Amherst County Department of Social Services

Amherst County Department of Social Services Welcome to the official page of the Amherst County, VA Department of Social Services

The Amherst County Department of Social Services provides social work services, financial services, and volunteer opportunities administered according to state and federal regulations. The mission of the department is to offer timely, appropriate, quality services to individuals and families in order to promote self-sufficiency and to protect children and adults. The Department offers the followin

g programs: Adoption, Adult Protective Services, Adult Services, Auxiliary Grant Program, Child Protective Services, Day Care Services to Children, Emergency Assistance, Emergency Shelter Operations, Employment Services, Energy Assistance, Family Access to Medical Insurance Security (FAMIS), Family Partnership Meetings, Foster Care, Home Based Care (Companion Services), Intake Services, Medicaid, Prevention and Support Services for Families, SNAP (food assistance), State/Local Hospitalization, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), and Volunteer Services

In accordance with Federal Law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, s*x, age, religion, political beliefs, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). The Amherst County Department of Social Services and USDA are an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Did you know Amherst has a Little Free Library? 📚Located just outside the Amherst Health Department (right next door to ...
06/03/2026

Did you know Amherst has a Little Free Library? 📚

Located just outside the Amherst Health Department (right next door to us!).

Little Free Libraries are a Take a Book, Share a Book exchange—free to anyone. No library card, no sign-out sheet, no catch!

If you have books at home collecting dust, now is a great time to pass them along and pick up something new in return.

With summer just around the corner, it’s the perfect time for kids to stock up on some new reads. Swing by and see what’s on the shelf!

Central Virginia Health District (CVHD) Little Free Library

05/23/2026
Amherst DSS will be closed Monday, May 25th, for Memorial Day.
05/23/2026

Amherst DSS will be closed Monday, May 25th, for Memorial Day.

County Offices will be closed Monday, May 25th, for Memorial Day.

04/27/2026
Being prepared matters for every family in our community. Take a few minutes to build a personalized emergency plan for ...
04/23/2026

Being prepared matters for every family in our community. Take a few minutes to build a personalized emergency plan for you and your loved ones.

Thank you to everyone who helped make the holiday season special for the families and children in Amherst County. Your k...
03/18/2026

Thank you to everyone who helped make the holiday season special for the families and children in Amherst County. Your kindness, generosity, and support are truly appreciated.

Amherst County Department of Social Services would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the following organizations/individuals for their support with our 2025 Annual Toy Drive and Operation Holiday:

Amherst County DSS Staff
Amherst County Sheriff’s Department
Amherst Town Police
Mr. Louis Allen & Friends
Best Bet Convenience Store-Maulik Patel
Bolling Hill Baptist Church
Bradley Beam, Director of Public Safety
Buffalo Air Handling
Butch Jefferson, Hickey Plumbing & HVAC-Electrical
Ms. Sara Lu Christian
Coolwell Presbyterian Church
Episcopal Thrift Store, Mr. Leif Aagaard
Fairmont Crossing Health & Rehab Center
Flowers Baking Company
Ms. Carolyn Henson
Ms. Diane Irvin
Lynchburg Association of Realtors
Madison Heights Baptist Church
Monelison Volunteer Fire Department
Ms. Tracey Payne
Ms. Ellen Saunders
Ms. Judy Smithers
Ms. Cindy Viar
Sgt. Jimmie Belt (Local Marine Corps-Toys for Tots Organization)
All Volunteers and Donations from the residents who resides in the County of Amherst and those who reside outside of the county.

We truly thank each and everyone who assisted in making this a wonderful time of the year for all the families and children that we serve and reside within the Amherst County Community.

03/05/2026

Energy bills can add up fast. Support is just an application away!

If winter energy costs have strained your household budget, there’s still time to apply for Crisis Assistance through the Virginia Energy Assistance Program. This program helps eligible families across Virginia pay heating utility bills and purchase essential heating equipment during the coldest months of the year.

Visit www.dss.virginia.gov/benefit/ea to learn more and submit your application by March 16.

03/03/2026

We’ve received reports of scam text messages and phone calls targeting EBT cardholders across Virginia. ⚠️

Scammers are pretending to be from EBT customer service, the Virginia Department of Social Services and other government agencies. They may claim:

- Your EBT card has been locked or suspended.
- There is suspicious activity on your account.
- You must “verify” your card number or PIN immediately.
- You need to click a link to avoid losing benefits.

These messages and calls are fake! Do not share your card number or PIN, click any links, or call any numbers associated with them.

đź”’ We strongly encourage customers to use ConnectEBT to keep your card locked when not in use. Learn more about avoiding EBT scams and using ConnectEBT at
www.dss.virginia.gov/benefit/EBTScam.

02/27/2026

EBT card security is at your fingertips.

The ConnectEBT app, available for free on the Apple and Google app stores, is the only official app that lets you lock your card after each purchase. This helps keep your funds safe from scammers, ensuring your benefits are there when you need them.

All you have to do is swipe your card, lock it with the app and go!

Learn more about protecting yourself from EBT scams at dss.virginia.gov/EBTLockUnlock.

02/25/2026

It's time to start preparing for Virginia SUN Bucks 2026! Whether you're applying for SUN Bucks or automatically qualify, take a moment to first ensure your child’s school and local department of social services have your correct address. This small step helps your grocery benefits arrive when and where they're needed!

To find your local department of social services, visit www.dss.virginia.gov/localagency/index.cgi.

Address

224 Second Street
Amherst, VA
24521

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+14349469330

Alerts

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