The Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) is a temporary federally funded program created to assist low-income households with water and wastewater bills. LIHWAP relief will be available to eligible Virginia residents from October 2022 until funds are depleted.
The Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) is administered by Promise Network on the behalf of the Virginia Department of Social Services.
Promise is a modern technology solutions company that works with utilities and government agencies around the country to provide payment flexibility for households who are unable to pay their bills and streamlined relief distribution to those in need.
Households eligible for LIHWAP assistance must:
Please fill out the application online on virginialihwap.com by selecting your utility and entering your account number and billing zip code. If you cannot find your utility in the dropdown selection, you can select "My utility is not listed here" in the dropdown and start an application.
Alternatively, you can apply on paper by filling out this form and sending it to the following:
PO Box 2218
Richmond, VA
23218
You can also call 1-888-373-9908 to sign up.
Applicants not already enrolled in an income based program (LIHEAP, SNAP, TANF, SSI and Veterans Benefits) will be required to provide evidence of household income. See "What documents are required for the application?"
Application assistance is available by contacting Promise directly between the hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday. Please do not contact your local department of social services, as they will not be able to provide support regarding the application process.
If any of your household members is not a recipient of SNAP, LIHEAP, TANF, SSI, or veteran programs, you will need to provide documents that show the income earned by all household members (except minors) for the last calendar month:
If you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI):
If any of your household members is a qualified alien:
If you are a renter and the utility bill is not in a member of your household’s name:
If another person is filling out the application on your behalf:
Please reference the list of countable income under the question "What qualifies as income?" to ensure you did not earn anything last month.
If you did not earn any income last month, when prompted to upload income documentation, upload a signed attestation:
"I attest that my household did not receive any income in [last month - ex. September 2024].
[Signature],
Your Name"
As part of the application, you will be asked for your income sources and the amount of income you received in the last calendar month. Please refer to the list below to calculate your income.
Provide your gross income (income before taxes, deductions, and garnishments).
Countable Income (Include these in your income calculations)
Excluded Income (Please DO NOT include these in your income calculations)
Your household is eligible for aid if your gross total income last calendar month is equal or below the maximum monthly income outlined below.
Household Size | Maximum Monthly Income |
---|---|
1 | $1,822 |
2 | $2,465 |
3 | $3,107 |
4 | $3,750 |
5 | $4,392 |
6 | $5,035 |
7 | $5,677 |
8 | $6,320 |
9 | $6,962 |
10 | $7,605 |
11 | $8,247 |
12 | $8,890 |
13 | $9,532 |
14 | $10,175 |
15 | $10,817 |
16 | $11,460, |
17 | $12,102 |
18 | $12,745 |
19 | $13,387 |
20 | $14,030 |
If the water account is in your name, you can apply with no additional requirements.
If the water account is in your landlord’s name, you will need the landlord verification form
Households are eligible to receive funds equal to the amount of their past due water/wastewater debt, up to a maximum allowable amount of $2,500.00. Please note, this is a one-time payment. If the bill amount is less than the maximum allowable payment amount, additional payments will not be made. Households are responsible for any remaining balance after the LIHWAP payment is made.
METHOD OF PAYMENT: All payments will be made directly to participating vendors typically within ten (10) business days of application approval. Eligible households will be notified when a payment is made on their behalf.
If you are not satisfied with the decision about your application, you can request a conference and/or a formal hearing. To request a conference, please call the LIHWAP Team at 1-888-373-9908. If you are not satisfied with the results of the conference, you may request a formal hearing; you must submit a written request to us within 30 days from the conference. The Virginia Department of Social Services will make the final decision on all hearings. You may be entitled to free legal services concerning your dissatisfaction about your case.
If you have questions, please contact Promise Network at 1-888-373-9908.
Water and Wastewater Utilities must enroll with Promise in order for their clients to participate in LIHWAP. Utilities interested in enrolling or with questions about LIHWAP should contact Promise at support@virginialihwap.com