Arkansas residents receive $475 today to assist with utility bills through LIHEAP payments.

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program Benefit Payments Arriving in Arkansas Counties

Exciting news for Arkansas residents! If you were approved for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), get ready for benefit payments coming your way on Monday. LIHEAP, a federally funded program aimed at helping with cooling costs during the summer, serves all 75 counties in Arkansas. According to the Central Arkansas Development Council, payments will be sent out starting on Monday in 19 different counties.

Which Counties Will Receive Payments?

If you reside in any of the following counties, keep an eye out for your LIHEAP benefit payment: Calhoun, Clark, Columbia, Dallas, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Howard, Lafayette, Little River, Lonoke, Miller, Montgomery, Nevada, Ouachita, Pike, Pulaski, Saline, Sevier, and Union.

Contracted through the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, LIHEAP offers a maximum relief amount of $475 for cooling, with a minimum payment of $48. The program will continue until the funds run out, aiming to assist Arkansans in reducing health risks and safety concerns associated with inadequate cooling methods during the hotter months.

Regular Benefit and Crisis Benefit Options

LIHEAP provides two options for benefit payments: the regular benefit and the crisis benefit. The regular assistance is a fixed benefit based on household size and income, applicable to energy sources such as electricity, gas, propane, pellets, and wood.

For those facing financial hardships, the crisis benefit is available. According to LIHEAP Clearinghouse, which is in contract with the Department of Health and Human Services, the maximum crisis amount for the summer is $2,000.

“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,” states the LIHEAP program’s webpage.

For more information, visit the Arkansas Energy and Environment website under the assistance programs section. Remember, LIHEAP applications will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis and will be open until Sept. 30.

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