The call to active military service may mean that some individuals and their families require special social services assistance. The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) provides the following information on programs and services that can assist the brave men and women who are leaving the comforts of health and home to preserve and protect our nation.

Programs Administered by VDSS

Local departments of social services in each county offer assistance programs. Any citizen of Virginia can apply for one or more of these programs in the county or city where they live. These services, with various eligibility criteria, include:

• Adult Services - Assistance such as chore, companion, adult day care and homemaker services enable aged or disabled adults to remain in their homes rather than move to institutions. Other services protect adults from abuse, neglect or exploitation. If institutionalization becomes necessary, arrangements can be made for appropriate care; transition back to community is also provided when adults are released from various institutions.
• Child Support Collections - Custodial and non-custodial parents in the military who have child support cases with the Division of Child Support Enforcement may need to contact DCSE regarding activation of their military Dependent Care Plans. If necessary, child support can be re-directed to the persons temporarily caring for children and custodial parents can request a review of the order amount based on financial changes or change income withholding orders. For more information contact your local DCSE district office.
• Care Services for Children - Assistance with payment of child care services can often be provided to enable parents to become or remain employed or to prepare for employment through approved schooling or training. To check your eligibility for child care assistance, visit our online eligibility screening.
• Disaster Assistance - Families with children may qualify for short-term, limited financial assistance when a fire, natural disaster or some other emergency has destroyed those things necessary for taking care of a family.
• Energy Assistance - Eligible households that need financial assistance to pay home energy costs may qualify for the following:
  • Fuel Assistance - Helps households in heating their homes during the winter heating months. Eligibility is based on income and living arrangements.
  • Crisis Assistance - Helps eligible households in emergency energy situations that cannot be met by Fuel Assistance or other resources.
  • Cooling Assistance - Helps households with their cooling needs.
• Food Stamps - Food stamps are designed to supplement the food budgets of families in order to help persons obtain a more nutritionally adequate diet. Financial need, income and resources determine eligibility. To determine if you may be eligible for food stamps, please use our online eligibility screening.
• General Relief - Limited financial assistance may be available to those who meet requirements set by each locality. General Relief may include aid for people who are ill or temporarily out of work, medical care for the indigent, burial of the indigent and other emergency services.
• Medicaid - Medicaid provides payments for eligible individuals and families who are unable to pay for needed medical services. These services include prescription drugs, doctor visits, nursing facility care and hospital care.
• State and Local Hospitalization (SLH) - This service provides direct payment to hospitals for individuals who are unable to pay for required medical services.
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) - TANF provides temporary financial assistance to families with children. The family receives a monthly cash payment to meet its basic needs based on the size of the family and income. To be eligible, a family must be financially needy and meet certain other requirements, such as age guidelines of children and school attendance. To determine if you may be eligible for TANF, please use our online eligibility screening. TANF Emergency Assistance is also available for families affected by fires or natural disasters.

Programs Administered by Other State Agencies

• FAMIS Moms - Medical coverage is available for pregnant women whose family income is within the range of certain specified federal poverty levels.
• Low Cost Medical Insurance for Children - The Family Access to Medical Insurance Security (FAMIS) plan is designed to provide low-cost medical insurance for children of working families. To apply, call toll-free 1-866-87FAMIS or visit: http://www.famis.org or apply at your local agency.
• Nutritious Food for Women, Infants and Children - WIC (Women, Infant and Children supplemental food program), administered by the Department of Health, provides nutritious foods to help pregnant women, post-delivery or breast-feeding mothers and infants and children under age five stay healthy. WIC checks are issued to purchase WIC-approved foods including infant formula, baby cereal, regular cereal, fruit juice, milk, cheese, eggs dry beans and peas. For more information visit: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/LHD/vabeach/clinic/wic.htm or contact the Virginia Department of Health.
• Smiles for Children - This program provides coverage for diagnostic, preventive, restorative/surgical procedures and orthodontic services to Medicaid, FAMIS and FAMIS Plus children.