The mission of the Economic Services Division is to help Vermonters find a path to a better life. To that end, we administer several state and federal programs that help individuals and families meet their basic needs .

These programs, which include assistance-to-work, supplemental nutrition assistance, fuel assistance, and health care, provide a safety net for individuals and families who may be experiencing unemployment, part-time or low-wage employment, family breakup, single parenthood, aging, temporary or permanent disability, the death of a family member, or other life-changing events.

ESD serves more than 95,000 families – that’s about 180,000 people – at any given time. This means that more than one in five Vermonters will receive benefits from ESD programs this year.