Senior benefits in Cleveland County, Arkansas
Not in Arkansas? Cleveland County, North Carolina · Cleveland County, Oklahoma
Seniors in Cleveland County, Arkansas can find help with health care, food, home energy, taxes, and getting around. A good first stop is the Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas, which offers local services for older adults. You can also visit the Arkansas DHS county office in Rison to ask about benefits. Central Delta Community Action Agency handles home energy bill help through LIHEAP, and Southeast Arkansas Transportation (SEAT) offers rural public transit. Statewide programs also apply here. These include ARChoices in Homecare, Medicare Savings Programs, SNAP food assistance, the Arkansas Homestead Property Tax Credit, and free Medicare counseling through AR SHIIP. Family caregivers may look into the Arkansas Family Caregiver Support Program. Many federal programs may help as well. The page below lists each program with its official source and the date it was last verified. Keep in mind that the agency that runs each program makes the final decision on who qualifies.
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Local programs
11
Arkansas programs
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Federal programs
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Categories
Last verified · October 7, 2026
Local starting point
Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas (Region IV)
1-870-619-4127
See which of these Cleveland County programs you may qualify for.
Discover my benefitsHelping others? Print the Cleveland County benefits checklist — free to hand out.
When benefit rules change, it’s tracked here
Income limits, new requirements, how to apply — see what’s changed across senior benefit programs, from the official source in plain English.
Programs run in Cleveland County
Run by the county, its Area Agency on Aging, or another agency serving Cleveland County. Start here.
Elder Services in Cleveland County
Programs here typically provide services worth $200–$2,000 a year to an eligible household.
Area Agency on Aging services (Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas) — Cleveland
County · ArkansasThe Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas, based in Pine Bluff, serves older adults, caregivers and people with disabilities in this county. Its services include care coordination, home care, personal care, family caregiver support, in-home respite care, information and assistance, the long-term care ombudsman program, senior centers, transportation, Meals on Wheels, and help for veterans with personal care and health needs. Home Care and Care Management office at 730 Pecan St., Rison (870-619-4127). Rison Senior Citizens Center: 730 Pecan Street (870-639-4114). The main office number is 870-543-6300. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 4:00pm. Most senior center and Meals on Wheels services are for people age 60 and older.
Estimated service value: $200–$2,000 a year
Energy Assistance in Cleveland County
Home energy bill help (LIHEAP) through Central Delta Community Action Agency — Cleveland
County · ArkansasCentral Delta Community Action Agency (CDCAA) takes LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) applications for Arkansas, Cleveland, Grant, Jefferson and Lincoln Counties. LIHEAP helps pay heating bills in winter and cooling bills in summer, with a one-time payment made to the energy company. A Crisis Intervention program helps households with an energy emergency. Residents of this county can apply in person Monday and Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Applications can also be sent online at GetLIHEAP.com or by email to liheap@cdcaa.org. The 2026 summer program opened June 8, 2026 for people 60 and older, people with a disability and households with children under 6, and for everyone else on July 6, 2026, with applications accepted through September 30, 2026. The agency's office is at 200 Main St., Rison; phone 870-536-0046. LIHEAP never charges a fee to apply.
Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year
General Assistance in Cleveland County
Arkansas DHS county office (Rison) — Cleveland
County · ArkansasThe Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) county office for Cleveland County is at 201 5th Street, Rison, AR 71665-0465. It is open Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Phone: 870-325-6218. You can apply in person at a county office, or online, by mail or by phone, for SNAP food help, Medicaid and other health care programs, and TEA cash help. Online applications go through Access.Arkansas.gov. To get Medicaid help paying for nursing home care, send the application and needed documents to your local county office. To apply for programs that help seniors and adults with physical disabilities stay at home, such as ARChoices in Home Care, Independent Choices and Living Choices Assisted Living, contact your local county office. To talk with a counselor about these options, call the Choices in Living Resource Center at 1-866-801-3435.
Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year
Transportation in Cleveland County
Rural public transit (Southeast Arkansas Transportation, SEAT) — Cleveland
County · ArkansasSoutheast Arkansas Transportation (SEAT) is the rural public transit service run by the Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas, which serves this county. It offers door-to-door rides to medical appointments, pharmacies, grocery stores, work, places of worship and other community destinations. Wheelchair-accessible vehicles are available. Rides must be scheduled in advance; book at least 48 hours before your trip, as rides are usually first-come, first-served. Fares are generally based on the distance traveled. Call the agency at 870-543-6300 to schedule or ask about fares.
Estimated service value: about $0 a year
Local agencies serving Cleveland County
Who runs the county programs above, and how to reach them. Every line comes from a program record on this page — nothing is added that the catalog does not cite.
Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas (Region IV)
Runs: Area Agency on Aging services (Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas)
Central Delta Community Action Agency (CDCAA)
Runs: Home energy bill help (LIHEAP) through Central Delta Community Action Agency
Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS), Division of County Operations
Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas
Runs: Rural public transit (Southeast Arkansas Transportation, SEAT)
Arkansas and federal programs
Open to eligible households in Cleveland County and across the rest of Arkansas. Full details are on the Arkansas benefits page.
Money & income2 programs
Cash paid to you, and emergency help when money runs short.
Health & Medicare costs8 programs
Medicaid, Medicare savings, and help with drug and doctor bills.
- Medicare Savings Programs in Arkansas (QMB, SMB, QI-1)
- Arkansas Medicaid (Health Care) for people who are aged, blind, or disabled (AABD)
- AR SHIIP (Senior Health Insurance Information Program), Arkansas's SHIP for free Medicare counseling
- Extra Help (Part D Low-Income Subsidy)
- Qualifying Individual (QI)
- Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB)
- Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB)
- State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
Food6 programs
SNAP (food stamps), meals, and farmers market coupons.
Home, bills & taxes9 programs
Help with heating and electric bills, rent, property taxes, and home repairs.
- Arkansas LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program)
- Arkansas property tax assessment freeze for homeowners 65 or older or disabled (Amendment 79)
- Arkansas Homestead Property Tax Credit
- Arkansas income tax: $6,000 retirement income exemption and Social Security exemption
- Federal Lifeline
- Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)
- Federal Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled (IRS Schedule R)
- Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8)
- HUD Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly
Care at home & long-term care5 programs
Help staying in your home, nursing home alternatives, and support for family caregivers.
- ARChoices in Homecare (Medicaid home and community-based waiver)
- Living Choices Assisted Living (Arkansas Medicaid waiver)
- Arkansas Family Caregiver Support Program (through the Area Agencies on Aging)
- PACE — Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly
- National Family Caregiver Support Program (OAA Title III-E)
Help, advice & legal3 programs
Free counseling, legal help, rides, and other senior services.
Veterans3 programs
Benefits for veterans and their surviving spouses.
Nearby counties
Local programs differ from one county to the next. If you live near a county line, or you are helping a parent who lives in one of these, it is worth checking there too.
Not legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.
