Heating / Cooling Assistance

State-funded Heating and Cooling Assistance Administered by the Department of Human Services (DHS)

The programs listed below offer limited financial assistance to help with home heating and cooling expenses. Applications must be submitted annually for each program component. Customers may qualify for more than one type of assistance within each component.

Fuel Assistance

Provides financial support for primary home heating costs, including utility bills, furnace restarts, late fees, delivery charges, installation costs, and connection or reconnection fees.

Application Period:
Second Tuesday in October through the second Friday in November.

If approved, payments are credited directly to your utility account, usually in January or February, up to the maximum amount allowed. The maximum payment is determined by the state in mid-December and varies each year.

 

Crisis Assistance

Helps households meet emergency heating needs when no other resources are available. Assistance may include:

  • Security deposits
  • Emergency shelter
  • Purchase of home heating fuel
  • Purchase or repair of portable space heaters and heating equipment

Application Periods:

  • General Crisis Assistance: November 1 through March 15
  • Bill payment with a cut-off notice: January 1 through March 15

Important Notice:
Applications may be submitted, but the state is not approving or issuing benefits at this time due to the federal government shutdown.

Cooling Assistance

Provides help with:

  • Repairs or purchase of cooling equipment
  • Electricity costs to operate cooling equipment

Application Period:
June 15 through August 15.
Benefit amounts are determined by the state and vary each year.

 

Percentage of Income Payment Program (PIPP)

The PIPP program helps eligible Dominion Energy customers keep electric service affordable by basing monthly bills on household income and primary heat source.

How It Works
Your monthly bill, called the “PIPP Amount,” is calculated as a percentage of your gross monthly household income:

  • 10 percent if electricity is your primary heat source
  • A lower percentage applies if electricity is not your primary heat source

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must be an Arlington resident
  • U.S. citizen or eligible immigrant
  • Fuel Assistance applicants must be responsible for the heating bill
  • Crisis Assistance applicants must have a heating emergency
  • Cooling Assistance applicants must have an older adult, disabled person, or a child under age six in the household
  • For PIPP assistance, the household must have an active electric account with Dominion Energy
  • Household income must not exceed monthly limits based on 2025 guidelines (below)
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How to Apply for the Programs Above & Eligibility Information

Download the applications: 

 Cooling Assistance: 


Heating Assistance: 


Fuel Assistance: 

PIPP: 

Via Arlington County DHS

  1. Apply in person, or mail your application to: 
    Arlington County Department of Human Services 
    2100 Washington Boulevard, 1st Floor 
    Arlington, VA  22204
  2. To have an application mailed to you, please call 703-228-1350. 
  3.  You can also Fax your completed application to 703-228-1011 or email it to  bjordan@arlingtonva.us. 


Via CommonHelp

  1.  Apply online via CommonHelp - http://www.commonhelp.virginia.gov 


Via Phone

  1.  Apply via the phone by calling 1-(855)- 635-4370. 

Eligibility Documents Required to be Submitted with Your Application(s): 

  • If everyone in the household receives SNAP, verification documents may be waived. 

  • For households in which everyone does not receive SNAP the following are required:

    1.     All households must complete Fuel (Heating) Assistance, Crisis Assistance or Cooling Assistance Application. Everyone who lives in the dwelling/unit must be listed on the application.

     2. Verification of citizenship or alien status if not born in the U.S. 

     3. Utility bill in the name of the applicant or other documentation that the applicant is responsible for the primary home heating/cooling source. 

     4. Proof of income source, amount, and frequency. 

     5. A Social Security number must be provided for each eligible family member. 

Local Arlington Assistance & Resources

Local Arlington Assistance

  • If you have a utility bill in disconnect status and need financial assistance, the Clinical Coordination Program may be able to provide limited assistance.  Please call 703-228-1300 or visit us in person to learn more: Arlington County Department of Human Services, 2100 Washington Boulevard, 1st Floor, Arlington, VA  22204 

  • If you are over 60 years old or disabled, please contact the Aging and Disability Services Resource Center to learn more: Arlington County Department of Human Services,2100 Washington Boulevard, 4th Floor, Arlington, VA 22204

  • The Department of Human Services also partners with Dominion Energy via their EnergyShare program to help eligible Arlington residents with energy bill payments. Learn more here: EnergyShare | Virginia | Dominion Energy. You can also call 703-228-1300 or visit us in person to learn more: Arlington County Department of Human Services, 2100 Washington Boulevard, 1st Floor, Arlington, VA  22204 

Events

View all upcoming Public Assistance events


Find a DHS Program or Service

Find what you need in our comprehensive, searchable directory of DHS programs and services.

Contact Us

Economic Independence Division
2100 Washington Blvd. Arlington, VA 22204
703-228-1350
703-228-1788 TTY 
dhs@arlingtonva.us

 

Manage Your Benefits Online!

You can check your eligibility, apply for public assistance programs, and manage your account online through Virginia CommonHelp. Click here to learn what documentation and information you will need when you apply.
 

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Popular Forms

These are common forms and documents used within the Clinical Coordination Program (CCP) Centralized Access System (CAS) for access to housing programs and other resources.

Policies and Procedures

Fraud Reporting and Investigations

Public assistance fraud occurs when a person knowingly makes false statements, withholds information or fails to report information necessary to determine eligibility or benefits. Learn more about fraud and how to report it.

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