Eligible residents in Arkansas who applied and were approved for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program can expect benefit payments in five days.
While LIHEAP serves all 75 Arkansas counties, payments are scheduled to begin on July 10 for Arkansans in 19 different counties, per the Central Arkansas Development Council.
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The counties are Calhoun, Clark, Columbia, Dallas, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Howard, Lafayette, Little River, Lonoke, Miller, Montgomery, Nevada, Ouachita, Pike, Pulaski, Saline, Sevier, and Union. The program will remain in place until funds run out in an effort from the Natural State to reduce the health risks and safety concerns from poor cooling methods.
The Arkansas Department of Human Services opened applications for low-income households interested in receiving assistance for their summer cooling bills earlier this year. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
“As a block grant program, States, Territories, and Tribes have the flexibility to use LIHEAP funding to respond to natural disasters and extreme weather to meet the needs of their communities,” the LIHEAP program’s webpage states.
The amount of assistance depends on the number of individuals in a home, household income, and the size of the cooling bill. The maximum relief cooling residents can receive is $475, and the minimum cooling payment is $48.
Arkansas residents may have used LIHEAP in the colder months for heating service support, but the program offers assistance in paying for fuels through the summer program as well and provides two options for benefit payments.
The regular benefit is a fixed benefit based on household size and income. The benefit applies to energy sources such as electricity, gas, propane, pellets, and wood.
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The crisis benefit is open to those who are experiencing financial hardships and need to restore their energy supply or services. The maximum amount is $2,000 for the summer, according to the LIHEAP Clearinghouse in contract with the Department of Health and Human Services.
Those interested in receiving assistance from LIHEAP can still do so, with the deadline to submit an application being Sept. 30. Households must apply through the organization that operates within the county they live in, and additional application information can be found on the CADC website.
