RICHMOND — The deadline to apply for fuel assistance through the Virginia Department of Social Services’ is Friday. Families and individuals must apply through their local department of social services.

“Our application window opens in the fall, in anticipation of much colder winter months,” said VDSS Commissioner Anthony Conyers Jr. “While we’ve had a mild season so far, the weather could change rapidly. We strongly encourage those who think they may need help paying for their heating costs this winter to apply by the deadline.”

Fuel Assistance is a supplemental program intended to assist households in meeting their home heating energy needs. To qualify for Fuel Assistance, a one-person household’s maximum gross monthly income cannot exceed $1,174. For a household of four, the maximum gross monthly income level is $2,389.

The program assists with various types of energy sources, including electricity, natural and liquid propane gas, oil, kerosene, coal and wood.

The Energy Assistance Program is funded by the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program block grant. LIHEAP provides money to states to help low-income households, the elderly and disabled cope with the financial strain of high heating bills.

For more information on the Energy Assistance Program, visit VDSS’ Web site: www.dss.virginia.gov/benefit/ea/index.html.