Last Verified: October 18, 2026
Virginia's Energy Assistance Program is not one single year-round payment with one universal deadline.
The Virginia Department of Social Services describes Energy Assistance as a group of programs that help qualifying households with heating costs, cooling needs, and certain energy emergencies.
The components have different purposes and application windows.
A household should first identify the type of energy problem it has before choosing an application route.
On this page
- Fuel Assistance
- Crisis Assistance
- Cooling Assistance
- Application windows are different
- How to apply
- What CommonHelp does
- Who should look at Cooling Assistance first?
- What if the problem is a broken heat pump?
- Weatherization is different
- PIPP is also separate
- What to verify before applying
- Avoid outdated dates
- A practical path
- Bottom line
- Related Money Signal News guides
- Official sources
Fuel Assistance
Fuel Assistance is the seasonal component intended to help eligible households with home heating costs.
Virginia DSS publishes the current application schedule and program details on its Energy Assistance page.
Because dates can change by program year, use the current official page rather than an old flyer or an older search result.
Fuel Assistance can be relevant to households responsible for heating costs, but eligibility depends on the rules for the active season.
Crisis Assistance
Crisis Assistance is aimed at qualifying energy emergencies.
Virginia DSS separates crisis help from ordinary seasonal heating assistance because the household situation is different.
Emergency needs can involve loss or threatened loss of heat, heating-equipment problems, or other situations described in the current program rules.
Do not assume that qualifying for Fuel Assistance automatically means the same household meets Crisis Assistance requirements.
Cooling Assistance
Cooling Assistance is another separate component.
Virginia DSS says Cooling Assistance may include help with the purchase or installation of a window air conditioner, repair of central air conditioning or heat pumps, help with electric bills, or deposits, depending on the current program rules.
The official page also states that the household must pay cooling costs and include a vulnerable person meeting the program criteria.
Virginia DSS currently describes vulnerable household members for Cooling Assistance as including a person age 60 or older, a person living with a disability, or a child under age six.
Always confirm the current-year details before applying.
Application windows are different
The three components do not share one universal application date.
Virginia DSS posts separate schedules for Fuel, Crisis, and Cooling Assistance.
This is why a general statement such as “Virginia Energy Assistance is open” can be misleading.
One component may be open while another is closed.
Typical application windows to check now
Virginia’s published pattern for the winter programs is below. Local agencies and the state list exact dates each season, so confirm the current schedule before you rely on a deadline.
- Fuel Assistance: from the second Tuesday in October through the second Friday in November. Applying that pattern to 2026 points to about October 13 through November 13, 2026, but this date is derived from the published rule rather than a dated 2026 notice.
- Crisis Assistance: November 1 through March 15 for heating equipment repair or replacement, supplemental equipment and security deposits; the first workday in January through March 15 for heating fuel and utility bills.
- Cooling Assistance: mid-June through mid-August, for households that pay cooling costs and include a vulnerable member (age 60 or older, a person with a disability, or a child under 6).
Gross monthly household income generally must be at or below 150% of the federal poverty level, and Fuel, Crisis and Cooling help also require a heating or cooling expense.
Ways to apply
- Online: CommonHelp, the state portal.
- By phone: 855-635-4370, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., as listed on the DSS Energy Assistance page.
- On paper: English and Spanish applications for Fuel, Crisis and Cooling Assistance can be downloaded and returned to your local department of social services.
Quick answers
Is the Fuel Assistance window open right now?
Based on the published second-Tuesday-in-October to second-Friday-in-November pattern, it should be open in mid-October 2026. Confirm the exact closing date with DSS or your local agency.
What if I miss the Fuel Assistance window?
Crisis Assistance is a separate component for heating emergencies, such as no heat or a shutoff notice, and runs later in the season.
Does applying guarantee help?
No. Eligibility and benefit decisions are made by the agency after you apply and provide verification.
How to apply
Virginia DSS directs residents to CommonHelp for online applications.
The agency also lists a phone application route through the Enterprise Customer Service Center and provides paper application materials for certain program components.
A local department of social services can also help with case-specific questions.
Use the current official Energy Assistance page to confirm the available application methods for the component you need.
What CommonHelp does
CommonHelp is Virginia's online benefits portal.
It can be used for Energy Assistance along with other benefit programs.
The portal is useful for starting an application and managing information, but program-specific eligibility is still governed by the Energy Assistance rules.
Who should look at Cooling Assistance first?
Cooling Assistance is especially relevant when a household has a vulnerable member and is responsible for cooling costs.
Because the program has a seasonal application window, timing matters.
If cooling is an immediate health or safety concern, check the current official page rather than waiting for a general benefit-renewal date.
What if the problem is a broken heat pump?
Virginia DSS says Cooling Assistance may include repair of central air-conditioning systems or heat pumps under the applicable rules.
A separate energy-efficiency or weatherization program may also be relevant depending on the household and property.
Do not assume that one Energy Assistance component will pay for a complete HVAC replacement.
Weatherization is different
The Energy Assistance page points to Weatherization Assistance as a related resource.
Weatherization focuses on home energy improvements such as insulation and air sealing to reduce utility costs.
It is not the same thing as Fuel Assistance, Crisis Assistance, or Cooling Assistance.
A household may need to investigate more than one program depending on whether the problem is a current bill, an emergency, or the long-term efficiency of the home.
PIPP is also separate
Virginia DSS lists the Percentage of Income Payment Program, or PIPP, as a related program.
PIPP is designed around electric-bill affordability and has its own eligibility and participation rules.
It should not be confused with a one-time Energy Assistance benefit.
What to verify before applying
Check:
- which Energy Assistance component fits your need,
- whether that component's application window is open,
- whether your household meets the current eligibility rules,
- whether you are responsible for the relevant heating or cooling cost,
- what documentation is requested,
- and whether the application should go through CommonHelp, phone intake, paper form, or a local social services office.
Avoid outdated dates
Energy-assistance dates are especially vulnerable to becoming stale in search results.
A prior-year PDF can remain online after a new program year starts.
Always compare the year and date of the application schedule with the current Virginia DSS page.
A practical path
If your need is ordinary winter heating costs, start with Fuel Assistance.
If you have a qualifying heating emergency, review Crisis Assistance.
If the problem is summer cooling and your household includes a vulnerable person, review Cooling Assistance.
If the problem is long-term home efficiency, also check Weatherization Assistance and Virginia Energy Connect.
If the issue is ongoing electric-bill affordability, investigate PIPP separately.
Bottom line
Virginia Energy Assistance includes different forms of help for different situations.
Fuel Assistance addresses seasonal heating costs. Crisis Assistance addresses qualifying energy emergencies. Cooling Assistance targets eligible cooling needs and includes additional vulnerable-household criteria.
The programs have different application windows and rules.
Start with the current Virginia DSS Energy Assistance page, then use CommonHelp or the listed application method for the component that matches your need.
Related Money Signal News guides
Official sources
Money Signal News is an independent information site and is not affiliated with Virginia DSS or any government agency.