ARKANSAS

Arkansas Transitional Employment Assistance (TEA)

Arkansas Transitional Employment Assistance (TEA) is a welfare-to-work program designed to help low-income families with children under 18 achieve self-sufficiency.

Benefits may include cash payments, child care 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 submitted in person at the local DHS office  or through Access Arkansas  for expedited processing.

Arkansas Department of Human Services
County Office / Benefits Assistance
(800) 482-8988

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 14, 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 per month for a family of three, may qualify for the program.

Where do I apply for food stamps in Arkansas?

Applications for SNAP 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 Department of Human Services
County Office / Benefits Assistance
(800) 482-8988

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

Arkansas WIC provides supplemental foods, nutrition education and referrals to health care 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 Affordable Care Act (ACA). Children under age 19 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.

Arkansas Department of Human Services
Medicaid Help Desk
(800) 482-5431

Arkansas ARKids First!

ARKids First! provides health insurance coverage to thousands of children across Arkansas who might otherwise go without coverage.

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

ARKids A

Provides comprehensive, low-cost or no-cost coverage for families with lower incomes. There is no charge when your child is enrolled in ARKids A.

ARKids B

Provides coverage for families with higher incomes who do not have health insurance for their children. Co-payments are required for some services under ARKids B.

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?

In Arkansas, ARKids A covers children in families earning up to 147% of the federal poverty level, while ARKids B covers families with income up to 216%.

How do I apply for Arkansas ARKids First?

Both programs can be applied through a single application at ACCESS Arkansas , which determines eligibility for ARKids A (Medicaid) and ARKids B (CHIP).

Arkansas Department of Human Services
ARKids First! Hotline
(888) 474-8275

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 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.

What is the monthly income limit for LIHEAP in Arkansas?

Eligibility for LIHEAP in Arkansas is based on 60% of the state median income (SMI). The current income guidelines are shown in the table below.

When do I apply for LIHEAP in Arkansas?

LIHEAP applications are accepted 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 until April 30 or until funds are depleted.

How do I apply for LIHEAP in Arkansas?

LIHEAP is operated by a network of local Community Action Agencies , which serves all 75 Arkansas counties. To apply for LIHEAP, you must contact the CBO 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. Contact the agency for instructions specific to their office.

Arkansas Department of Energy & Environment
LIHEAP Public Inquiries
(800) 482‑8988

Arkansas Utility Assistance Program

The Arkansas Utility Assistance Program, administered by the Dollar Energy Fund, serves as an emergency “fund of last resort” for residents who have exhausted other aid but still face utility shut-offs.

Eligible applicants, primarily customers of SWEPCO and Entergy, may receive a one-time grant of up to $200 per utility, per program year.

To determine initial eligibility, contact your utility company directly. If eligible, they will refer you to a local Community Based Organization (CBO) or the MyApp portal  to complete your application.

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 LIHEAP, SNAP, TANF and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are automatically eligible for the program.

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. To file over the phone, call ArkLine at (501) 907-2590.

Arkansas Division of Workforce Services
Unemployment Insurance (UI) Service Center
(844) 908-2178

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.

Recipients must live and work full-time in Arkansas for at least three consecutive years after completing their degree. If this requirement is not met, the grant converts into a loan that must be repaid.

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 Division of Higher Education
Arkansas Future Grant
(501) 371-2000

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 $400 per semester to as much as $1,600 per semester. Eligibility guidelines and application deadlines may vary by county.

ASPSF accepts applications three times a year: spring, summer, and fall. Applications for the earlier Spring 2026 semester are open until February 1, 2026.

All applications must be submitted through the ASPSF online portal  by the deadline. If eligible, you’ll be invited to interview with a local scholarship committee.

Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund
2102 Riverfront Drive, Suite 102
Little Rock, AR 72202
(501) 858-2010