ARKANSAS

This is an unofficial benefits estimator and not an application. No personal data is collected or stored. Actual amounts may vary based on individual circumstances, location, eligibility criteria, and recent data updates at the time of application.

Arkansas Transitional Employment Assistance (TEA)

Arkansas Transitional Employment Assistance (TEA) is a time-limited assistance program to help needy families with children become more responsible for their own support. It aims to reduce dependence of needy parents on public assistance.

Benefits may include cash payments, childcare assistance, help with transportation, employment-related services, including job-readiness activities, and other supportive services.

How much is cash assistance in Arkansas?

Arkansas offers the lowest cash assistance benefit in the country, providing only $204 per month for a family of three, with eligibility capped at 12 months.

How do I apply for TANF in Arkansas?

Applications for Transitional Employment Assistance (TEA) can be filed in person at the local DHS office  in the county where you reside or apply online through Access Arkansas  for expedited processing.

Arkansas Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Arkansas SNAP provides monthly food assistance benefits to eligible low-income families to help them afford the food they need for a nutritionally adequate diet.

SNAP benefits are used in place of cash to purchase food. If an applicant is deemed eligible, an EBT card is issued, allowing benefits to be loaded and accessed electronically.

SNAP recipients ages 18 through 64 who do not live with a child under 18, and who are able-bodied must follow the 3-month Time Limit Rules.

What is the income limit for SNAP in Arkansas?

Most families in Arkansas with gross income up to 130% of the federal poverty level, or about $2,887 a month for a family of three, may qualify for the program.

Where do I apply for food stamps in Arkansas?

Applications for SNAP and TEA can be done online via ACCESS Arkansas  or in person at the local DHS county office . Either way, applicants are required to complete an interview for their eligibility determination.

If you need help finding a food pantry and/or hot meal near you, go to Arkansas Foodbank  and click on “I Need Food” to find a pantry nearest to you.

Arkansas Special Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

Arkansas WIC provides supplemental foods, nutrition education and referrals to health care, at no cost, to low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age 5.

In Arkansas, instead of paper checks, participants receive WIC benefits loaded onto a smart card called the e-WIC card which can be used at any authorized grocery store.

What is the income limit for WIC in Arkansas?

In Arkansas, WIC income limits are set at 185% of the federal poverty level, meaning a family of three must have a monthly household income at or below $4,109 to qualify.

How much does WIC pay per month in Arkansas?

Children ages 1—4 will now receive $26 per month, while pregnant and postpartum women receive $47 per month, and breastfeeding women receive $52 per month.

How do I apply for WIC in Arkansas?

WIC is available at all Local Health Units in Arkansas, satellite clinics and four WIC-only Clinics. To schedule an appointment, call the State WIC Office at (501) 661-2508.

Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me (ARHOME)

Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me (ARHOME) is Arkansas’s Medicaid expansion program, which provides coverage through private health insurance plans offered by approved insurers, including:

1. Arkansas BlueCross BlueShield
2. Arkansas Health & Wellness (Ambetter)

Unlike traditional Medicaid, ARHOME delivers coverage through private health plans while still operating under Medicaid eligibility rules and protections.

In addition, ARHOME also includes coverages that focus on the health of certain key groups:

• Maternal Life360
  High-risk pregnant women, new mothers, and their babies
• Rural Life360
  Individuals and families living in rural Arkansas communities
• Success Life360
  Young adults who face the highest risks for poor health outcomes

What is the maximum income to qualify for Medicaid in Arkansas?

As Arkansas is expanding Medicaid coverage, nearly all uninsured Arkansans age 19—64 with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level may gain coverage under the ACA.

Children and pregnant women are eligible at higher income levels.

Where do I apply for Medicaid in Arkansas?

Online enrollment is now available through ACCESS Arkansas  where uninsured Arkansas can apply for Medicaid, ARKids First! and other state’s benefit programs.

Medicaid Help Desk
(800) 482-5431

Arkansas ARKids First!

ARKids First! provides health insurance coverage for thousands of Arkansas children across the state who otherwise might have gone without coverage.

ARKids First! has expanded and will now offer two coverage options based on family income:

ARKids A

There is no charge when you child participates in ARKids A.

ARKids B

For ARKids B, there are co-payment required for some services. Coverage for children in ARKids B will have an annual limit equal to five percent (5%) of the family’s annual gross income.

What is the difference between ARKids A and B?

ARKids First-A is Medicaid for children. ARKids First-B is for children under age 19 whose families who earn too much money to qualify for regular Medicaid but too little to afford private coverage.

What is the income limit for ARKids in Arkansas?

Under the ACA, children in Arkansas with family income up to 216% of the poverty level, which is about $4,797 a month for a family of three, are eligible for ARKids First!.

How do I apply for Arkansas ARKids First?

To apply for Arkansas ARKids First!, you need to go to ACCESS Arkansas , and apply for healthcare benefits, which covers ARKids A (Medicaid) and B (CHIP) for eligible children.

Medicaid Help Desk
(800) 482-5431

Arkansas School Readiness Assistance (SRA) Program

The School Readiness Program is available to all low-income families, but please note that a waiting list  may apply due to limited funding and high demand.

Arkansas School Readiness Assistance (SRA) Program is the state subsidy program targeted at low-income families with children under age 13 who need help paying for child care.

A family may qualify for assistance if it:

• Meets the income guidelines
• Has adults who work or attend school or training for at least 20 hours per week (a combination is allowed)
• Has a child from birth through age 12

Since it is a subsidy, most families are required to pay a percentage of cost of child care in the form of a copayment on a sliding fee basis.

What is the income limit for child care assistance in Arkansas?

A family is considered “income eligible ” when their gross monthly income is at or below 85% of the State Median Income (SMI) at the time of initial application.

How do I apply for child care assistance in Arkansas?

In order to apply for assistance, contact one of the Program Eligibility Specialists in your county at (800) 322-8176 and request an application or use the SRA Portal  to submit your application.

After an application is completed, it may be returned to your local DHS office, or mailed to the address below

Arkansas Department of Human Services
Office of Child Care and Early Childhood Education
P.O. Box 1437, Slot S145
Little Rock, AR 72203

Arkansas Better Beginnings

Arkansas Better Beginnings  is a program of the Arkansas Department of Human Services that provides parents with information on quality child care providers.

Better Beginnings distinguishes the quality of each Arkansas child care facility by a 1, 2, and 3-star rating system, providing families with tools to identify and find high-quality child care near them.

What does Arkansas Better Beginnings do?

• Uses a tiered quality rating system to assess the quality of child care programs
• Provides tools to help providers improve the quality of their programs
• Shares information about the quality of child care programs with families
• Helps children have positive experiences that prepare them for kindergarten
• Raises awareness of the importance of early learning

For more information, you may contact
Arkansas Better Beginnings
(501) 320-6161

Arkansas Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

LIHEAP provides one-time financial assistance to eligible households to offset heating costs during winter season and cooling costs during summer months.

Arkansas LIHEAP offers two types of benefit payments:

Regular

This benefit provides payments directly to energy service providers once per program year. Eligible households may receive up to $475 for winter utility bills or $287 during summer.

Crisis

The crisis benefit is intended to assist households experiencing or in danger of experiencing a life threatening or health related emergency due to a heating or cooling issue. Applications are accepted until April 30 each year.

What is the monthly income limit for LIHEAP in Arkansas?

Eligibility for LIHEAP in Arkansas is based on 60% of the state’s median income (SMI). The following chart can help you see if your household is income-eligible for benefits.

When do I apply for LIHEAP in Arkansas?

LIHEAP applications are accepted through the local Community Action Agencies (CBOs) on a first-come, first served basis typically from January 6 to March 31 for the regular winter program and July to September 30 for the summer program, with crisis assistance available year-round or until funds run out.

How do I apply for LIHEAP in Arkansas?

To apply for LIHEAP benefits, you must contact the local Community Action Agencies  (CBOs) that serves the county in which you live.

When applying for Arkansas LIHEAP, you may be asked to provide:

• A photo ID for the applicant or utility account holder
• Social Security information for household members, if available
• Proof of household income
• Proof of Arkansas residency
• Copies of recent utility bills

Documentation requirements may vary based on household circumstances and the type of assistance requested. Please contact the CBO that serves your area for more information on how to apply.

Arkansas Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP)

NOTICE: Funding is no longer available for LIHWAP. Households may not receive LIHWAP benefits at this time.

Arkansas LIHWAP offers a one-time crisis benefit up to $2,000 to help qualified households pay their residential water and wastewater past due utility bills.

LIHWAP assists eligible households that:

• need help paying their current drinking water and wastewater bills,
• are disconnected from water services,
• have a dated notice of disconnection, or
• have past-due bills.

Arkansas residents who receive public assistance from other programs like the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), SNAP, TANF and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are automatically eligible for the program.

To access the LIHWAP application and for all related questions including eligibility, please visit https://arkansaslihwap.com .

Arkansas Unemployment Insurance

Arkansas Unemployment Insurance (UI) provides temporary financial assistance to workers who lost their jobs through no fault of their own.

As a condition of eligibility, you must have earned a minimum amount of wages in a recent ‘base period’, which is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim.

How much unemployment benefits can I get in Arkansas?

Depending on how much you have earned in your base period, you may receive up to $451 per week for a maximum of 12 weeks of unemployment benefits per year. ¹

How do I file for unemployment in Arkansas online?

You may file your initial claim using EZARC  (Easy Arkansas Claims) or ArkNet  for your weekly claims or call ArkLine at (501) 907-2590 if you wish to file over the phone.

Arkansas Future Grant (ArFuture)

Arkansas Future Grant (ArFuture) is the newest state grant program aimed at supporting non-traditional students and enhancing the educational qualifications and skills of Arkansas’s workforce.

It is reserved for Arkansas students enrolled in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields or regional high-demand areas of study.

Who is eligible for Arkansas Future Grant?

The ArFuture grant is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so apply as early as possible. The deadline to apply for the fall semester is July 1 or January 10 for spring semester.

Arkansas Higher Education Opportunities Grant (GO! Grant)

No longer accepting applications — Program Sunsetting

GO! Grant provides $1,000 grants to full-time and $500 grants to part-time students based on financial need. Students must be an Arkansas resident for at least 12 months prior to applying for the grant.

Eligibility is based on the family’s adjusted gross income as reported on the FAFSA. For more information, contact the ADHE financial aid division at (800) 54STUDY or (501) 371-2050.

Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund (ASPSF)

Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund  (ASPSF) is a scholarship program available to low income single parents in Arkansas “to enable them to attain self-sufficiency through post-secondary education.”

To qualify for the scholarship, applicants must be single parents who have primary custody of their children, and demonstrate sufficient financial need as determined by the FAFSA.

Scholarship amounts range from approximately $500 per semester to as much as $1,000 per semester. Eligibility guidelines and application deadlines may vary by county.