Economic Assistance Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

The Virginia Energy Assistance Program (EAP) established through LIHEAP, helps low-income families pay for energy bills, like heating in the winter and cooling in the summer. The program has been around since 1981 and is part of a federal law designed to assist people who struggle with high energy costs.

What the Program Helps With:

  1. Fuel Assistance: Helps families pay for heating during the winter. It doesn’t cover the whole energy bill, but it helps with the most urgent needs.

  2. Crisis Assistance: For emergencies where the family can’t pay their energy bills, like if the heat is turned off or their heating system breaks down.

  3. Weatherization Assistance: Helps families make their homes more energy-efficient by fixing things like poor insulation or leaky windows. This can lower energy bills in the long run by making the home stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

  4. Cooling Assistance: Helps families who need help paying for air conditioning or fixing cooling equipment, especially in hot weather.

Who Runs the Program?

The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) manages the program. They use a computer system to decide if a household is eligible for help.

How It Works:

  • If you're eligible, the program pays your energy provider (like the electric or gas company) directly, or it sends money to the household to help with the bill.
  • The benefits you get from this program do not count as income when you apply for other programs like food assistance (SNAP) or Medicaid.


How To Apply: 

To be eligible for Fuel, Crisis or Cooling Assistance, households must have a heating or cooling expense and gross monthly income may not exceed 150 percent of the federal poverty level. 

Applications for fuel, crisis, weatherization, and cooling assistance are accepted at the local departments of social services and can be submitted in-person, by mail (USPS), or by fax.

Contact:    Amy Rice

Henry-Martinsville Department of Social Services    

Address: 20 Progress Drive, P.O. Drawer 4946, Martinsville, VA 24115    

Phone: (276) 656-4300    

Fax: (276) 656-4398 

To check eligibility or apply online, click here or use the link below: 



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