Financial & Food Assistance

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program

TANF provides temporary financial assistance to eligible families with children. Eligible families receive a monthly cash payment to meet their basic needs. To be eligible, a family must be financially needy and must meet certain requirements.

Effective January 1, 2023, Virginia’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and the Virginia Initiative for Education and Work (VIEW) programs will return to normal operations that limit receipt of TANF benefits to 60 months. This notification is to inform TANF/VIEW households that have received 60 months or more in TANF/VIEW benefits that the TANF/VIEW case will close effective March 31, 2023, unless one of the following exceptions are met:  

• The caretaker (or both caretakers in a two-parent TANF/VIEW household) is totally physically or mentally disabled (Medical Evaluation verification required)  

• The caretaker is needed continuously in the home to care for a disabled family member living in the home (Statement of Required Presence of Caregiver verification completed by a medical professional required). 

If you feel you meet one of the above exceptions, you must contact your worker within 10 days of receiving your notice to discuss your TANF/VIEW case, otherwise, your TANF/VIEW case will close on March 31, 2023. Please contact Chesapeake Department of Human Services at 757-382-2000 if you have any questions.

To apply for TANF, please visit CommonHelp or call 855-635-4370

Medicaid Program

The Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid) pays for health and medical care for certain groups of people who have low incomes. Medicaid is only available for people who fall into certain categories and who have limited finances.

To apply for Medicaid, please visit CommonHelp or call 855-635-4370

Long-Term Care Medicaid

Long Term Care (LTC) is medical treatment and services directed by a licensed practitioner the healing arts towards maintenance, improvement, or protection of health or lessening of illness, disability or pain which have been received, or are expected to be received, for longer than 30 consecutive days.

There are three processes that must take place to determine Long Term Care Medicaid:

• Pre-admission screening to determine the level of care
• Submitting Long-Term Care Medicaid application for funding of eligible services
• The evaluation of Long-Term Care Medicaid application

A checklist will follow 10 days after receipt of the long-term care Medicaid application. This checklist will request income excluding Social Security income, all resources and property transfers and will need to be verified by the benefit worker.

The Chesapeake Department of Social Services Long-Term Care Resource Tree FAQ and Helpful Guides (PDF) offers information on the process and provides answers to the most frequently asked questions.

For additional assistance with LTC, call the Chesapeake Department of Social Services at 757-382-2062 or 757-382-2075.

Energy Assistance Program

Chesapeake's Energy Assistance Program is comprised of three components: fuel assistance, crisis assistance, and cooling assistance. The Energy Assistance Program assists eligible low-income households offset the costs of home energy.

To apply for Energy Assistance, please visit CommonHelp or call 855-635-4370