Arkansans Urged to Signup for Utility Bill Assistance
By: KARK 4 News
Updated: January 26, 2011
With winter having already taken its annual grip on the state, Attorney General Dustin McDaniel today issued this consumer alert to inform Arkansans about the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
LIHEAP is a local-state-federal program created in 1981 to help people of low and moderate income pay for home energy. The program is operated by 16 private, nonprofit community action agencies throughout Arkansas, in cooperation with the state’s electric and gas utilities and other energy providers. Participants in LIHEAP can receive up to $700 toward utility bills, depending on qualified consumers’ eligibility.
“It is critical for Arkansans to have reliable home heating and utilities during the cold winter months, and this program provides necessary assistance for those who need it,” McDaniel said. “It would be troubling if Arkansas residents chose to go without heat because they couldn’t afford it, when actually they were eligible for LIHEAP assistance and failed to apply.”
To be eligible for the program, individuals must meet certain income requirements as defined by the federal Office of Community Services (OCS) of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Those whose annual incomes are no greater than 150-percent of the poverty level, as defined by federal OCS, are eligible. For a household of one, “monthly countable income” may be up to $1,354; for two, $1,821; three, $2,289; four, $2,756; five, $3,224; six, $3,691; seven, $4,159; eight, $4,626; nine, $5,094; 10, $5,561; and for each additional person in the household, add $468.
Additional eligibility requirements include providing proof of Arkansas residency (state and county); proof of income; information on outstanding debts; and Social Security documentation.
For a complete list of eligibility requirements, consumers can call the Little Rock LIHEAP office at (501) 682-8715.
Consumers must apply for the program in writing, in person, at the appropriate community action agency. The agencies began accepting applications for LIHEAP assistance on January 17 and the application process is ongoing.
To find your community action agency or to find out more about this program, call the Arkansas Community Action Agencies Association at (501) 372-0807 or click here.
LIHEAP is a local-state-federal program created in 1981 to help people of low and moderate income pay for home energy. The program is operated by 16 private, nonprofit community action agencies throughout Arkansas, in cooperation with the state’s electric and gas utilities and other energy providers. Participants in LIHEAP can receive up to $700 toward utility bills, depending on qualified consumers’ eligibility.
“It is critical for Arkansans to have reliable home heating and utilities during the cold winter months, and this program provides necessary assistance for those who need it,” McDaniel said. “It would be troubling if Arkansas residents chose to go without heat because they couldn’t afford it, when actually they were eligible for LIHEAP assistance and failed to apply.”
To be eligible for the program, individuals must meet certain income requirements as defined by the federal Office of Community Services (OCS) of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Those whose annual incomes are no greater than 150-percent of the poverty level, as defined by federal OCS, are eligible. For a household of one, “monthly countable income” may be up to $1,354; for two, $1,821; three, $2,289; four, $2,756; five, $3,224; six, $3,691; seven, $4,159; eight, $4,626; nine, $5,094; 10, $5,561; and for each additional person in the household, add $468.
Additional eligibility requirements include providing proof of Arkansas residency (state and county); proof of income; information on outstanding debts; and Social Security documentation.
For a complete list of eligibility requirements, consumers can call the Little Rock LIHEAP office at (501) 682-8715.
Consumers must apply for the program in writing, in person, at the appropriate community action agency. The agencies began accepting applications for LIHEAP assistance on January 17 and the application process is ongoing.
To find your community action agency or to find out more about this program, call the Arkansas Community Action Agencies Association at (501) 372-0807 or click here.
