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 program is administered by the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) in partnership with Promise. 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 streamline relief distribution to those in need.

As a participant in LIHWAP, the Western Virginia Water Authority is required to securely send all past due debt information to Promise, the LIHWAP program administrator.  The data will only be used by Promise for the purposes of qualifying customers for Western Virginia Water Authority utility bill financial assistance.

Households eligible for LIHWAP assistance must have a past due water/wastewater balance and a gross household income below 150% of the federal poverty level based on household size (please see the Income Guidelines Table below).  Priority will be given to households whose water/wastewater has been disconnected or is at risk of disconnection. 

Income Guidelines Table

Net monthly income may not exceed the following requirements:

Eligible households may apply for LIHWAP relief at:

www.virginialihwap.com

Applicants not already enrolled in an income based program (LIHEAP, SNAP/EBT, TANF, SSI and means-tested veteran programs) will be required to provide evidence of household income. 

Application assistance is available by contacting Promise directly between the hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 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. For assistance call 1-888-373-9908

Eligible households may apply for LIHWAP relief at:

www.virginialihwap.com

Please note that this link will take you to an external site that is not maintained by the Western Virginia Water Authority. 

Applicants not already enrolled in an income based program (LIHEAP, SNAP/EBT, TANF, SSI and means-tested veteran programs) will be required to provide evidence of household income. 

Application assistance is available by contacting Promise directly between the hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 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. For assistance call 1-888-373-9908

Any customer of the Western Virginia Water Authority who is unable to pay for their water and/or sewer service is eligible to apply for the Authority Cares funds. 

The Authority maintains the Authority Cares fund, established in partnership with the  HomeServe Service Line Protection program, to assist customers in the City of Roanoke, the Counties of Roanoke, Franklin and Botetourt and the Towns of Boones Mill and Vinton.  This fund currently has $28,500 available each month to help customers who need assistance in paying their bills.

Any customer of the Western Virginia Water Authority who is unable to pay for their water and/or sewer service is eligible to apply for the Authority Cares funds.  

Funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis to qualified customers whose debt is past due and who complete the online application.  Customers may receive ONE Authority Cares pledge in a 12-month period.

To apply for utility assistance through the Authority Cares program, please complete the online application available at Contact Us Online Form.