How to Apply for Benefits Online Through WV PATH

WV PATH Replaced inROADS

If you have searched for how to apply for benefits online in West Virginia, you may have found references to "inROADS" or "wvinroads.org." That portal has been replaced by WV PATH (West Virginia People's Access to Help), located at wvpath.wv.gov.

WV PATH is the current online system for applying for and managing public assistance in West Virginia. You can use it for WV WORKS (TANF), SNAP (food benefits), Medicaid, and WV CHIP applications.

What You Can Do on WV PATH

• Submit new applications for WV WORKS, SNAP, Medicaid, WV CHIP, and Child Care assistance
• Track the status of pending applications
• Complete recertification and redetermination paperwork
• Report changes in household income, composition, or address
• Upload documents for Child Support Services applications; other programs may require you to send requested verification to your county office

Each program maintains its own record within the system. Updating your SNAP information does not automatically update your WV WORKS or Medicaid records. You must update each program separately.

Before You Start the Application

Have these ready before you sit down at the computer:

• Social Security numbers for every household member being included
• Date of birth and citizenship status for each person
• Income information — for a child-only WV WORKS application, this means the child's income (if any), not yours
• Proof of residency (the county office may request a utility bill or lease)
• Information about the child's relationship to you

For kinship caregivers applying for a child-only grant: you will need to indicate that you are a non-needy caretaker relative and that you are excluding yourself from the assistance group. This ensures the system evaluates only the child's income and assets.

If You Cannot Apply Online

Rural West Virginia has significant broadband gaps. If you do not have reliable internet access, you can:

• Visit your local county DoHS office in person
• Submit a paper application (Form DFA-2) by mail or in person
• Call your county office to request an application be mailed to you

WV WORKS applications must be approved, denied, or withdrawn within 30 days of the application date, whether you file online or on paper. Expedited SNAP processing (within 7 days) is available if your household meets the emergency criteria.

One Portal, Separate Programs

A common confusion: submitting one application through WV PATH does not automatically enroll you in every program. You may need to indicate which programs you are applying for, and each has its own eligibility determination.

You can apply for WV WORKS, SNAP, and Medicaid in a single session, but each goes through its own approval process. A child can be approved for Medicaid and denied for WV WORKS, or approved for everything — the determinations are independent.

You can start a Child Care application through WV PATH, but you must still visit your regional Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agency in person to complete it and receive assistance.

Managing Your Account

Keep your WV PATH login credentials secure. The system is tied to your individual identity — accounts should not be shared across separate households.

When you receive a recertification notice for any program, complete it through WV PATH before the deadline. Missing a renewal deadline can result in benefit termination, and restarting requires a new application.

The West Virginia Kinship Financial Help Guide includes a step-by-step application preparation checklist and a tracking log for monitoring each program's status and renewal dates.

See more West Virginia guides →