To apply for LIHEAP in Arkansas, take a completed application and your supporting documents to the community-based organization (CBO) that serves your county. The Arkansas Energy Office funds the program but does not process applications itself.1Arkansas Department of Energy & Environment. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Applications are accepted first-come, first-served, generally from January through April 30 for heating assistance and July through September 30 for cooling assistance. If approved, the program pays your utility company directly on your behalf.
Check Whether You Qualify
Eligibility is based on your household’s total countable monthly gross income. Arkansas compares your income to whichever is more generous for your household size: 60 percent of the state median income or 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.2Administration for Children and Families. LIHEAP IM2025-02 Federal Poverty Guidelines and State Median Income Estimates
The most recently published monthly income limits are:3Arkansas Department of Energy & Environment. LIHEAP Eligibility Chart
- 1 person: $2,251
- 2 people: $2,944
- 3 people: $3,636
- 4 people: $4,329
- 5 people: $5,021
- 6 people: $5,714
- 7 people: $5,918
- 8 people: $6,590
Add $672 per month for each additional household member beyond eight. These thresholds change each federal fiscal year, which begins in October, so confirm the current figures on the Arkansas Energy Office website before applying.
Countable income includes wages, Social Security, unemployment, child support, veteran benefits, and pensions. SNAP, TANF, and WIC are generally excluded from the calculation. A household member with no income still has to be documented as such on the application; the field cannot be left blank.
Documents to Gather First
Assemble everything before you start the form. A missing item can delay your application or send you back to the CBO for a second visit. The Arkansas Energy Office requires:1Arkansas Department of Energy & Environment. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Photo ID for the applicant. An Arkansas driver’s license is typical, but a birth certificate, work or school ID, or voter registration card also works.
- Social Security cards for every household member age 18 and older. For children, the Social Security numbers are enough; the physical cards are not required.
- Proof of income. Last month’s pay stubs for anyone working, award letters or benefit statements for Social Security, disability, or veteran benefits, and documentation for anyone unemployed without unemployment benefits (such as a denial letter or a statement from the unemployment office).
- Your most recent gas and electric bills. Bring both, even if one balance is zero. These also serve as proof of residency.
Renters whose utilities are included in their rent need a copy of the lease showing that arrangement, plus the landlord’s name and phone number.4Central Delta Community Action Agency. LIHEAP Application If you are applying because of a shutoff or past-due balance, bring the disconnection notice or the bill.
Filling Out the Application
You can pick up a paper form from your local CBO or download it from the CBO’s website. The head of household or an authorized representative must complete and sign it.
Household and Contact Information
Enter the applicant’s full legal name, physical address, mailing address if different, and phone number. List every person living in the home, including children, with names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and relationship to you. Household size determines which income limit applies to your case.
Income
Report gross income, before taxes and deductions, for every household member who receives any money. Work income and non-work income (Social Security, child support, pensions, veteran benefits) have separate fields. Attach the matching pay stub or benefit statement for each entry. If a household member had no income during the past 30 days, indicate that on the form rather than leaving it blank. Understating or omitting income can result in denial or a fraud investigation.
Utility and Energy Information
Identify your electric and gas providers by name and list your account numbers. Enter the amounts from your most recent bills. Specify your primary heating source (natural gas, propane, electricity, wood, or another fuel) and whether you are applying for heating or cooling. For propane or wood, note the supplier’s name and your current fuel level, because those details factor into crisis eligibility.
Signature
Sign and date the last page. An unsigned application will be returned. Your signature certifies the information is accurate and authorizes the program to verify it with utilities and other agencies.
Where to Submit It
Do not send the application to the Arkansas Energy Office. Every application goes to the CBO for your county. The AEO maintains a directory with an interactive map and drop-down list that returns the CBO’s name, address, and phone number.5Arkansas Department of Energy & Environment. LIHEAP Community-Based Organization (CBO) Network
Delivering the application in person is worth the trip if you can manage it, because a staff member can review your packet on the spot and catch anything missing before you leave. If you mail it, use a method with tracking. Some regions also accept electronic submission through GETLIHEAP.com, depending on your utility provider and location.
If You Have an Energy Emergency
Households facing a disconnection, an already-cut-off utility, or a dangerously low fuel supply may qualify for crisis intervention, which is processed more quickly than a regular application. Federal law requires assistance for life-threatening energy crises to be provided within 48 hours of application.6LIHEAP Clearinghouse. LIHEAP Crisis – States and Territories
You qualify for crisis assistance in Arkansas if any of the following are true on the day you apply:6LIHEAP Clearinghouse. LIHEAP Crisis – States and Territories
- A household member’s health would be endangered by loss of heating or cooling.
- You received a disconnection or shutoff notice, or service has already been cut off.
- You owe a past-due balance on a utility bill.
- A current bill is due within seven days of your application.
- Your propane or fuel tank is at 20 percent capacity or below and the supplier has refused delivery without payment, or you have three weeks or less of wood remaining.
- You received an eviction notice partly because of unpaid energy costs.
- Your prepaid electric meter balance is nearly exhausted or already at zero.
Use the same application form and attach verification of the emergency, such as the shutoff notice or a statement from your fuel supplier. Crisis payments go directly to the utility or fuel supplier to restore or maintain service.7Central Arkansas Development Council. Utility Assistance Households whose primary energy source is solar or another renewable are not eligible for crisis benefits.
After You Submit
Processing time depends on the CBO and the season. One Arkansas CBO reports that complete regular applications are processed and paid 35 days after submission.8Crowley’s Ridge Development Council. Utility Assistance LIHEAP Others report turnarounds as short as one to five business days when everything is included.9EOA of Washington County. EOA LIHEAP Frequently Asked Questions The opening weeks of each season (January for heating, July for cooling) are the busiest, so expect longer waits then. A complete packet with every required document attached is the single biggest factor in getting paid faster.
You will not receive a check. Once approved, the payment goes directly to the utility company on your application and appears as a credit on your next bill.7Central Arkansas Development Council. Utility Assistance The benefit amount varies with household size, income, and energy source; there is no fixed dollar amount for every applicant.
If You Are Denied
A denial arrives as a Notice of Action in the mail with the reason listed. You have 30 days from the date on the notice to appeal. Complete the Request for Appeal Hearing form and send it, with a copy of the Notice of Action, to the Arkansas Energy Office at energyinfo@arkansas.gov or by mail to:10Arkansas Department of Energy & Environment. Request for Appeal Hearing
Arkansas Department of Energy & Environment
Attn: Arkansas Energy Office
5301 Northshore Drive
North Little Rock, AR 72118-5317
Requests made after the 30-day window will not be considered. Common reasons for denial include exceeding the income limit, submitting an incomplete application, or missing required documentation. In some of those situations, reapplying with corrected paperwork is faster than filing a formal appeal.