Northcentral Arkansas Development Council, Inc. (NADC) has contracted with the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality for the local administration of the 2024 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Winter Program. The Regular and Crisis Assistance Program will begin January 8, 2024. Regular assistance will end on March 22, 2024, Crisis assistance will end on April 30, 2024, or until funds are depleted, whichever occurs first. Applications are accepted in county offices Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 8:00a.m. - 12:00p.m. and 1:00p.m. - 4:00p.m. They can be received in person, mail, fax, email, website or dropbox.
Under state or federal law, LiHEAP benefits are not considered income/resources for any purpose, including taxation.
Using federal guidance AEO has established both financial and non-financial criteria that must be tested prior to issuing benefits to an applicant household (1) applicant must meet the income eligibility requirement, (2) applicant must have an energy burden, (3) applicant must live in Arkansas, (4) applicant must show proof of identity, (5) applicant must show social security information cards, (6) applicant must show proof of income, (7) applicant must provide utility bills or lease agreement. The financial standards require households to fall at or below the income for a specific household size as outlined on the eligibility chart. Arkansas Energy Office uses a hybrid chart of 60% of State median income and 150% of federal poverty guidelines (FPG) to maximize eligibility.
A LIHEAP household must have an energy burden on the date of application to be considered eligible for LIHEAP benefits. An applicant has an energy burden if the household has the responsibility for providing home energy including home heating and home electricity that makes a household vulnerable to increases in energy costs. However, households that are not eligible for LIHEAP benefits. For example, a household may purchase fuel from a fuel supplier and receive an energy bill, make undesignated payments in the form of rent, or may heat with wood, et cetera.
A LIHEAP applicant must live in Arkansas. Although there is no specific requirement that specifies the length of time a person has to reside in Arkansas, visitors to the state are not eligible for LIHEAP benefits.
Tested requirements include but are not limited to:
- Household composition
- Proof of Arkansas residency
- Proof of citizenship or legal residency if noncitizen
- Proof of identity
- Proof of income
- Proof of valid utility service - energy burden
- Type of Dwelling
The following requirements are needed before applications can be processed:
- Proof of all income for all household members for the previous month.
- Copy of the upper portion of electric bill and propane/gas bill. (BOTH BILLS ARE REQUIRED)
- Proof of identification
- Social Security Cards for all household members.
- If your household was a zero-income household for the previous month, other documentation will be required.
Use the form below to submit your application.
Wish to download and complete the application instead? Use the button below.
PAYMENT PROCEDURE
You will receive a Notice of Action stating if you were approved with the amount approved for payment, denied, or have a pending application. Payments will be sent to your utility provider unless otherwise stated. Please allow 35 days for payments to be posted to your account.
LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
This federally funded program is contracted through the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality to provide assistance to low income individuals and families to help with Heating and Cooling bills.
LIHEAP Contacts
P.O. Box 54, Salem, AR 72576
Fax: 870-895-3437
P.O. Box 3349, Batesville, AR 72503
Fax: 870-793-0023
P.O. Box 211, Melbourne, AR 72556
Fax: 870-368-4061
P.O. Box 87, Ash Flat, AR 72513
Fax: 870-994-7354
P.O. Box 797, Mountain View, AR 72560
Fax: 870-269-5427