As the temperature plummets and home energy costs go up, some families may be left out in the cold. In order to help keep the heat on, the Arkansas Department of Human Services has implemented the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which provides financial assistance to 60,000 households to help meet the costs of heating the homes.
“People on fixed incomes or [of] limited resources, especially the aging population, often have to make decisions between food or medicine and these bills,” said Amy Webb, Arkansas Department of Human Services director of communications. “This program provides one-time assistance to these individuals to help them make it through extremely cold winters or particularly hot summers.”
To qualify for this federally funded benefit program, people need to be Arkansas residents and meet certain income requirements. Eligibility is based on 60 percent of the state median income levels for all households. For example, a household of one can make a maximum of $17,655 per year to be eligible for this assistance. A full table of income requirements based on household size can be found at www.benefits.gov/benefits/benefit-details/1542.
There are two types of assistance available through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program: crisis intervention and regular assistance. Webb said crisis intervention is available when a household’s heat is shut off. The program pays up to $700 for utility re-connection. Regular assistance is based on income and is not for families facing energy-related emergencies.
Webb said eligible families need to contact a local Community Action Agency in order to apply for assistance. There are several CAAs in the Three Rivers Edition coverage area. People in Lonoke and Pulaski counties need to contact the Central Arkansas Development Council Inc. at (501) 315-1121. Cleburne County and White County residents need to contact the Community Action Program for Central Arkansas Inc. at (501) 329-3891. The CAA for Jackson and Woodruff counties is the Crowley’s Ridge Development Council Inc. at (870) 802-7100. People in Stone, Izard, Sharp and Independence counties need to contact the Northcentral Arkansas Development Council Inc. at (870) 793-5765.
A list of documents people need to bring when applying for assistance — including a photo identification card, a Social Security card and heating and electric bills — can be found at humanservices.arkansas.gov/dco/dco_docs/REQUIRED%20DOCUMENTATION.
pdf. There are different lists for families who already receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance — or SNAP — benefits and families who do not receive these benefits.
Staff writer Angela Spencer can be reached at (501) 244-4307 or aspencer@arkansasonline.com.