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Calling the Helpline or Applying Online

How to Qualify

HelpLine is here to help those in need of urgent legal help. To qualify, you must call about a civil matter; criminal issues (such as traffic tickets) and fee-generating cases (such as those involving personal injury) are not acceptable reasons to call Helpline. You must also be an Arkansan who falls within our income guidelines. 

If you are unsure about whether your case qualifies or you meet the eligibility requirements, here are a few good things to know.

1.  Eligible Issues and Types of Cases

  • Consumer matters

  • Contract disputes

  • Debt relief

  • Disability rights

  • Domestic abuse

  • Employment rights

  • End-of-life instructions

  • Evictions

  • Garnishments

  • Guardianships

  • Landlord and tenant disputes

  • Orders of protection

  • Powers of attorney

  • Public benefits (Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, Transitional Employment Assistance [TEA], Supplemental Security Income [SSI], child care, and subsidized housing)

  • Wills

Types of Cases

We provide free civil legal services (non-criminal cases). There are many types of civil cases we handle.

Some examples by topic:

  • family law: adoptions, custody, visitation, guardianships

  • elder law: garnish of social security, housing issues

  • consumer or debt: bankruptcies, debt collection defense

  • public benefits: SSI appeals

  • housing law: landlord-tenant, public housing cases, foreclosures

  • other non-criminal issues

Income Guidelines for Legal Aid

Depending on your case and those funding them, income guidelines must be adhered to by the Center for Arkansas Legal Services and Legal Aid of Arkansas, Inc. Below are several thresholds based on a percentage of the Federal Poverty Level. Most cases must fall within the first threshold (125% of FPL), but there are exceptions. Questions about qualification should be directed to the Helpline (see sidebar box). 

Legal Aid Income Thresholds

Persons in Houshold1

Federal Poverty Line

(FPL)

125% of FPL

(Common Threshold)

200% of FPL

(Rare Threshold)

1

$11,880

$14,850

$23,760

2

$16,020

$20,025

$32,040

3

$20,160

$25,200

$40,320

4

$24,300

$30,375

$48,600

5

$28,440

$35,550

$56,880

6

$32,580

$40,725

$65,160

7

$36,730

$45,913

$73,460

For each additional member: 

+$4,160

+$5,200

+$8,320

Define "Income"2 

  • Wages and salary before deductions

  • Income from self-employment

  • Government benefits (such as Social Security, Social Security Disability, and Suplemental Security Income; veterans and unemployment benefits; and workers' compensation)

  • Child support

  • Alimony

  • Military family allotments

  • Private and public pension benefits

  • Insurance or annuity payments

  • Income from dividends, interest, rent, or royalties

  • Payments from estates or trusts

  • Any other cash benefit or regular or recurring sources of financial support

Legal Aid May Request Income Verification

To be best prepared, have handy some income verification, such as bank statement or recent tax returns.

For Groups Asking for Legal Aid Representation

While the Center for Arkansas Legal Services and Legal Aid of Arkansas, Inc., may take on the legal cases of groups (including corporations and associations), each person in the group must be eligible under the following LSC code: 45 CFR Part 1611, while also proving that it both lacks, and has no practical means of obtaining, funds to retain private counsel.