Assistance Programs in West Virginia

LIEAP helps low-income West Virginia households pay winter heating costs, either as a payment to your utility company or a direct payment. An Emergency LIEAP component helps households without resources facing the loss of a heating source. Apply online through wvPATH at wvpath.wv.gov, at your local Department of Human Services field office, or through a local Community Action agency or Area Agency on Aging.

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible West Virginia households: insulation, air sealing, and heating-system improvements that lower future bills. The work is delivered by local Community Action agencies. Call the West Virginia Community Action Partnership at 304-347-2277 or use its agency locator to reach the weatherization provider serving your county, since you apply through that local agency.

SNAP is West Virginia's food assistance program: monthly food money on an EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. Apply online through wvPATH at wvpath.wv.gov, the state's one application for SNAP, WV WORKS, and Medicaid, at your local Department of Human Services field office, or by phone through the DoHS Customer Service Center at 1-877-716-1212.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children up to age 5. West Virginia WIC runs through local clinics tied to county health departments. Check the WIC eligibility screening tool and find your nearest clinic through the state WIC clinic search, then call the clinic to book your first appointment.

WV CHIP covers children and pregnant women in working families who have no other health insurance and earn too much for Medicaid. It covers checkups, dental, vision, prescriptions, and more with low or no cost to the family. Apply through wvPATH along with Medicaid at wvpath.wv.gov, and call the WVCHIP Helpline at 1-877-982-2447 (1-877-WVA-CHIP) with questions.

West Virginia Medicaid is free or low-cost health coverage for children, pregnant people, parents, older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income adults. West Virginia expanded Medicaid, so adults 19 to 64 with low income can qualify on their own. Apply online through wvPATH at wvpath.wv.gov, at a local Department of Human Services field office, or by calling the DoHS Customer Service Center at 1-877-716-1212.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from WorkForce West Virginia. File online through the WorkForce West Virginia claims portal at uc.workforcewv.org, which is the fastest way, or get help by phone at 1-800-252-5627 (1-800-252-JOBS). You must file a claim each week to keep payments coming.

WV WORKS is West Virginia's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, giving monthly cash assistance to eligible families with children. It pairs the cash with work and education activities like job skills training, vocational training, and college. Apply online through wvPATH at wvpath.wv.gov or at your local Department of Human Services field office. Most families on WV WORKS also receive SNAP and Medicaid.

Legal Aid of West Virginia gives free civil legal help to low-income residents on housing and eviction, family law, public benefits, consumer and debt problems, and more. Call the statewide intake line at 1-866-255-4370 to reach the office serving your area, or apply for help online at legalaidwv.org. This is civil, noncriminal help.

Dial 2-1-1 from any West Virginia phone, or call 1-833-848-9905, for free, confidential help finding local assistance with housing, utilities, food, healthcare, and more. West Virginia 211 answers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year. You can also text your zip code to 898-211 or search at search.wv211.org.