LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Though we're still early in the winter months, we've already experienced snow and temperatures in the low 30s in some parts of the state. From those examples alone it shows just how crucial it is for Arkansans to have working electricity and heat.
Now with LIHEAP kicking back up on January 8, 2024, those who have been struggling to pay their utility bills during the expensive winter months will be able to receive help.
"LIHEAP, which stands for low-income home energy assistance program, that's the acronym is a federally funded program that helps with energy burning. It's during either the summer or the winter months," said Todd Anderson, Programs Manager for Central Arkansas Development Council.
Anderson works closely with Arkansans who are looking for some relief on their utility bills.
"It's a great program, particularly for those individuals and families who are on a limited budget. We have a lot of elderly and disabled folks out there, that a lot of times being able to pay their light bill or making a decision [on] where they're gonna buy their food or their drugs for the month is a hard decision," he explained.
Their agency serves about 19 counties around Central Arkansas.
"The winter program, we will receive about 20,000 to 22,000 applications depending on the number of people within the household. The state of Arkansas, again, provides that list of guidelines so if there's one person in the household, then they get eligibility guidelines for one person, all the way up to 10," Anderson added.
However, out of those large numbers of applications, Anderson said that about 80% will be approved. The rest are denied usually from a lack of applicants providing their state-required documents.
"When a person is denied, it's because of the documents that are required by the state. There is a time period so typically, once a person applies, and then we ask for the documents, there's a time period of typically 10 days they have to get those documents back. If we don't, then we have to deny that and we do make every effort to contact those individuals to make sure that we do get the documents," he explained.
Based on CADC's LIHEAP reports from 2022, LIHEAP was granted $51,035,470 and Anderson hopes for the same amount or more because he knows how much this assistance means to Arkansans.
LIHEAP is set to begin on January 8 and will run until March 22nd if funds are still available.
For more information on how you can apply, please click here.