Access Arkansas - General Information
What is Access Arkansas?
Access Arkansas is an online service provided by the Arkansas Department of Human Services. Its purpose is to provide residents of Arkansas with tools to assist in the determination of potential eligibility for 20 DHS managed benefits programs. In addition, Access Arkansas also provides users with the ability to submit and monitor the status of benefit applications and programs.
When and where can I use Access Arkansas?
The Access Arkansas web site is available for public use 24-hour a day, 7-days a week. It can be accessed from any location with an Internet connection.
Why should I create an Access Arkansas account?
By creating an Access Arkansas account users are provided the opportunity to create and submit online benefit applications for supported programs to the Arkansas Department of Human Services. Access Arkansas also provides registered users with the ability to view the status of their submitted applications and related programs. Additional online benefit program applications and features will be regularly added to the web site.
What benefit program applications can I submit from Access Arkansas?
The Access Arkansas web site currently supports the creation and submission of online benefit applications for: Child Care, Medicare Savings, SNAP, and TEA Cash.
What accessibility options are supported in Access Arkansas?
Access Arkansas is equally accessible to blind or visually impaired visitors. In accordance with Arkansas State Act 1227 of 1999, Access Arkansas provides text equivalents for all non-text elements such as images, animation, audio and video. We will make every effort to comply with state and federal accessibility guidelines. If you have trouble accessing or navigating the Access Arkansas web site, please submit your concern using the 'Contact Us' feature.
What language options are supported in Access Arkansas?
Access Arkansas supports both English and Spanish language content throughout the web site, including the application process. Access Arkansas registered users may define their default language preference in the “MyAccount” screen of their MyAccess Arkansas account.
Program Eligibility
How can I determine if I may be eligible for a DHS benefit program?
By selecting the “Am I eligible?” link from the Access Arkansas home page, you can determine potential eligibility for yourself and your household members for 20 different Arkansas DHS managed benefit programs.
What type of information do I need to provide to determine potential eligibility in Access Arkansas?
The Access Arkansas eligibility screener is 100% anonymous. Users are not requested to enter any personally identifiable information in order to determine potential eligibility. You will be asked to enter general information about you and your household members; such as income, age, residence status, and current program participation. This information is not saved in the Access Arkansas system. Information you provide in the eligibility screener will not be associated to your Access Arkansas online benefit application.
How do I apply for benefit programs after I determine my potential eligibility?
After completing the eligibility screener questions and County selection; you will be presented with a program checklist. This checklist includes contact and program application information for a DHS office in your area. If you want to submit an application for an Access Arkansas supported program via the Internet, you may create an Access Arkansas user account, and submit an online application for the following DHS programs: Child Care, Medicare Savings, SNAP, and TEA Cash.
Who do I contact if I have questions regarding benefit program eligibility?
The DHS contact information in your area is provided on the Program Checklist. This checklist is displayed after completing the eligibility screener process. For additional contact information and DHS program details, you may visit the Arkansas DHS web site at http://humanservices.arkansas.gov/
Account Management
How do I update MyAccess Arkansas account information?
Access Arkansas registered users may update their MyAccess Arkansas account information at any time, by accessing the “MyAccount” screen from their MyAccess Arkansas home page, changing the displayed information, and selecting the “Update” option.
How do I close or disable MyAccess Arkansas account?
Access Arkansas registered users may close their Access Arkansas account by accessing the “MyAccount” screen from their MyAccess Arkansas home page, and selecting the “Close Account” option. Once your MyAccess Arkansas account has been closed, you will no longer be able to log-in to Access Arkansas using your User ID and Password. If you wish to submit a new online application for benefits, you may create a new Access Arkansas account at any time.
Why should I upgrade MyAccess Arkansas account?
Upgrading your Access Arkansas account provides you with additional features and information specific to your DHS benefit programs. This feature assists with verifying your identity, and allows us to share additional information with you regarding your DHS activities. You are not required to upgrade your account to create and submit online applications for DHS benefit programs, but by upgrading your account you will have greater access to your DHS information through Access Arkansas. Upgrading your Access Arkansas account will not affect your eligibility or participation in any DHS benefit program.
How do I upgrade MyAccess Arkansas account?
You may upgrade your MyAccess Arkansas account by selecting the 'Upgrade Account' option at the top of your MyAccess Arkansas home page. You will be required to provide us with additional information personal information that will allow us to confirm your identity. Once your upgrade is successfully completed, you will be permitted to view additional information on the 'MyBenefits' screen.
How do I recover MyAccess Arkansas User ID?
In order to recover your Access Arkansas User ID, you must have provided an email address during account set-up or in the MyAccount screen. You may recover your Access Arkansas account User ID, by selecting the 'I have forgotten my User ID or Password' link on the 'Returning User' screen, and then select the 'Recover UserID' button. You will be required to enter your email address or your MyAccess Arkansas account number, and select the 'Verify Account' button. If the provided information matches our records, we will send you a secure email containing your Access Arkansas User ID.
How do I recover MyAccess Arkansas Password?
You may recover your Access Arkansas account Password, by selecting the 'I have forgotten my User ID or Password' link on the 'Returning User' screen, and then select the 'Recover Password' button. You will be required to enter your Access Arkansas User ID, and then you will need to answer two security questions you defined during account set-up. If the provided information matches our records, you will be permitted to reset your Access Arkansas password
What do I do if my account has been accessed without my knowledge or permission?
We recommend that you immediately change your Access Arkansas account Password from the 'MyAccount' screen, or you may reset your Password from the links provided on the 'Returning User' screen.
In addition, if you believe that your account has been accessed without your knowledge or consent, please immediately submit your concern, including your MyAccess Arkansas Account Number, by accessing the DHS Security Incident Site, and completing the related form.
Benefits and Programs
How do I view the status of my benefits?
You must upgrade your Access Arkansas user account to view the status of your DHS benefits. This information is displayed on the “MyBenefits” screen of your Access Arkansas account. Presently, only program information related to Access Arkansas online applications will be displayed.
Where can I find additional information regarding Arkansas Department of Human Services benefit programs?
Additional information regarding Arkansas Department of Human Services can be located at the Arkansas Department of Human Services web site. Information for specific Access Arkansas supported programs can be located at the following web sites:
Division of Aging and Adult Services
Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education
Division of County Operations
Division of Developmental Disabilities Services
Division of Services for the Blind
Who do I contact if I have questions regarding my benefit status or program participation?
If you are actively participating in a DHS benefit program, you may contact your assigned case worker or DHS County office with any questions or concerns. Contact information is provided on your DHS program correspondence.
Online Applications
How do I create a benefit application using Access Arkansas?
Once you have successfully created an Access Arkansas user account, select the 'MyApplications' screen. Select the 'Create a New Application' button located at the top of the screen to begin the online application process.
What happens after I submit an application for benefits from Access Arkansas?
After electronically signing your online benefit application(s) and selecting the 'Submit' button, your application(s) is immediately directed to a DHS case worker for review and processing. Some programs require additional information to be provided beyond what is requested on the application. These additional requirements are detailed at the end of the application process. To facilitate the processing of your benefit application, please review these requirements and provide any additional information and/or documentation to the Arkansas Department of Human Services as soon as possible.
How do I view the status of my application(s)?
Once you have successfully created an Access Arkansas user account and started the application process, you can view the status of your application on the “MyApplications” screen.
How do I complete an application that I previously started?
You can complete a previously started application by selecting the 'Complete Application' link displayed on the 'MyApplications' screen. This link will direct you to the last completed section in the application process. You may return to any step in the application process and edit any previously entered information. However, once an application has been electronically signed and submitted you will no longer be permitted to make any changes to your online benefit application.
How do I view a completed / submitted application?
Once you have successfully created an Access Arkansas user account and completed the application process, you can view, save, and print a copy of the submitted application from the 'MyApplications' screen.
How It All Works
In this application you will be asked to enter information about your household.
When you start entering information about household members, you will see the display below.
The display shows a gray figure with your name below it and a button labeled 'Edit'. When you click the 'Edit button, you will see a list of questions that should be answered. The 'Edit' button will be replaced with two different buttons.
'Save' - which will save all the information, and
'Cancel' - which closes the editing process and does NOT save the information.
You should enter all your information and click the 'Save' button.
After you update your information, you will see a display similar to the one below.
The icon that is displayed for each household member will be blue to indicate a male, and red to indicate a female.
The big figure will indicate an adult and a small figure will indicate someone under the age of 18.
There are now two buttons displayed:
'Edit' - This allows you to edit the information about the household member.
'Add' - This allows you to add new household members.
You should use the 'Add' button to add the information about everyone in your household.
Remember - Click the 'Add' button to display the page of questions, then when you have filled in all the information, click the 'Save' button.
When you have finished, you should see a display like the one below.
There should be a figure with a matching name for everyone in your household.
If you added someone by mistake, click the 'Delete' button and they will be removed.
If you need to change the information about a household member, click the 'Edit' button, change the information, then click the 'Save' button.
After you have entered everyone in your household, click the 'Next' button at the bottom of the page.
Most of the remaining pages work like this one. You will see a display like the one below:
The process on each page will be to click the 'Select' button.
At this point you will see the existing information.
If you need to change existing information, you can click the ‘Edit’ button, change the information, then click ‘Save’.
To add information, click the ‘Add’ Button, enter the information, then click ‘Save’.
When you have entered all the information about the household member, click ‘Save’.
Now you can click the 'Select' button below the next household member that you need to process.
When you have finished with a page, click the 'Next' button at the bottom of the page.