Utility Assistance for Single Mothers in West Virginia

Where to start

If unpaid utilities are linked to rent, unsafe housing, or a move, the West Virginia housing guide may help you plan the next step.

Current LIEAP status in West Virginia

The Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) helps eligible households with home heating costs. West Virginia has a regular program and a separate emergency program. Both depend on funding and on a state-announced application period.

The state’s February 2026 closure notice says regular LIEAP stopped taking applications after February 9, 2026, when funds ran out. Online applications submitted by that date and mailed applications postmarked by then could still be processed. The separate emergency closure notice says Emergency LIEAP closed June 26, 2026, after an opening that began June 8.

As checked October 21, 2026: the state has posted its FY 2027 rules and says the next Emergency LIEAP opening will be announced. It does not list a confirmed new application period on its main LIEAP page. Check that page or your county DoHS office for a new notice. Do not mail a form for a closed period and expect it to hold a place next season.

Emergency LIEAP’s June 2026 opening covered certain heating or cooling crises. Electric or gas applicants had to show a past-due bill or termination notice. Families using bulk fuel needed proof that fuel was critically low. These are 2026 emergency-period rules, not a promise about the next opening.

FY 2027 West Virginia LIEAP income limits

West Virginia now lists the following maximum monthly gross income amounts for fiscal year 2027. Gross income is pay before taxes, but the state may exclude some types of income. Income is only one test: heating costs and the household’s situation also matter.

The state’s 2027 table also lists larger families and says to add $710 for each person after ten. Do not use the old 2026 table or add $710 after six people. Use the current official income chart for seven or more people, and let DoHS check income exclusions before ruling yourself out.

These are LIEAP figures. Dollar Energy, Hope Gas, and Weatherization have different income tests. Do not use one program’s limit for every type of help.

How to prepare and apply when LIEAP opens

1. Watch the state announcement for the dates and whether regular or emergency applications are being accepted.
2. Use WV PATH for an eligible online filing period, or contact a local DoHS office. A Community Action agency or aging-service partner may also be able to take applications.
3. Use the DoHS field office list to reach the office for your county, or call 1-800-642-8589 for program questions. Ask which application method applies to that period.
4. Save the confirmation number, a copy of the application, bills, proof of income, and any date-stamped mail receipt.
5. Respond to requests for missing proof within the deadline on the notice. The allowed time may differ for regular and emergency applications. Ask for help at once if you cannot get a document.

The state says regular LIEAP applications are processed within 30 days after they are received, or after a period opens, whichever comes later. Actual receipt of payment can depend on the case and the utility. An earlier 2026 emergency period required some people who received direct LIEAP payments to provide receipts showing the money was spent on home energy; keep these receipts in case they are needed again.

For help with groceries while you manage heating costs, read our West Virginia SNAP guide. If you need family cash assistance, use the West Virginia WV WORKS guide. Neither program automatically pays a utility debt.

Shutoff notices, medical needs, and PSC complaints

West Virginia shutoff rules depend on the utility and type of service. General PSC consumer guidance says you should first ask the utility to fix a billing or service problem. If that fails, ask the PSC about an informal complaint. Complaints can cover wrong bills, deposits, disconnection, reconnection, and service quality.

Older Legal Aid guidance describes advance notice rules that generally include a notice sent ten days before shutoff and further contact attempts. There are exceptions, such as dangerous service conditions. Do not assume every provider or case has the same notice steps. Ask the utility and PSC to review the exact notice and its deadline.

Medical warning: A doctor’s letter is useful information, but its effect is not the same for every service. For example, Potomac Edison WV says medical certification alone does not delay or bar disconnection under West Virginia PSC rules; an approved, paid-as-agreed payment arrangement can delay termination. Tell the company about any medical risk, ask what steps protect service, and confirm the answer with the PSC. Do not rely on medical paperwork alone.

To complain, have the account number, company name, past payments, shutoff notice, names and dates of calls, and the result you need. Call 1-800-642-8544 before shutoff when possible. You may still owe new monthly bills while a dispute is reviewed. This section is general information, not legal advice. Our West Virginia legal help guide explains how to find legal support.

Programs that may lower each month’s bill

A discount cuts new charges. A hardship grant helps with a past-due balance. Applying for one does not always enroll you in the other.

West Virginia DoHS says Special Reduced Rate applications are normally mailed in October. If you think your family qualifies but no form arrives, ask your DoHS worker. The state lists these benefit paths: WV WORKS, SSI for eligible adults, or SNAP with a recipient age 60 or older. The gas/electric discount has seasonal months, while the participating water discount is year-round. The exact bill items covered may vary.

The Hope Gas discount is for an active residential account; shut-off accounts cannot enroll. Eligible customers must renew their income and household details yearly. Call Dollar Energy Fund at 1-888-282-6816 to ask about applying.

West Virginia American Water assistance includes a low-income tariff and a separate DoHS-linked 20% discount. The company also announced an extra 20% discount for qualifying customers already on its special reduced-rate tariff. Ask which rate is on your account and whether the discounts can be combined; not every customer gets both.

Utility-company grants and payment help

Dollar Energy Fund: West Virginia Utility Assistance

The West Virginia Utility Assistance Program may pay a one-time grant straight to an eligible electric, gas, or water account. Its listed program year runs from October 1 through September 30 for accounts that are off or at risk of shutoff. Funding can run out. If LIEAP or Emergency LIEAP is open and you can apply, you generally must apply there first.

The usual income cap is 150% of federal poverty guidelines for participating utilities other than West Virginia American Water, which uses 200%. The household generally needs a past-due balance of at least $100 and proof of recent payments. Provider rules matter: for example, some Mon Power/Potomac Edison customers must have paid $150 in the past three months; some other providers require $100; American Water’s figure is $50. There are rules and possible hardship exceptions for older applicants.

Most participating non-water accounts can receive up to $500 once per utility per program year. West Virginia American Water can provide up to $350 every six months, with a $700 annual maximum. If the grant cannot cover enough to stop shutoff or restore service, it can be denied. Grants cannot pay deposits or reconnection fees. Ask the utility what amount you must cover yourself before applying.

Programs from your provider

Appalachian Power offers the Neighbor to Neighbor program through Dollar Energy Fund. Ask whether your account can use the fund and what proof is needed. Customers of Mon Power and Potomac Edison can review FirstEnergy payment assistance for payment arrangements, an extended due date, and hardship referrals. Provider plans do not always stop an announced disconnection until the company accepts the plan.

Water and wastewater grants

The H2O Help to Others program serves eligible West Virginia American Water customers. The company lists grants of up to $350 per six months. Applicants usually need a balance of at least $100 and at least $50 paid in the past three months. Awards are case-by-case, and the account needs to meet the company’s other rules. Not every West Virginia water customer uses this provider.

For smaller local charities and county funds, use our West Virginia community support guide and 211 referrals. Ask each charity if it can help with your exact company and ZIP code.

Weatherization and heating-system repair

Weatherization Assistance Program

The West Virginia Weatherization Program helps eligible households lower energy use. It may cover checks of a home’s energy problems, air sealing, insulation, and other approved work. It does not pay a past-due bill. The state lists income of up to 200% of federal poverty guidelines, plus housing rules. Households with children, older adults, disabilities, or a high energy burden may get priority, but there can be a waitlist.

Apply through a Community Action agency serving your county or the state’s online intake link. Renters may need the owner’s permission for work.

LIHEAP Repair and Replace Program

The Repair and Replace Program can help some eligible homeowners with unsafe, broken, or nonworking heating or cooling systems. The state says a qualifying household must include a child age 5 or younger, a person 60 or older, or someone with a diagnosed disability. The home and equipment must also qualify.

The program lists heating-only and combined heating/cooling cycles from December 1 through November 30; cooling-only help runs May 1 through September 30. The state program page describes a 60%-of-state-median-income test for this repair program; ask the local provider to confirm the current limit for your family. Funding and repair scope are not guaranteed. If you lack safe heat, tell the agency clearly when you call.

Phone and internet discounts

Lifeline may cut a qualifying household’s internet or bundled bill by up to $9.25 a month, or a voice-only bill by up to $5.25 a month. One Lifeline benefit is generally allowed per household. You may qualify through income, SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, qualifying federal housing aid, or certain veterans benefits. Apply through the Lifeline system and then choose a participating provider.

The federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) ended in June 2024. The FCC ACP notice explains why it is not a current monthly discount. Ask your phone or internet company whether it has its own low-cost plan.

Documents to gather

You may not need every item for every program. Ask the agency before paying to get a copy.

• Bill: recent utility bill, company name, account number, and service address.
• Crisis: shutoff notice, past-due bill, payment history, or proof that heating fuel is nearly gone.
• People in the home: names, ages, and requested identity or household documents.
• Income: pay stubs, benefit award letters, child-support records when requested, or a zero-income statement.
• Housing: lease, landlord letter, or proof you live at the address, if needed.
• Health or repair: utility medical form, repair assessment, or other proof the program asks for.

Keep copies, screenshots, dates, names of staff, and confirmation numbers. Do not give a stranger your Social Security number or bank details in response to an unexpected message. If health costs are also straining your budget, our West Virginia health guide covers public coverage and low-cost care.

If help is denied, delayed, or too low

Ask why your case was denied or delayed. It may be a closed period, missing proof, income, a name that does not match the account, a payment rule, or lack of funds. Ask for the reason in writing and save the notice.

West Virginia says a LIEAP applicant may request a fair hearing within 60 days after receiving the notice after a denial, disputed amount, processing delay, or discrimination. The state says DoHS has 30 days after receiving the request to schedule the hearing, make a decision, and begin the proper action. Follow the filing directions on your notice and keep proof of the request. Ask the DoHS office how to file if the notice is unclear.

A PSC utility complaint is different from a DoHS benefits appeal. A PSC complaint is about what the utility did; a DoHS hearing reviews a public-benefit decision. If you need to travel to a county office, our West Virginia transportation guide lists possible rides and help.

Four phone scripts you can use