Utility Assistance for Single Mothers in Arkansas

Contents

Where to start

Quick reference

How Arkansas LIHEAP works

The official Arkansas LIHEAP page says the program is open. Arkansas received about $31 million in federal LIHEAP funds for federal fiscal year 2026.

LIHEAP serves residential households. It may help with electricity, natural gas, propane, fuel oil, wood, pellets, and other approved home-energy sources. It does not pay business accounts.

Arkansas offers two benefit types:

• Regular assistance: A fixed payment based on countable income, household size, and energy source.
• Crisis assistance: Help up to the policy limit to prevent disconnection, restore service, or provide fuel when the household supply is depleted.

The state says applications are typically accepted from January through April 30 and from July through September 30. Local agencies may use separate closing dates for regular and crisis help and can close earlier when funds are exhausted. Check the county office before relying on a date.

Some local agencies may begin priority intake up to 30 days early for households that include an older adult, a person with a disability, or a child under age 6. This does not guarantee approval or payment.

Arkansas LIHEAP income limits for 2026

The chart below lists the state’s maximum monthly countable income. Being under a limit does not guarantee approval. The local agency must still review residence, household members, energy burden, documents, and available funding.

The official 2026 income chart lists higher household sizes. If utilities are included in rent, the state requires a lease to show that the household has an energy burden. Rules differ for subsidized and unsubsidized housing.

How to apply for LIHEAP

1. Find the correct county office. Arkansas has 15 community-based organizations serving all 75 counties.
2. Ask how that office accepts applications. The method may be online, by mail, by appointment, or in person.
3. Submit one application per benefit type. Do not file duplicates unless the agency tells you to.
4. Send clear documents. Blurry or missing proof can delay the decision.
5. Check the account. Ask whether the utility received a pledge and whether any remaining balance must be paid.

Do not send the application to the Arkansas Energy Office. The state office does not process household applications. Your county agency makes the intake decision and may ask for additional proof.

Use the documents checklist to track what you submitted, when you sent it, and who you spoke with.

Documents and information to gather

Ask before sending private medical records. A utility or agency may need a specific medical certificate rather than a full medical file.

Weatherization and home energy upgrades

The Arkansas weatherization program helps eligible households lower energy use in inefficient homes. Five local providers serve all 75 counties. The program operates year-round.

After eligibility is approved, the provider may complete an energy inspection. Work can include air sealing, insulation, weather-stripping, energy-saving lighting, heating or cooling repairs, and health or safety upgrades that support the energy work. The audit decides which measures are allowed.

Weatherization does not pay the current bill and is not a fast way to stop shutoff. Use the weatherization provider list to find the office serving your county. Renters should ask what landlord permission is required.

Arkansas’s Home Energy Rebates program is still not available as of July 16, 2026. The official rebate status page says not to count on those rebates yet.

Help from utility companies

Call the company before the shutoff date. Ask for every option available on your account, not only a general payment plan.

Entergy Arkansas

The Entergy bill toolkit lists LIHEAP, payment extensions, deferred payment arrangements, and The Power to Care. A qualifying deferred arrangement may spread a balance over as many as four months. The Power to Care is aimed at customers age 60 or older and customers with disabilities.

SWEPCO

The SWEPCO assistance page lists extensions, monthly arrangements, LIHEAP, and Neighbor to Neighbor. Neighbor to Neighbor is administered with Dollar Energy Fund and applies approved help directly to a residential bill.

Summit Utilities

The Summit assistance page lists flexible payment arrangements, financial assistance, a medical-certificate process, and a deposit waiver for some victims of domestic crimes. Arkansas customer service is 800-992-7552.

City utilities, rural electric cooperatives, and water systems may have different rules. Ask for the hardship, credit, or collections department and get the agreement in writing.

Shutoff notices and special protections

The Arkansas Public Service Commission rules below apply to regulated utilities. They may not apply to every city utility, cooperative, or water provider.

• A regulated utility normally must provide at least five days of written shutoff notice. Three mailing days are added when the notice is mailed.
• Residential gas or electric service cannot be disconnected when the forecast predicts 32 degrees Fahrenheit or lower during the next 24 hours.
• A doctor can certify that losing service would worsen a serious medical condition. An accepted certificate can postpone shutoff for up to 30 days, but it does not erase the bill.
• Customers may name a third person to receive a copy of a shutoff notice.
• If a social-service agency promises in writing to pay at least one-fourth of the overdue bill, the utility must continue or restore service when the customer enters an approved payment agreement for the rest.
• Special hot-weather protection applies to identified customers age 65 or older or customers with disabilities when the forecast reaches 95 degrees. Gas protection is limited to homes using gas-powered air conditioning.

Read the official shutoff protection guide and call the utility to ask which rule fits your account.

If the company is regulated and the issue is not resolved, call Arkansas PSC Consumer Services at 501-682-1718 or 800-482-1164. The PSC complaint page explains the next step.

Water and sewer bill help

LIHEAP is for home energy, not ordinary water or sewer charges. Arkansas’s Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program has ended. The state says all federal water-assistance funds were used and the portal and call center are permanently closed.

The official Arkansas Energy Office page tells households to contact their water provider for current options. Ask about payment plans, leak adjustments, senior or disability discounts, city hardship funds, and local nonprofit help.

Use the Arkansas community guide for additional local organizations. If rent and utilities are both behind, the Arkansas housing guide may offer a better next step.

Phone and internet discounts

Lifeline is a federal discount for phone, internet, or bundled service. In 2026, a household may qualify through SNAP, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, federal housing assistance, Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit, or income at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines.

The standard benefit is up to $9.25 monthly for internet or bundled service, or up to $5.25 for phone service. Only one benefit is allowed per household. The Lifeline eligibility page lists current rules.

After approval, choose a participating company. The Lifeline application page explains online and mail options. The phone and internet guide covers other low-cost paths.