Arkansas residents who applied and were approved can expect benefits from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program starting July 10.
Payments are scheduled to begin in July for Arkansans in 19 different counties, as announced by the Central Arkansas Development Council. Those 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.
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The Arkansas Department of Human Services opened applications for low-income households interested in receiving assistance for their summer cooling bills earlier this year.
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 for cooling residents can receive is $475, and the minimum cooling payment is $48.
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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 crisis benefit is open to those who are experiencing financial hardships and need help keeping their energy on. The maximum amount is $2000 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.
