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VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES ENERGY ASSISTANCE

11/14 VOLUME IX, CHAPTER B, PAGE 1

1. PURPOSE

The purpose of the Fuel Assistance component is to assist eligible households in meeting their immediate home energy needs. The benefits are not intended to meet the household's total costs during the heating season.

2. PROGRAM DATES

The Fuel Assistance component will begin the second Tuesday in October in all localities. Checks or credit authorizations will be issued in December. Home Office will specify the last date that services can be provided for each EAP year.

3. APPLICATIONS

Households that can be automatically determined eligible will be approved for the Fuel Assistance component and will not need to submit an application. A letter of approval (VA EAP Notice of Approval for Fuel Assistance) is sent to these households and a copy is sent to the LDSS. This preapproval letter should be placed in the client’s file in lieu of a Fuel Assistance application.

The VDSS will mail an application to certain households. The application will carry the return address of the LDSS in the locality where the potential applicant was last known to reside.

The date of application will be the date the signed application is received in the LDSS. In order for an application to be considered valid, it must be signed by the applicant or an authorized representative. The LDSS must affix a date received to each application. All applications received in the LDSS through the mail postmarked on or before the second Friday in November must be dated no later than the official closing date for acceptance of applications.

a. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Households

Households that received assistance last year and are identified as single unit SNAP households but cannot be automatically approved will be sent an application containing preprinted demographic data, fuel type and vendor of record, and income and household size information taken from the SNAP database. Income information will be adjusted to reflect Energy Assistance programmatic income exemptions.

b. Fuel Assistance Households

Prior year Fuel Assistance households will be sent an application containing preprinted demographic data, and fuel type and vendor of record.

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