Free help lines in West Virginia

Medicaid and help paying Medicare costs

Medicaid and Medicare Premium Assistance (Medicare Savings Programs)

West Virginia Department of Human Services, Bureau for Family Assistance

• Phone 1-877-716-1212 DoHS Customer Service Center; Apply online at WV PATH or at your county DoHS office (dohs.wv.gov/field-offices)
• TTY 711
• Website bfa.wv.gov/bfa-programs/medicaid-and-medicaid-long-term-care
• Online wvpath.wv.gov

Checked 2026-10-18 on bfa.wv.gov

Food help (SNAP)

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

West Virginia Department of Human Services, Bureau for Family Assistance

• Phone 1-877-716-1212 DoHS Customer Service Center for SNAP questions; apply online at WV PATH or at your county DoHS office
• TTY 711
• Website bfa.wv.gov/bfa-programs/snap
• Online wvpath.wv.gov

Checked 2026-10-18 on bfa.wv.gov

Free Medicare counseling

West Virginia State Health Insurance Assistance Program (WV SHIP)

West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services

• Phone 1-877-987-4463 Local 304-558-3317
• Website wvship.org

Checked 2026-10-18 on www.shiphelp.org

Aging services and local help

Bureau of Senior Services (State Unit on Aging)

West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services

• Phone 1-877-987-3646 Local 304-558-3317
• Website wvseniorservices.gov
• Online wvseniorservices.gov/?TabId=94

Checked 2026-10-18 on www.wv.gov

Help with energy bills

Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP)

West Virginia Department of Human Services, Bureau for Family Assistance

• Phone 1-877-716-1212 Apply online at WV PATH, at a county DoHS office, or at a Community Action or regional Agency on Aging site; Open for a short time each winter
• Website bfa.wv.gov/bfa-programs/LIEAP
• Online wvpath.wv.gov

Checked 2026-10-18 on bfa.wv.gov

Report abuse, neglect or exploitation

Adult Protective Services (APS) - Centralized Intake for Abuse and Neglect

West Virginia Department of Human Services, Bureau for Social Services

• Phone 1-800-352-6513
• Hours 24/7
• Website bss.wv.gov/bss-services/centralized-intake-abuse-and-neglect

Checked 2026-10-18 on dohs.wv.gov

Nursing home and assisted living complaints

West Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services

• Phone 304-816-3151 State Long-Term Care Ombudsman office (Suzanne Messenger), as listed by the national Consumer Voice directory
• Website wvseniorservices.gov

Checked 2026-10-18 on theconsumervoice.org

Report Medicare fraud and billing errors

West Virginia Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)

West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services

• Phone 1-855-254-1720
• Website wvship.org

Checked 2026-10-18 on smpresource.org

Insurance questions and complaints

Consumer Services

West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner

• Phone 1-888-879-9842 1-888-TRY-WVIC; local 304-558-3386
• Hours 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday, EST
• Website wvinsurance.gov
• Online sbs.naic.org/solar-web/pages/public/onlineComplaintForm/onlineComplaintForm.jsf?dswid=7997&spanish=N&state=WV
• Email [email protected]

Checked 2026-10-18 on www.wvinsurance.gov

Scams and consumer complaints

Consumer Protection and Antitrust Division

West Virginia Attorney General's Office

• Phone 1-800-368-8808 Local 304-558-8986
• Hours Weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Website ago.wv.gov/consumer-protection-and-antitrust-division
• Online ago.wv.gov/file-complaint-consumer-protection-division
• Email [email protected]

Checked 2026-10-18 on ago.wv.gov

Social Security national line

Social Security Administration

Call about retirement, disability, survivor or SSI benefits, Social Security cards, Medicare enrollment and replacement Medicare cards.

• Phone 1-800-772-1213
• TTY 1-800-325-0778
• Hours Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time; automated phone services 24 hours a day
• Languages Spanish and other-language pages at ssa.gov/es and ssa.gov/multilanguage
• Website ssa.gov
• Online Sign in to or create a my Social Security account (benefit letters, SSA-1099, direct deposit, address change, Statement)

Waits are usually shorter in the morning and later in the week and month. The automated line, open 24 hours, can send a benefit letter, a replacement SSA-1099 or Medicare card, and change your address or phone. Find a local office at ssa.gov/locator.

Checked on www.ssa.gov

1-800-MEDICARE

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Call about Medicare coverage, claims, bills, plan choices and enrollment, drug plans, and to report suspected Medicare fraud or file complaints.

• Phone 1-800-633-4227 (1-800-MEDICARE)
• TTY 1-877-486-2048
• Hours 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (except some federal holidays); live chat same hours
• Languages Ask for an interpreter (medicare.gov/about-us/other-languages)
• Website medicare.gov
• Online Live chat with Medicare

This is also how to reach the Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman: if your plan or 1-800-MEDICARE has not solved a problem, ask the representative to send your complaint to the Ombudsman. Drug and Medicare Advantage plan complaints can also be filed online at medicare.gov/my/medicare-complaint.

Checked on www.medicare.gov

Medicare quality help line (QIO)

Commence Health

Appeal if you think a hospital, nursing home or other Medicare provider is ending your care too soon, or complain about the quality of care.

• Phone 1-888-396-4646
• Website commencehealthqio.cms.gov
• Email [email protected]

Checked on www.commencehealthqio.cms.gov

Eldercare Locator

U.S. Administration for Community Living (run by USAging)

Find local help for older adults and caregivers: Area Agency on Aging, meals, transportation, in-home care, caregiver support, legal help and more.

• Phone 1-800-677-1116
• TTY 711
• Hours Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern
• Languages Spanish-speaking specialist by phone; interpretation in 150 languages during business hours
• Website eldercare.acl.gov
• Email [email protected]

TTY users: call 711 and ask the relay operator to connect you to 1-800-677-1116.

Checked on eldercare.acl.gov

National Elder Fraud Hotline

U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime

For people 60+ (or family) who lost money or were targeted by fraud; case managers help you report it and connect to resources.

• Phone 1-833-372-8311 (1-833-FRAUD-11)
• Hours Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern
• Website justice.gov/elderjustice/find-help-or-report-abuse
• Online Elder Justice locator for state and local resources

Checked on www.justice.gov

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (funded by SAMHSA)

Call, text or chat any time if you or someone you care about is in emotional distress, a mental health or substance use crisis, or thinking about suicide.

• Phone 988
• Text 988
• Hours 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Languages Spanish: press 2 when calling; Spanish text and chat available; interpretation services offered
• Website 988lifeline.org
• Online Chat with a counselor online

Phone menu: press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line, press 2 for Spanish. Free and confidential. In immediate danger, call 911.

Checked on 988lifeline.org