Support Services
ARKids First Health Insurance Program
ARKids First health insurance provides two coverage options for more than 70,000 Arkansas children who otherwise might have gone without. ARKids A offers low-income families a comprehensive package of benefits. ARKids B provides coverage for families with higher incomes.
Follow the link below to the ARKids First Eligibility Chart. If your family income is less than the amount in the ARKids A column for your children's ages, then your children may be eligible for ARKids A (Medicaid). If your family income is more than the amount in the ARKids A column but less than the amount in the ARKids B column, your children may be eligible for ARKids B. For online registration, visit the ARKids First website.
| Title | Type |
|---|---|
| ARKids First Eligibility Chart | WEB |
| ARKids First Website | WEB |
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program provides financial assistance to approximately 60,000 households each year to help them meet the costs of home energy i.e. gas, electricity, propane, etc. It also offers weatherization services and case management activities which are designed to encourage and enable households to reduce their energy costs and thereby, their need for financial assistance.
Eligibility: Based on 60% of state median income level for all households for Regular Assistance. Crisis Assistance is based on 60% of states median income level for all households.
Assistance: Available at your local Community Action Agency.
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program helps low-income households with home energy costs by administering the Regular Assistance and Crisis Intervention Programs. Each program provides financial assistance to eligible households with a one-time per year payment to the household's energy supplier or, under certain circumstances, to the applicant. The Crisis Intervention Program only provides assistance to eligible households facing energy-related emergencies.
Refugee Resettlement Program
The Refugee Resettlement Program assists newly arrived eligible refugees to assimilate into the American way of life. The program offers financial and medical services to eligible refugees for up to 8 months after arrival in the United States. Call 501-682-8256 or 800-482-8988 for additional information.
| Title | Type |
|---|---|
| Refugee Resettlement Program Application | English | |
| Refugee Resettlement Program Application | Spanish |
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly known as Food Stamp Program) provides food assistance to eligible households to cover a portion of a household's food budget. Benefits are distributed through an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. SNAP benefits can be used to purchase eligible food items for home consumption including seeds and plants which produce food for consumption by SNAP households. Farmers markets are available for SNAP benefits as well as eligible retailers. In addition to food assistance, the program provides SNAP recipients with nutrition education, employment and training, and work experience in some cases.
In accordance with the Federal civil rights law and U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
Mail: U. S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410
Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
Email: intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
SNAP Program Penalties
You may lose your benefits or be subject to criminal prosecution for knowingly providing false information.
- Do not give false information or hide information to get benefits that your household should not get.
- Do not use SNAP or EBT cards that are not yours and do not let someone else use yours.
- Do not use SNAP benefits to buy nonfood items such as alcohol or cigarettes or to pay on credit cards.
- Do not trade or sell SNAP or EBT cards for illegal items; such as firearms, ammunition or controlled substance (illegal drugs).
Any household member who breaks any of the SNAP rules on purpose can be barred from the SNAP Program for one year to permanently, fined up to $250,000, imprisoned up to 20 years or both. She/he may also be subject to prosecution under other applicable Federal and State laws. She/he may also be barred from the SNAP Program for an additional 18 months if court ordered.
Any household member who intentionally breaks the rules may not get SNAP for one year for the first offense, two years for the second offense, and permanently for the third offense.
If a court of law finds you or any household member guilty of using or receiving SNAP benefits in a transaction involving the sale of a controlled substance, you or that household member will not be eligible for benefits for two years for the first offense, and permanently for the second offense.
If a court of law finds you or any household member guilty of having used or received benefits in a transaction involving the sale of firearms, ammunition or explosives, you or that household member will be permanently ineligible to participate in the SNAP Program upon the first offense of this violation.
If a court of law finds you or any household member guilty of having trafficked benefits for an aggregate amount of $500 or more, you or that household member will be permanently ineligible to participate in the SNAP Program upon the first offense of this violation.
If you or any household member is found to have given a fraudulent statement or representation with respect to identity (who they are) or place of residence (where they live) to receive multiple SNAP benefits, you or that household member will be ineligible to participate in the SNAP Program for a period of 10 years.
Transitional Employment Assistance Program (TEA)
The TEA Program is a time-limited assistance program to help needy families with children become more responsible for their own support and less dependent on public assistance. In addition to monthly cash assistance, employment-related services are provided to parents, including job-readiness activities, transportation assistance, childcare assistance, and other supportive services so that the parent can engage in work or education and training activities.
The Division of County Operations is responsible for determining the eligibility for cash assistance payments for the Transitional Employment Assistance (TEA) and Work Pays Programs. The Department of Workforce Services is the state agency responsible for administering the program and providing supportive services and case management for TEA and Work Pays recipients.
| Title | Type |
|---|---|
| TEA Application Form | English | |
| TEA Application Form | Spanish | |
| TEA Change Report | |
| Department of Workforce Services TANF Website |
TEA Program Penalties
In the TEA Program, an IPV (Intentional Program Violation) is an intentional action by an individual to establish or maintain an assistance unit’s (AU’s) eligibility, or to increase or prevent a decrease in the AU’s benefits, by providing false or misleading information or withholding information.
- Any household member who hides information and does not report changes on time or does not tell the truth will lose TANF benefits for six months for the first violation, twelve months for the second violation and permanently for the third violation. The misuse of the cash assistance funds or TEA DEBIT card to withdraw cash or perform transactions at casinos, liquor stores, adult-oriented entertainment facilities “strip clubs”, poker rooms, bail bonds, night clubs/salons/taverns, bingo halls, race tracks, gaming establishments, gun/ammunition stores, cruise ships, psychic readers, smoking shops, tattoo/piercing shops, and spa/massage salons is strictly prohibited and will result in a loss of TEA benefits for six months for the first violation, twelve months for the second violation and permanently for the third violation.
- If a court of law finds you or any household member hiding information, or you do not report changes on time or do not tell the truth and are convicted, you may not get TEA for 12 months for the first violation and permanently for the second violation.
- If a court of law finds you or any household member guilty of giving false information about where you live so you can receive benefits in more than one state, you will be barred for 10 years.
