Crisis Fuel Assistance (Vermont)

Crisis Fuel Assistance helps when you have a heating emergency in the winter months. A common example is running out of fuel with no money to buy more. It is meant for a crisis, not for regular monthly help, so it moves faster than the seasonal program.

The income line here is higher than for seasonal fuel. Your household income must be at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. On top of that, you must be facing a heating crisis, such as being out of fuel with no way to pay for more.

The program can do several things to keep the heat on. It can buy your primary source of heat, pay for electricity if it is needed to run your heating system, help set up payment plans, and work with your electric or natural gas company to stop a disconnection.

Timing matters a lot, so do not wait. The program cannot help you once the fuel has already been delivered or the furnace work is already done. Apply before you run out, not after. For homes that heat with bulk fuels like oil, propane, wood, pellets, or coal, you can apply from the last Monday in November to the second Friday in April.

You apply in person at your local Community Action Agency. Call the agency first, and they will tell you what documents and information to bring. If you are elderly or disabled and cannot apply in person, the agency may be able to take your application by phone.

There is a special line for weekends and holidays. If you are elderly, disabled, or have a child under 6, you may call 1-800-479-6151 toll-free on weekends and holidays to apply, from the last Saturday in November until the first Sunday in April. You still need to finish an application at your local Community Action Agency. Dial 2-1-1 for more local help.