Got questions about your legal rights? The Vermont Commission on Women's handbook, The Legal Rights of Women in Vermont might provide answers. Chapters include: Adoption, Guardianship and Emancipated Minors; Consumer Protection and Fair Credit; Domestic Relations; Education; Employment Rights; Housing and Property Rights; Immigration; Insurance; Name Changes; Public Accommodations; Public Assistance and Government Benefits; Reproductive Rights; Violence Against Women and Children; and Wills, Probate Court, and Advanced Directives.
Economic Services Division (ESD) of the Vermont Department for Children and Families
DCF Economic Services Division
Application and Document Processing Center
280 State Drive
Waterbury, VT 05671-1500
(800) 479-6151
(800) 642-5119 (Senior Helpline)
(855) 247-3092 (Economic Services Division Language Interpretation Phone Line)
dcf.vermont.gov/esd
Economic Services Division (ESD) administers state and federal assistance programs, inlcuding:
The official State of Vermont website for public benefits. Find resources, apply for benefits, and track your benefit application, and access information about your case.
3SquaresVT (formerly food stamps)
3SquaresVT can help you stretch your food budget so you can put three healthy meals on your table every day.
Child Care Financial Assistance
The Child Care Financial Assistance Program helps eligible families with the cost of child care.
Vermont's Long-Term Care Medicaid Program — helps eligible Vermonters pay for long-term care services in the setting of their choice.
Crisis Fuel Assistance can help you with a heating crisis during the winter months (e.g., you are out of fuel or very close to running out of fuel and have no money to buy more). Find out more or apply in person at your local community action agency.
Emergency / General Assistance
Helps individuals and families with their emergency basic needs with their emergency basic needs such as housing (including temporary housing), utilities, food/personal needs items, and burial costs. Apply in person at your local ESD office.
Energy Assistance Program
(800) 775-0516
The Energy Assistance Program helps lower-income Vermonters afford energy for their homes. At this time, energy assistance is only available for customers of Green Mountain Power and Vermont Gas.
The Essential Person Program helps Vermonters stay in their homes by contributing to the cost of having someone live with them to provide essential care.
Helps you to buy locally-grown fresh vegetables and fruits at participating farmers markets. Families with a WIC participant over six months old apply through District Health Offices, 800-464-4343 (extension 7333); other eligible families through their local community action agency.
Helps eligible Vermonters pay their home heating bills.
Medicaid for the Aged, Blind or Disabled (MABD)
(800) 250-8427
Medicaid for individuals who are applying based on being age 65 or older, blind, or disabled.
Lifeline Phone Assistance
(800) 775-0507
Lifeline Phone Service Credit provides eligible Vermonters a discount of at least $9.25 on their monthly phone bills. Burlington area residents may qualify for high speed internet through this program.
Prescription Assistance
(800) 250-8427
Helps eligible Vermonters to pay for prescription medicines. Programs include VPharm and Healthy Vermonters.
Reach Up helps families with children by providing case management, cash assistance for basic needs, and services that support work and self-sufficiency.
Vermont Spay or Neuter Incentive Program (VSNIP)
(855) 478-7647
VSNIP helps lower-income Vermonters afford to have their companion animals spayed or neutered.
Helps low income residents to save fuel and money by improving the energy efficiency of their homes.
Economic Services Division Offices (12 statewide)
(800) 479-6151
dcf.vermont.gov/esd
Barre
McFarland Office Building, Suite 150
5 Perry Street
Barre, VT 05641-4270
Bennington
200 Veteran’s Memorial Drive, Suite 6
Bennington, VT 05201-1918
Brattleboro
232 Main Street, Second Floor
Brattleboro, Vermont 05302
Burlington
119 Pearl St.
John Zampieri State Office Building
Burlington, Vermont 05401
Hartford
118 Prospect Street
White River Junction, Vermont 05001
Middlebury
156 South Village Green, Suite 201
Middlebury, VT 05753
Morrisville
63 Professional Drive, Suite 4
Morrisville, Vermont 05661
Newport
100 Main Street
Suite 240
Newport, Vermont 05855
Rutland
320 Asa Bloomer Building (State Office Building)
88 Merchants Row
Rutland, VT 05701
Springfield
100 Mineral Street, Suite 201
Springfield, VT 05156
St. Albans
27 Federal Street, Suite 400
St. Albans, VT 05478
St. Johnsbury
67 Eastern Avenue, Suite 7
St. Johnsbury, VT 05819
Vermont Health Connect
(855) 899-9600 / (888) 834-7898 (TTY/TDD)
healthconnect.vermont.gov/
Vermont Health Connect is administered by the Department of Vermont Health Access, part of the State of Vermont's Agency of Human Services. Vermont Health Connect administers health care insurance plans in Vermont, including: Dr. Dynasaur; Medicaid for individuals who are not blind, disabled, or age 65 or older; and private health insurance plans, with and without tax credits or subsidies.
Affordable Internet Service via Comcast
(855) 846-8376
internetessentials.com
Individuals may qualify for affordable Internet service, a low-cost computer and free internet training if they are living in Comcast's service area, have at least one child eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program, have not subscribed to Comast internet service within the last 90 days, and do not have an overdue Comcast bill or unreturned equipment within the last year.
Community Action Agencies
humanservices.vermont.gov/community-partners/cp-community-action
Community Action Agencies help people to help themselves in achieving self-sufficiency.
Bennington-Rutland Opportunity Council (BROC)
45 Union Street
Rutland, VT 05701
(802) 775-0878 / (800) 717-2762
broc.org/
Capstone Community Action (Central Vermont)
Washington County (Central Office)
20 Gable Place
Barre, VT 05641
(800) 639-1053 / (802) 479-1053
Lamoille County/Morrisville
197 Harrel Street
Morrisville, VT 05661
(800) 639-8710 / (802) 888-7993
Orange County East - Bradford
22 Whistle Stop Way
P.O. Box 500
Bradford, VT 05033
(802) 222-5419
Orange County West - Randolph
12 Prince Street
PO Box 284
Randolph, VT 05060
(800) 846-9506 / (802) 728-9506
Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO)
255 South Champlain St.
P.O. Box 1603
Burlington, VT 05402
(802) 862-2771
cvoeo.org/
Northeast Kingdom Community Action (NEKCA)
70 Main Street
P.O. Box 346
Newport, VT 05855
(802) 334-7316 / 800-639-4065
St. Johnsbury: (802) 748-8997
Island Pond: (802) 723-6245
Canaan: (802) 266-7134
nekcavt.org
Southeastern Vermont Community Action (SEVCA)
91 Buck Drive
Westminster, VT 05158-9618
(802) 722-4575 / (800) 464-9951
sevca.org/
DisasterAssistance.gov
DisasterAssistance.gov is an easy to use website that consolidates disaster information in one place. Currently, 17 U.S. Government agencies, which sponsor more than 50 forms of disaster assistance, contribute to the website. You can apply for many forms of assistance with a single, online application. Ultimately, DisasterAssistance.gov will speed the application process and allow you to check the progress of your application online.
Greater Bennington Interfaith Community Services, Inc. (GBICS)
121 Depot Street
Bennington, VT 05201
802-379-0149
A local not-for-profit organization assisting people experiencing poverty and near poverty with food, fuel, houseing supports, and access to primary medical care.
HOPE VT
P.O. Box 165
282 Boardman Street
Middlebury, VT 05753
(802) 388-3608
hope-vt.org/
HOPE VT supports low-income families through Addison County Emergency Food Shelf, emergency rent and fuel assistance, and low cost or free household items and clothing. Eligibility is dependent upon income. HOPE VT also develops affordable housing and currently manages over 150 units. RetroWorks sells clothing and household items.
Office of Disability Determination of the Vermont Department for Children and Families
Disability Determination Services
93 Pilgrim Park Road, Suite 6
Waterbury, VT 05676
(800) 734-2463 / (802) 241-2463
dcf.vermont.gov/dds
DDS determines the eligibility of Vermonters who apply for disability benefits under Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). We also determine the medical eligibility of Vermonters who apply for Medicaid based on having a disability.
Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance
Vermont District Office
87 State Street Room 205
Montpelier, VT 05601
(802) 828-4422
sba.gov/managing-business/running-business/emergency-preparedness/disaster-assistance
The SBA Disaster Assistance Office offers financial assistance to those who are trying to rebuild their homes and businesses in the aftermath of a disaster, through loans and long-term recovery efforts.
Social Security Administration (SSA)
(800) 772-1213
(800) 325-0778 (TYY)
ssa.gov/
The SSA provides information, answers questions, and informs elder Americans about their social security rights and benefits.
Burlington Office
58 Pearl Street
Burlington, VT 05401
(877) 840- 5776 / (800) 325-0778 (TTY)
Montpelier Office
33 School Street
Montpelier, VT 05602
(877) 505-4542 / (802) 223-0586 (TTY)
Rutland Office
330 Asa Bloomer Office Building
88 Merchants Row
Rutland, VT 05701
(866) 690-1944 / (802) 773-3202 (TTY)
Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
(800) 649-4357
healthvermont.gov/wic/index.aspx
The federal food and nutrition program WIC is designed to serve income-eligible pregnant women, women who are breastfeeding or who have a new baby, infants and children up to age 5 who are nutritionally or medically at risk. In addition to providing healthy foods, WIC provides nutrition counseling, breastfeeding support, health education, and connections to community resources. Contact your area Vermont Department of Health District office for more information:
Barre: (888) 253-8786 / (802) 479-4200
Bennington: (800) 637-7347 / (802) 447-3531
Brattleboro: (888) 253-8805 / (802) 257-2880
Burlington: (888) 253-8803 / (802) 863-7323
Middlebury: (888) 253-8804 / (802) 388-4644
Morrisville: (888) 253-8798 / (802) 888-7447
Newport: (800) 952-2945 / (802) 334-6707
Rutland: (888) 253-8802 / (802) 786-5811
St. Albans: (888) 253-8801 / (802) 524-7970
St. Johnsbury: (800) 952-2936 / (802) 748-5151
Springfield: (888) 296-8151 / (802) 885-5778
White River Junction: (888) 253-8799 / (802) 295-8820
Vermont 2-1-1
P.O. Box 111
Essex Junction, VT 05453
Dial 2-1-1 from anywhere in Vermont
(866) 652-4636 (VT) / (802) 652-4636 from outside Vermont
vermont211.org/
Vermont 2-1-1, a program of United Ways of Vermont is a confidential, statewide, health and human services information and referral service. Trained information and referral specialists offer personalized assistance by telephone; help solve problems; and provide information and referrals to government programs, community-based organizations, support groups and other community resources. This is a free, confidential service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Language translation is available.
Vermont Food Shelves, Community Meal Sites and More
Lists Vermont food shelves and community meal sites, as well as information on additional resources such as elderly nutrition programs (home-delivered meals and senior meals), regional Community Action Agencies, and the Vermont Foodbank, which mobilizes large food donations from commercial and other sources, then redistributes it at low, per-pound rates to its member agencies. The Vermont Foodbank also makes certain federal commodities available to food shelves to distribute to income-eligible households.
Vermont National Guard Family Assistance Centers
The Family Assistance Centers (FAC’s) are designed to assist military families from all branches of the military throughout all phases of deployment. FAC’s are a “One Stop Shop” for service members and their families to obtain updated resources and supports available. This includes Emergency Financial Assistance, Support for Children/Youth & Adult Family Members, TRICARE Questions/Problem Resolution, Crisis Intervention and Assistance, Tax Filing Assistance, Problem Solving, Peer Connection, and Red Cross Notification Assistance. Outreach efforts into community agencies are conducted to assure updated information is being provided and to reinforce supports available to the military community.
Family Programs Readiness Center (Camp Johnson)
789 Vermont National Guard Road
Colchester, VT 05446
(802) 338-3076
Bennington Family Assistance Center
100 Franklin Lane
Bennington, VT 05201
(802) 442-0338
Berlin Family Assistance Center
363 Fisher Road
Montpelier, VT 05602
(802) 223-2975
Newport Family Assistance Center
540 Union Street
Newport, VT 05855
(802) 334-9269
Swanton Family Assistance Center
13 Ferris Street
Swanton, VT 05488
(802) 868-7927
White River Junction Family Assistance Center
209 Balsam Lane
White River Junction, VT 05001
(802) 280-1732