Charleston, WV (WOAY) The West Virginia Department of Human Services announced that applications for the Emergency Low Income Energy Assistance Program (ELIEAP) will be accepted from June 8 through June 26 or until available funding is exhausted.
The federally funded program helps eligible West Virginia residents pay home heating and cooling expenses when they are facing an energy-related emergency.
Residents whose primary heating or cooling source is gas or electricity must provide either a utility termination notice or a past-due bill when applying.
Households that rely on other heating sources, including bulk fuel, may qualify if their fuel supply is critically low during the application period.
Households that previously received a direct payment through the regular Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) must verify that the benefit was used for home heating expenses. Applicants are required to submit a current receipt equal to the amount of assistance received through LIEAP.
Failure to provide proof of payment will result in denial of the ELIEAP application.
Eligibility is determined based on household income, household size, and responsibility for paying home heating or cooling costs.
To qualify, applicants must meet all program requirements and be experiencing an energy emergency that could interrupt their primary heating or cooling service without assistance.
For Fiscal Year 2026, household income must not exceed 60 percent of the State Median Income.
Certain types of income may be excluded when determining eligibility.
Applications must be submitted in person at a local Department of Human Services office.
Applications will be processed while funding remains available.
A directory of local offices is available at dohs.wv.gov/field-offices.
