Arkansas residents who qualify for assistance can get help with their electric bills.
The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) helps Arkansans who struggle with paying their electric, gas, and propane bills. To qualify for HEAP, you must have a household income of no more than 150% of the poverty guidelines. Not only can HEAP help pay your heating bills, it may also provide weatherization assistance, providing long-term help with your electric bills.
HEAP assistance can come in the form of emergency cash applied to your electricity account to prevent a disconnection. You will need to show that you have received a shut off notice in order to obtain emergency funds. HEAP may also be used to lower your electricity bills. This prevents the shockingly high power bills that can be difficult to pay.
If you are an Empire customer, you may seek assistance through their Project Help. Eligible customers include those who are at least 55 years old or who have a disability that prevents them from being economically self-sufficient. You may be able to get help with either heating or cooling bills through Project Help.
During the winter months, the Salvation Army administers a program called Hearts Warming Homes for Arkansas Western Gas Company customers. This program is particularly designed to help those who have need based on a situation outside of their control such as loss of income. Assistance through the Hearts Warming Homes program can only be received once a year.
If you are a customer of another electric company, check out their website or give them a call to see if they too may have an energy assistance program. These programs are established to help Arkansans just like you. If you qualify for one of these Arkansas electric bill assistance programs, take advantage of the benefits that can keep your lights on when money is tight. Otherwise, it might be you and your loved ones who suffer the next time that your electricity is shut off.
Long is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.A. in Industrial Relations. He subsequently received his Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University. His Certificate in Financial Planning was issued by Florida State University.
Long has achieved the Accredited Credit Counselor and Accredited Financial Counselor certifications through the Association for Financial Counseling, Planning and Education. Long originally achieved the Certified Credit Counselor designation through the National Institute for Financial Education.
In addition to years of nonprofit leadership, Long has been an innovator in the field of volunteer tax return preparation programs. He assists volunteer associations and nonprofit organizations who seek to integrate credit counseling and asset-building programs with free personal income tax preparation. His approach to using free credit reports as both an incentive and a screening tool for placement into asset-building programs has been shared with members of the National Community Tax Coalition, the EITC-Carolinas Initiative of MDC, Inc. and nonprofit groups across the Carolinas.
Long assists members of our armed forces in the Carolinas, Iowa, Rhode Island, Georgia and Germany with financial readiness. Please support our Soldiers, Marines, Airmen and Sailors!
Favorite quote:
"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."
Thomas Jefferson
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