SizeMaximum Income
1$1,30711$5,835
2$1,76012$6,288
3$2,21313$6,741
4$2,66514$7,194
5$3,11815$7,647
6$3,57116$8,099
7$4,02417$8,552
8$4,47718$9,005
9$4,93019$9,458
10$5,38220$9,911


Fraud or Abuse

If you suspect fraud or abuse of any kind, report it to your local Department of Social Services or call 800-552-3431.