Arkansas LIHEAP 2026: Income Limits, Dates and Benefits

If you want to compare states, our LIHEAP income limits guide has the federal rules and every state's limits. What follows is Arkansas only.

Arkansas LIHEAP pays the utility or fuel supplier. AEO says it'll never ask you for a fee for an application or service, so anyone who does isn't LIHEAP.

Arkansas LIHEAP 2026-27 at a Glance: 2 Seasons, 4 Kinds of Help

Arkansas splits LIHEAP into 2 short seasons with 4 kinds of bill help, and per the FY2027 plan, the state budgets 40% of the money for regular heating help, 15% for regular cooling, 7.5% for winter crisis, 7.5% for summer crisis, 15% for weatherization, 10% for administration and 5% for energy education services.

Source: Arkansas FY2027 LIHEAP plan, sections 1.1, 1.2, 2.6, 3.6 and 4.12, as filed with ACF.

In both seasons, local agencies may start serving priority households up to 30 days before the general opening. Priority means someone 60 or older, someone with a disability, or a child under 6. AEO's comment responses say last winter's early priority opening started December 8, 2025, and the general public was served starting in January.

Arkansas LIHEAP Income Limits: The FFY 2026 Chart and FY2027 Figures

Arkansas measures income for households of 1 to 7 against 60% of state median income and switches to 150% of the federal poverty guidelines for 8 or more, according to both AEO's eligibility chart and the FY2027 plan. AEO hadn't posted a FY2027 chart on November 3, 2026, so the table shows both the last published chart and ACF's FY2027 figures that the plan points to.

Arkansas's FFY 2026 chart is AEO's LIHEAP Eligibility Chart FY 2026 (opens in a new tab); the FY2027 column is from ACF's FY2027 state median income table (opens in a new tab), which became mandatory for LIHEAP on October 1, 2026. Monthly equivalents are the annual figure divided by 12.

What to expect. The FY2027 numbers are higher across the board, by about $217 a month for a family of four. Until AEO posts its FY2027 chart, treat the ACF column as what the plan points to, not as AEO's final chart. AEO usually posts the season's chart and matrices on its LIHEAP page before intake opens; the next full update after that comes with FY2028 on October 1, 2027.

Renters and subsidized housing. The plan says a household in subsidized housing with utilities in the rent and no utility bill isn't eligible unless it can show an energy burden, such as a surcharge for energy above what the rent covers. Renters in unsubsidized housing with utilities in the rent need a lease or landlord statement. Households that get a utility allowance or stipend need to show they still carry an energy cost.

For food help with the same income papers, see our Arkansas SNAP guide, and for health coverage, our Arkansas Medicaid income limits guide.

How Much Arkansas LIHEAP Pays: The Benefit Matrix by Fuel

Arkansas's regular benefit comes from a matrix with 3 inputs: monthly countable income, household size (1 and 2, 3 and 4, or 5 and up) and fuel type. AEO's FY2027 plan sets regular heating at $66 to $627, and AEO's comment responses say that's a 10% increase over 2026, when the plan range was $60 to $570. The FY2027 matrices weren't posted yet, so here are selected rows from AEO's FFY 2026 matrices, the latest published.

Source: AEO FFY 2026 benefit matrices for electric (opens in a new tab), natural gas (opens in a new tab) and propane (opens in a new tab). The gas and propane matrices are winter only; AEO also posts fuel oil and wood or pellet matrices.

Worked example. For example, a family of three in Little Rock earning $2,200 a month in countable income, heating with natural gas, falls in the $2,130 to $2,347 row and would have received $88 for the 2025-26 winter. A widow living alone in rural Searcy County on $1,000 a month in Social Security, heating with propane, would have received $208. AEO says FY2027 regular benefits rise 10%, so expect slightly more once the 2027 matrices are posted.

Crisis help is bigger. Winter and summer crisis help can each pay up to $700 under the FY2027 plan, up from $600 a year earlier. The plan's crisis list includes a bill due within 7 days, a past-due amount, a disconnect notice or shutoff, 20% or less in a propane or fuel tank when the supplier won't deliver without payment, a delayed payment arrangement at risk of default, prepaid electric running out, an eviction notice for unpaid energy in the rent, and 3 weeks or less of wood or 7 days or less of bottled gas. In summer, only electricity counts.

Season Dates and FY2027 Funding

Arkansas's 2026-27 program has 6 key dates, all from the FY2027 plan's timing rules. AEO describes them by rule rather than calendar date, so the dates below are Grantsights' reading of those rules for the 2027 calendar; your CBO's posted dates win if they differ.

AEO's LIHEAP page says applications are taken first come, first served, "typically from January to April 30 and from July to September 30." The plan also lets AEO shorten or extend a season, or change benefits, if funding differs from its estimate.

Federal funding status. Arkansas's first FY2027 allotment is $30,545,260, according to ACF's state allotment table (opens in a new tab). ACF's October 9, 2026 release notice (opens in a new tab) says the $3,631,860,000 national release is 90% of the money available under the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027 (Public Law 119-103), signed September 2, 2026, and that funds stay restricted for any grantee without an approved FY2027 plan. The Arkansas plan on the LIHEAP Clearinghouse, an ACF-funded resource, was marked "Submission in Review" when checked on November 3, 2026. The rest of the year's money depends on Congress.

How to Apply for Arkansas LIHEAP in 3 Steps

Arkansas has 15 community-based organizations taking LIHEAP applications, and AEO's page says not to send applications or documents to AEO.

1. Find your CBO. Use AEO's CBO contact page (opens in a new tab) and pick your county.
2. Ask how it takes applications. The FY2027 plan says CBOs can't require in-person applications and may take them by email, fax, mail, drop box, phone, text or online. Some run "pop-up" intake days in smaller towns.
3. Apply early in the season. Your best bet is to call in the first days of intake. It is first come, first served, with emphasis on households that are disconnected, facing disconnection or in a life-threatening situation.

CBOs for the largest counties, as AEO listed them on November 3, 2026:

Documents to bring, per AEO's page and its 2026 brochure:

• A photo ID (driver's license or other government photo ID)
• Social Security cards for household members 18 and older, and Social Security numbers for minors
• Proof of income for everyone 18 and up, such as last month's pay stubs or benefit statements
• Your most recent utility bills, which also prove residency
• A lease if any utilities are included in your rent

AEO posts a sample LIHEAP application (opens in a new tab) you can fill in before you call. Don't send more than one application per program per benefit type unless your CBO tells you to.

Shutoff Protection in Arkansas: 32 Degrees, 95 Degrees and the Gas Moratorium

Arkansas has no single winter shutoff ban, but the Public Service Commission's General Service Rules give 4 protections to customers of regulated utilities. The FY2027 LIHEAP plan says crisis help must start within 48 hours, or 18 hours in a life-threatening situation.

Sources: Arkansas PSC Suspension of Service page (opens in a new tab) and General Service Rules (opens in a new tab), checked November 3, 2026.

Two more rules matter when LIHEAP is involved. According to the PSC consumer guide on suspension of service, a utility must give at least 5 days' written notice before a nonpayment shutoff, plus 3 days if it's mailed. And under Rule 6.16, when a social service agency agrees to pay at least a quarter of an overdue bill, the utility must keep or restore service if you agree to pay the rest under a delayed payment agreement. A CBO's crisis commitment can count as that agency payment.

These rules cover utilities the PSC regulates. Electric co-ops and city utilities may follow different policies. For complaints, the APSC lists 1-800-482-1164 (toll-free in Arkansas) and (501) 682-1718.

What AEO's LIHEAP Page Doesn't Tell You

AEO's page explains how to apply, but 6 things that change your outcome aren't on it.

1. The posted brochure lists an agency that stopped serving. The 2026 brochure names a different CBO for Conway, Franklin, Johnson, Logan, Perry, Polk, Pope, Scott and Yell counties. AEO's contact page now lists the Economic Opportunity Agency of Washington County as interim provider there, and the FY2027 plan notes that one CAA ended services after a notice of deficiency. The contact page is a better guide than the brochure to who serves your county today.
2. Two different benefit ranges are posted. The "2027 LIHEAP Model Plan" on AEO's site lists $70 to $665 for heating. The version on file with ACF and AEO's comment responses say $66 to $627. Ask your CBO which matrix it's using.
3. Winter starts late on purpose. Commenters asked AEO to open in November, noting that Missouri, Tennessee and Mississippi start October 1. AEO kept the January start and points to the 30-day priority window instead.
4. The gas moratorium isn't automatic. You must tell your gas company, prove you're approved for SNAP, WIC, TEA, Medicaid or LIHEAP within 14 days, and sign two agreements. Miss a payment and you lose the protection until the past-due amount is paid in full.
5. Regular heating closes a month before crisis help. After the last business day of March, only households that meet the crisis definition can still apply for winter help.
6. Fair hearings are rare. The FY2027 plan reports 0 fair hearings in the prior federal fiscal year. A denial is usually fixed by bringing what was missing, not by a hearing.

Arkansas's FY2027 LIHEAP Money Per Resident

Arkansas's first FY2027 LIHEAP allotment is $30,545,260, according to ACF's October 9, 2026 state table. Grantsights analysis of that ACF table and Census Bureau July 1, 2025 population estimates found Arkansas received $9.81 per resident, below the $10.44 average for the 50 states and D.C. and 35th of 51.

Arkansas comparison built from ACF's FY2027 first release state table (opens in a new tab) and the Census Bureau's Vintage 2025 population file (opens in a new tab); the 50-state-and-D.C. average is $3,569,741,735 over 341,784,857 residents, and territories aren't ranked.

Arkansas sits in the middle of its neighbors. Specifically, Arkansas's $9.81 per resident is $3.01 below Missouri's $12.82 and $1.12 above Oklahoma's $8.69. Applying the FY2027 plan's split to this first allotment, about $12.2 million (40%) goes to regular heating help and about $2.3 million (7.5%) to winter crisis. Neighbors can compare with our Tennessee LIHEAP guide, Oklahoma LIHEAP guide and Texas CEAP guide.

Weatherization and Utility Help That Stack With LIHEAP

According to the FY2027 Arkansas LIHEAP program plan, 15% of LIHEAP funds are set aside for weatherization, with an income line of 200% of the poverty guidelines, higher than LIHEAP's own limit for most households. AEO's Weatherization Assistance Program page (opens in a new tab) lists local providers.

• Emergency heat and cooling. The plan says weatherization can provide emergency services for households with no heat or air conditioning, bypassing waiting lists, and can loan window air conditioners until a permanent repair is made.
• Propane extras. Crisis funds can cover propane tank rental, line repairs and other required charges, according to section 4.15 of the plan.
• Utility payment plans. Ask for levelized billing or a delayed payment agreement. Rule 6.18 requires utilities to offer these to registered elderly and disabled customers who say they can't pay on time.

If your home needs more than weatherization covers, our home repair grants guide lists USDA and other routes.

Common Mistakes and Scam Red Flags

These 5 mistakes cost Arkansas households a benefit or protection, based on the FY2027 plan and PSC rules:

• Calling in November and giving up. The program really is closed until December or January. A common mistake is assuming "closed" means no help this winter. Ask your CBO for its priority and general opening dates.
• Sending papers to Little Rock. AEO doesn't process applications; the CBO does.
• Skipping the moratorium paperwork. Gas customers who don't sign the Suspension Moratorium Agreement aren't protected by the November to March moratorium.
• Underestimating how fast funds go. Intake is first come, first served. Waiting until late March risks finding the money gone.
• Living in subsidized housing with no bill and no proof of an energy cost. Bring the lease and any surcharge notice.

Scam red flags. AEO's page says Arkansas LIHEAP will never ask for a fee, and the FTC warns about scammers who pretend to be your utility company (opens in a new tab) and demand gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency or payment apps. In Arkansas, watch for:

• A caller threatening an Entergy or gas shutoff "today" on a morning the forecast is below freezing, when the cold weather rule bars it
• A "LIHEAP enrollment" call in November asking for your Social Security number, while the program is closed
• Anyone offering to move you up the first-come list for a fee
• A text promising LIHEAP cash; Arkansas pays the supplier

Report benefit fraud with AEO's Benefits Fraud Reporting Form (opens in a new tab), and report scam calls at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (opens in a new tab).

Denied or Out of Funds in Arkansas: 4 Next Steps

Arkansas gives you 30 calendar days to ask for a review, according to section 16.2 of AEO's LIHEAP policy as quoted in the FY2027 plan.

1. File a Request for Review (LIHEAP RFAH-1). Submit it within 30 calendar days of the decision notice to your CBO or to AEO. If you give it to the CBO, it must send it on to AEO within 5 business days. AEO's page has a benefits appeal hearing request (opens in a new tab) link, and AEO's office lists 888-233-0326.
2. Reapply in the next season. Cooling intake opens in July, and the summer crisis component is separate from winter crisis.
3. Use the utility rules. Ask for a delayed payment agreement, and if a church or charity agrees to pay a quarter of the overdue bill, Rule 6.16 helps keep the lights on.
4. Look past LIHEAP. Arkansas 211 lists local churches and charities that help with light bills. Arkansas renters can turn to our rental assistance guide, and our emergency cash assistance guide covers one-time help. Older Arkansans can check our help for seniors guide, and our Lifeline guide covers a cheaper phone bill.

For how LIHEAP works across the country, see our national LIHEAP guide.

When you're unsure which program fits, the free eligibility checker on Grantsights can narrow it down. Choose the individual path for personal bills and it lists official routes for utilities, rent, food and benefits screening, not grants. For an Arkansas utility bill, it leads back to your county's CBO.

Sources

1. Arkansas Energy Office: Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (opens in a new tab) - Arkansas program status, dates, documents, fee warning
2. AEO: LIHEAP Eligibility Chart FY 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Arkansas monthly income limits
3. AEO: FFY 2026 Electric Benefit Matrix (opens in a new tab), Natural Gas (opens in a new tab) and Propane (opens in a new tab) - Arkansas benefit amounts
4. Arkansas FY2027 LIHEAP plan as filed with ACF (LIHEAP Clearinghouse copy) (opens in a new tab) - Arkansas season rules, benefit ranges, crisis definitions, fund split, appeals
5. AEO: 2027 LIHEAP Model Plan posted on the AEO site (opens in a new tab) - the earlier $70 to $665 Arkansas range
6. AEO: Responses to comments on the 2027 Arkansas LIHEAP plan (opens in a new tab) - 10% and 16.7% increases, priority opening
7. AEO: LIHEAP CBO contact information (opens in a new tab) - Arkansas county-by-county agencies
8. ACF: LIHEAP State Median Income table, FY2027 (opens in a new tab) - Arkansas 60% SMI
9. ACF: First Block Grant Funding Release FFY 2027 (opens in a new tab) - the October 9, 2026 release Arkansas's allotment came from
10. ACF: FY2027 first release, state allotments (opens in a new tab) - Arkansas $30,545,260
11. Arkansas PSC: Suspension of Service (opens in a new tab) - Arkansas notice, weather and medical rules
12. Arkansas PSC: General Service Rules (opens in a new tab) - Arkansas Rules 6.15 to 6.18
13. Census Bureau: Vintage 2025 population estimates, used for Arkansas's per-resident figure (opens in a new tab)
14. FTC: Scammers Pretend To Be Your Utility Company (opens in a new tab) - warning signs for Arkansas utility calls