West Virginia financial assistance directory
Low-Income Help and Resources in West Virginia
If household costs are hard to manage, West Virginia has programs that may help with food, housing, utilities, healthcare, child care, and other basic needs. WV PATH is the main online entry point for several state benefits, while child care, weatherization, housing, aging services, legal aid, and emergency help often use county or regional providers.
Money Fit serves West Virginia residents statewide. If debt or monthly payments are also part of the problem, call 800-432-0310 or start a confidential debt review.
Where to start
WV PATH handles applications and case information for several major assistance programs. Other services, especially child care, housing, weatherization, senior services, and emergency help, may route residents to a county or regional provider.
Apply for food, health coverage, cash, or energy help
WV PATH is the state's online portal for SNAP, Medicaid, WVCHIP, WV WORKS, LIEAP when open, and other assistance programs.
Find nearby help statewide
West Virginia 211 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for referrals to food, housing, utilities, transportation, healthcare, legal, family, and disaster resources.
Housing or utility assistance
Affordable rental searches, public housing, energy assistance, weatherization, heating and cooling repairs, and homelessness services use different state, local, and regional routes.
County and regional routing matters in West Virginia. Department of Human Services field offices handle many benefit programs. Child care assistance is delivered through Child Care Resource and Referral agencies, while weatherization and heating or cooling repair programs are delivered through local Community Action Agencies. Public housing waiting lists and homelessness intake also vary by community.
Food assistance
For ongoing grocery help, start with SNAP or WIC when the household may qualify. For food needed sooner, West Virginia's statewide food-distribution network and 211 can help locate pantries and other local resources.
West Virginia SNAP
SNAP provides monthly food benefits to eligible households. Residents can apply through WV PATH or contact a local Department of Human Services office.
West Virginia WIC
WIC provides healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals for eligible pregnant and postpartum participants, infants, and children under age five. The 2026 income guidelines took effect July 1, 2026 and run through June 30, 2027.
West Virginia Food Distribution Program
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture administers USDA food programs statewide, including TEFAP in all 55 counties and CSFP for qualifying adults age 60 and older in participating areas. The state routes residents to Mountaineer Food Bank or Facing Hunger Foodbank based on county.
Several SNAP rules changed in 2025 and 2026. West Virginia's ABAWD work rules now reach certain adults through age 64 unless an exemption applies. The state's Healthy Choices restriction on sweetened carbonated beverages was paused July 10, 2026 after federal guidance, so those beverages are currently SNAP-eligible again. For households affected by the July 21 storms, D-SNAP applications are scheduled September 21 through September 25, 2026 for eligible residents who lived or worked in Lewis, Upshur, Ritchie, or Pleasants County.
Housing, rent, and utility help
Housing and utility assistance is split across the West Virginia Housing Development Fund, local housing authorities, Department of Human Services offices, Community Action Agencies, 211, and legal-aid providers. Funding and waiting lists can change quickly.
West Virginia Housing Development Fund rental search
The Housing Development Fund maintains a statewide searchable directory of affordable rental properties. Search by city, county, or population served, then contact the property manager for current rent and unit availability.
West Virginia LIEAP
LIEAP helps eligible households with home-heating costs when an application period is open. The regular 2026 application period closed February 9 after regular funding was exhausted, and the Emergency LIEAP period closed June 26. The state says future emergency openings will be announced.
LIHEAP Repair and Replace Program
Repair and Replace can help eligible households repair or replace unsafe, malfunctioning, or non-operable heating or cooling systems. Services are delivered by local Community Action Agencies in all 55 counties and continue only while funds are available.
Cooling-only service period: May 1 through September 30.
Weatherization Assistance Program
Weatherization helps qualifying households improve energy efficiency and address health and safety issues. Local nonprofit Community Action Agencies provide services in all 55 counties. Eligible applicants may be placed on a waitlist, with priority based on factors such as energy burden, age, disability, and children in the household.
Local public housing authorities
Public housing and Housing Choice Voucher programs are administered locally. Application periods and waiting-list status differ by housing authority, so residents should contact the agency serving their community directly.
HUD public housing help: 800-955-2232
West Virginia 211
Emergency shelter, homelessness prevention, temporary housing, and other local services use different providers and intake routes. West Virginia 211 can identify resources serving the caller's county.
Call: 211 or 833-848-9905
Legal Aid of West Virginia
Legal Aid of West Virginia provides free civil legal services for eligible residents. Matters may include housing, public benefits, consumer and credit problems, family safety, and other civil legal issues.
Apply by phone: 866-255-4370
Energy programs are not all on the same schedule. Regular LIEAP and Emergency LIEAP are currently closed for 2026, while Repair and Replace and weatherization use separate eligibility, local providers, funding limits, and service periods. Confirm current availability before relying on assistance.
Healthcare coverage and clinics
Medicaid and WVCHIP applications can be submitted through WV PATH. Residents who need private Marketplace coverage can also use HealthCare.gov, while federally supported health centers provide local care regardless of insurance status.
West Virginia Medicaid
West Virginia Medicaid has several eligibility categories. WV PATH is the recommended application route for most healthcare programs, and residents can also apply through a local Department of Human Services office or HealthCare.gov.
DoHS Customer Service: 877-716-1212
WVCHIP
WVCHIP provides health coverage for eligible children and pregnant women in working families who do not qualify for Medicaid. Applications can be submitted through WV PATH or HealthCare.gov.
WVCHIP Helpline: 877-982-2447, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
HealthCare.gov
West Virginia uses the federal Health Insurance Marketplace. Residents who are not eligible for Medicaid or WVCHIP may be able to compare private plans and receive financial help depending on income and current federal rules.
Community health centers
HRSA-funded health centers provide primary care and may offer dental, mental health, substance-use, pharmacy, and other services. They serve insured and uninsured patients and adjust fees based on income and family size.
Medicaid rules change in 2027. Beginning January 1, 2027, certain adults ages 19 through 64 in West Virginia's Medicaid Adult Expansion Group must complete 80 hours per month of qualifying activities unless exempt. Current members are generally affected at their scheduled 2027 renewal, while some applicants may need to meet requirements before coverage begins. Keep contact and household information current in WV PATH.
Child care, family, and cash assistance
Child care assistance uses a statewide network of Child Care Resource and Referral agencies. WV WORKS and several other family programs use WV PATH and local Department of Human Services offices.
West Virginia Child Care Assistance
The Child Care Program helps eligible working parents, and some parents attending school, pay most of the cost of qualifying child care. Six Child Care Resource and Referral agencies provide financial-assistance intake and local provider referrals across the state.
WV WORKS
WV WORKS is West Virginia's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. It provides monthly cash assistance to eligible families and may also connect participants with education and employment-related services.
School Clothing Allowance
West Virginia's School Clothing Allowance is seasonal. The 2026 application window ran July 20 through August 15 and is now closed. Households should check WV PATH or the Bureau for Family Assistance for the next application period.
Head Start and Early Head Start
Head Start programs provide early learning, health, nutrition, and family support for eligible young children and families. Local programs manage eligibility, openings, and waiting lists.
West Virginia is implementing child care changes under House Bill 4191. Enrollment-based provider reimbursement is already in effect. Additional work continues on the Cost of Care Model and child care subsidy cliff provisions scheduled for January 1, 2027. Families should confirm current eligibility, copayments, provider availability, and application procedures with their Child Care Resource and Referral agency.
Work, legal help, and essential services
Job loss, reduced hours, a civil legal problem, or loss of affordable phone or internet service can quickly affect the rest of the household budget.
WorkForce West Virginia unemployment
Eligible workers can file an unemployment claim online or get help at a local WorkForce West Virginia office. Claimants must also register with WorkForce West Virginia's Job Service.
Assistance: 800-252-JOBS (5627)
WorkForce West Virginia
WorkForce West Virginia provides job-search support, local workforce offices, career services, training resources, job fairs, and employment assistance.
Legal Aid of West Virginia
Eligible residents can apply for free civil legal help involving housing, public benefits, consumer debt, family safety, employment, and other civil matters.
Helpline: 866-255-4370
Federal Lifeline benefit
Lifeline may reduce the monthly cost of qualifying phone or broadband service. Eligibility can be based on household income or participation in certain public benefit programs.
Lifeline Support Center: 800-234-9473
Older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers
West Virginia uses the Bureau of Senior Services, the Aging and Disability Resource Network, Medicaid waiver programs, and county-level providers to connect older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers with long-term services and supports.
West Virginia Aging and Disability Resource Network
The Aging and Disability Resource Network helps residents and families find long-term services and supports, home-based services, caregiver resources, and other local programs.
Statewide line: 866-981-2372
West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services
The Bureau of Senior Services works with local organizations across West Virginia to provide and coordinate meals, transportation, home support, caregiver services, Medicare counseling, wellness programs, and other services for older adults.
Toll-free: 877-987-3646
Aged and Disabled Waiver
The Medicaid Aged and Disabled Waiver supports eligible adults who meet financial and nursing-facility level-of-care requirements. The program has a waitlist. While waiting, some residents may be able to use Lighthouse or FAIR caregiver-respite services, depending on age, need, income, county openings, and staff availability.
Adult and child protective services hotline
Suspected abuse or neglect of an adult or child can be reported through West Virginia's statewide protective-services hotline, which operates 24 hours a day.
Hotline: 800-352-6513
Crisis, safety, and disaster resources
If someone is in immediate danger, has a life-threatening medical emergency, or cannot stay safe, call 911.
988 and HELP4WV
Call or text 988 for suicide and mental health crisis support. HELP4WV provides 24-hour call, text, and chat support for West Virginians seeking mental health or substance-use treatment and local referrals.
988: call or text 988
HELP4WV: 844-435-7498
West Virginia domestic violence support
The West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence can help residents locate local programs and outreach offices. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24 hours a day.
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-SAFE (7233)
West Virginia 211
West Virginia 211 is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for community and disaster-resource referrals.
Call: 211 or 833-848-9905
Text: ZIP code to 898-211
July 2026 storm assistance
Residents who lived or worked in Lewis, Upshur, Ritchie, or Pleasants County during the July 21 storms may qualify for D-SNAP or SNAP supplements. D-SNAP applications are scheduled September 21 through September 25, 2026 at designated county sites.
Disaster recovery for affected counties
Disaster Unemployment Assistance is available to eligible workers and self-employed people in Lewis, Pleasants, Ritchie, and Upshur counties whose work was lost or interrupted because of the July 21-22 disaster. The filing deadline is October 2, 2026. FEMA assistance depends on the federal declaration, designated counties, eligible losses, insurance, and current application periods.
Review the household budget and unsecured debt together
Public assistance can help with basic expenses while credit cards, medical bills, collections, personal loans, payday loans, or other unsecured debts continue affecting the household budget. Money Fit nonprofit credit counseling can help West Virginia residents review income, expenses, debts, and possible options.
A debt management plan may organize eligible unsecured debt into one monthly payment to Money Fit, which then sends payments to participating creditors. A DMP is not a new loan or debt settlement. Creditor participation, concessions, account treatment, fees, and payment changes can vary.
Money Fit does not provide cash assistance, food benefits, rent assistance, utility benefits, government benefits, or emergency grants. The counseling form below is for help reviewing debt and monthly payments.
Open the Money Fit debt review form
Share a few details so Money Fit can respond to your request. Your information stays with Money Fit and is not sent to a marketplace of lenders or debt companies.
Related Money Fit resources
These resources can help with debt, housing, financial education, and assistance in other states.
