Virginia Energy Assistance Program (Fuel, Crisis & Cooling)
Last updated August 2026
Virginia splits energy help into three programs with three calendars, and missing a window means waiting a year. Fuel Assistance takes applications from the second Tuesday of October through the second Friday of November; in 2026 that is October 13 through November 13. Crisis Assistance runs November 1 through March 15. Cooling Assistance runs June 15 through August 17. All three share one application route: CommonHelp online, phone at 855-635-4370, or paper at your local DSS.
The income line is the same for all three: gross monthly income at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level. If you got help last year, note that the fuel window moves slightly each year because it is set by weekdays, not fixed dates. Do not assume last year's deadline.
Fuel Assistance is the planning program: it offsets heating costs for households responsible for a heating bill, applied for in fall before the cold arrives. Mark the October window on a calendar now; it is the shortest and most missable of the three.
Crisis Assistance is for when something breaks or runs out. It can repair or replace heating equipment, provide supplemental equipment, buy fuel, pay a primary heating utility bill, or cover a security deposit. Equipment and deposit help starts November 1; fuel and utility bill help runs January through March 15.
Cooling Assistance has an extra gate: the household must pay cooling costs and include a vulnerable member, someone 60 or older, a person with a disability, or a child under 6. It can buy and install window air conditioners, repair central AC or heat pumps, and help with electric bills or deposits. In a Virginia summer, that is health protection, not comfort.
Stack the layers. Weatherization fixes the home so bills shrink permanently, and the same CommonHelp application can check food and health coverage. If a shut-off notice is already in hand outside these windows, dial 2-1-1 for local utility funds.
Phone 1-855-635-4370
Help available in English and Spanish.
Updated August 2026 Program details can change — confirm with the program directly.
Who qualifies
- Income-based; households at or below the program's income limit for their size may qualify
- Each part has its own application window: Fuel Assistance opens in mid-October, Crisis Assistance runs November through mid-March, and Cooling Assistance runs mid-June through mid-August
You may qualify. The program makes the final decision.
How to apply
- 1
Pick your window: Fuel Assistance October 13 to November 13, 2026; Crisis November 1 to March 15; Cooling June 15 to August 17.
- 2
Apply on CommonHelp, call 855-635-4370, or file paper at your local DSS.
- 3
Provide proof of income (the limit is 150 percent of poverty) and your energy bills.
- 4
For Cooling, note the vulnerable member: someone 60 or older, disabled, or a child under 6.
What to have ready
- A recent heating or electric bill in the household's name
- Proof of income for household members
- ID and proof of address. Your local office confirms the exact list.
What the application looks like
Common questions
When can I apply for Fuel Assistance?
From the second Tuesday of October through the second Friday of November each year. In 2026, October 13 through November 13. The dates shift slightly each year, so check before assuming.
What if my furnace dies in January?
That is Crisis Assistance, open November 1 through March 15 for equipment repair or replacement, fuel, utility bills, and deposits. Contact your local DSS right away.
Is there summer cooling help?
Yes. Cooling Assistance runs June 15 through August 17 and can buy window AC units, repair central air, and help with electric bills, for households paying cooling costs with a member 60 or older, disabled, or under 6.
What is the income limit?
Gross monthly income at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level, for all three components.
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