Senior benefits in Van Buren County, Arkansas

White River Area Agency on Aging (WRAAA), based in Batesville, is the Area Agency on Aging for Van Buren County. It offers in-home care by trained Home Care Assistants working under a Registered Nurse (bathing and personal care, meal help, medication reminders, light housekeeping, laundry, errands and rides to appointments, and relief for caregivers), care management, a Family Caregiver Program, a personal emergency response system, and veteran programs. Through senior centers in Van Buren County and the rest of its area it offers noon meals, home-delivered meals for people who cannot leave home, wellness classes and rides to the center, grocery stores and pharmacies. Some help may be limited by funding. The Van Buren County office is at 1481 Highway 65 South, Clinton. Call 501-745-4002 or toll-free 1-877-482-2354. The main office line is 870-612-3000 (toll-free 1-800-382-3205).

Estimated service value: $200–$2,000 a year

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps households with home energy bills: heating costs in the winter and cooling costs in the summer. In Van Buren County, Ozark Opportunities, Inc. takes LIHEAP applications. Its office is at 701 E. Prospect Ave., Harrison; call 870-741-9406 (extension 2). Arkansas LIHEAP pays a regular benefit based on household income, household size and the type of energy used, and a crisis benefit that can prevent a shut-off, restore service, or provide fuel when it has run out. Applications are taken first-come, first-served, typically from January to April 30 and from July to September 30 each year. Apply through this agency, not the Arkansas Energy Office. LIHEAP never charges a fee to apply.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

The Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) county office for Van Buren County is at 449 Ingram Street, Clinton, AR 72031-0126. It is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 501-745-4192. DHS county offices are run by the Division of County Operations, which processes applications for public assistance. You can apply for health care (Medicaid) and SNAP food benefits at your local county office, or apply and manage benefits online at Access.Arkansas.gov.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

Ozark Health in Clinton, a non-profit hospital, has a financial assistance program for people who are uninsured, underinsured, not eligible for a government program, or otherwise unable to pay for medically necessary care. If you may qualify for another program (such as Medicaid), you must apply for it first. Services must be diagnostic, urgent or emergent as decided by the ordering doctor. With the application, attach your latest tax return or three recent check stubs for every household member, three months of checking and savings statements, and any Social Security, disability or retirement award letters. Without documentation, assistance cannot be considered. For help with the application, call the financial counselor at 501-745-9521. Mail it to Ozark Health, Inc., P. O. Box 206, Clinton, AR 72031.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year