3001      APPLICATION PROCESS

In order for DPADivision of Public Assistance to determine a household's eligibility, the household must:

• Submit a completed and signed application. Applications can be submitted in the following ways:

1. by mail;

2. in person;

3. by fax;

4. by phone; or 

5. by email

• Provide documentation and verification, including required forms, needed to determine program eligibility.

All households may file an application the same day they contact DPADivision of Public Assistance to establish a protected filing date. DPADivision of Public Assistance will help all households with the application process.

Fee agents help households who live in communities that do not have a local DPADivision of Public Assistance office apply for heating assistance. The fee agent can help the household apply online or use DPADivision of Public Assistance applications and other forms provided by DPADivision of Public Assistance. Households are not required to go to a fee agent and may apply directly through DPADivision of Public Assistance.

The receipt of an identifiable application by DPADivision of Public Assistance establishes the application filing date. The application, however, may not be a complete application. The worker has 45 days (or 18 hours for life-threatening heating assistance expedited service applications) following the receipt of a complete application to process the application.

NOTE:

Paper applications can be signed by e-signature, digital signature, or a handwritten signature created on an electronic device (finger/stylus to screen) starting October 1, 2024.

Telephonic signatures must be recorded by a worker through the VCCVirtual Contact Center.