Virginia households struggling with winter energy costs have a window to apply for government relief. For eligible Dominion customers, support can reach up to $600 as heating bills continue to rise.
The deadline to apply is Nov. 13.
Here's what to know
The federally funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program opened applications for assistance Oct. 13 to help offset heating costs. Because the grants are available annually, missing the deadline could mean waiting until the next cycle for assistance.
LIHEAP provides eligible households with one-time cash grants that can be used for heating bills or emergency repairs.
The Virginia Department of Social Services says that low-income households can apply for the grant via phone (855-635-4370), paper application, or CommonHelp.
To be considered eligible, a household must have a gross monthly income at or below 150% of the federal poverty level. Both household size and income are used to determine qualification.
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"An individual with an annual income up to $23,940 is eligible to apply and a family of four with an annual income of up to $49,500 can apply," Stephanie Benson, communications manager for Columbia Gas of Virginia, told Cville Right Now. "… We never want them to have to choose between putting food on the table [and heating]."
Dominion also offers year-round bill assistance through EnergyShare, a program that helps with customers' heating and cooling costs, according to Cville Right Now.
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