Arkansas residents who applied and were approved for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, a federally funded program that helps with cooling costs during the summer, can expect benefit payments in three days across several counties.
LIHEAP serves all 75 counties in Arkansas, and payments are scheduled to be sent out starting July 10 in 19 different counties, according to the Central Arkansas Development Council.
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Payments will be sent to residents in the following counties: 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, the maximum relief amount for cooling is $475, and the minimum payment is $48. The program will remain in place until funds run out to assist Arkansans in reducing health risks and safety concerns from poor cooling methods during the hotter months.
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. The benefit applies to energy sources such as electricity, gas, propane, pellets, and wood.
Those who are experiencing financial hardships can apply for the crisis benefit. The maximum crisis amount is $2,000 for the summer, according to LIHEAP Clearinghouse in contract with the Department of Health and Human Services.
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“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.
More information can be found on the Arkansas Energy and Environment website under the assistance programs section. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis and will be open until Sept. 30.
