Mississippi – I need help paying my bill – Dropdown 4

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What is this? Qualifying customers who need a few extra days to pay their bill can request an extension on their due date. As long as you pay your extended balance in full by 5pm CST on the new due date, you will be protected from disconnection of service. If disconnected, the entire past due amount must be paid to be reconnected, and an additional deposit or fees may apply. If you break an extension agreement, it also may affect your ability to enter into payment arrangements in the future.


Do I qualify? Payment extensions cannot be offered after your bill’s due date. Only customers who do not have a history of regularly breaking payment extensions in the past 12 months are eligible to set up a new one. You cannot re-negotiate an existing extension. Other reasons for ineligibility include:

  • Accounts that have an existing extension or installment plan.
  • Accounts that have more than one past due bill.
  • Accounts that are in pending disconnect or disconnect status.
  • Accounts that have had two or more disconnect notices in the past 12 months.
  • Accounts where an “NSF” (non-sufficient funds) check was submitted and payment has not been received.
  • Accounts where illegal use of electricity has been recorded.
  • Accounts that are enrolled in AutoPay.

How do I enroll?

Mississippi – I need help paying my bill – Dropdown 3

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What is this? Qualifying customers who are experiencing financial hardship may be eligible to defer and take up to four months to pay their current bill and/or unpaid balances through an installment plan. For example, a 1-month arrangement will defer your entire balance to the next bill, while a 4-month arrangement will spread the open balance across the next 4 bills. Your full current balance, including any due installment amount, must be paid by 5pm CST on that bill’s due date. Failure to meet this due date may void the arrangement and prevent you from being offered additional arrangements for 12 months.


Do I qualify? Only customers who have not initiated or have not broken a deferred payment arrangement in the past 12 months are eligible to set up a new one. You cannot re-negotiate an existing arrangement. Other reasons for ineligibility include:

  • Accounts that have an existing payment extension or installment plan.
  • Accounts that are in disconnect status.
  • Accounts that have had two or more disconnect notices in the past 12 months.
  • Accounts with balances that include billed deposits.
  • Accounts where an “NSF” (non-sufficient funds) check was submitted and payment has not been received.
  • Accounts where illegal use of electricity has been recorded.

How do I enroll?

Mississippi – I need help paying my bill – Dropdown 2

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What is this? No one should have to choose between food, medicine or electricity. However, many of our customers who live on low or fixed incomes face these choices every day. Through Entergy’s The Power to Care program, local nonprofit agencies help provide emergency bill payment assistance to our customers who are 60 years of age or older or have disabilities. Thanks to donations from employees, customers, vendors and shareholders, we are able to help many of these customers pay their bills in their time of need.


Do I qualify? Households with adults aged 60 years or older or individuals with disabilities who have annual incomes at or below 150% of the federal poverty level may qualify. Applicants must have an active Entergy account for which they are responsible. Other eligibility requirements may apply. As of 01/17/2024, the qualifying income limits are as follows:

# Household Members Annual Household Income Limit Monthly Household Income Limit
1 $22,590 $1,883
2 $30,660 $2,555
3 $38,730 $3,228
4 $46,800 $3,900
5 $54,870 $4,573
6 $62,940 $5,245
7 $71,010 $5,918
8 $79,080 $6,590
9 $87,150 $7,263
10 $95,220 $7,935

Do I need any documents? You must submit several documents to your community action or nonprofit partner to prove your eligibility.

  • Applicant’s government-issued photo ID
  • Entergy bill no older than 30 days
  • Check stubs from the previous 30 days for all employed household members
  • Proof of unearned income (Social Security, Unemployment Insurance, Retirement, Disability, etc.)
  • Disconnect or pending disconnection notice if applicable
  • Additional information may be required

How much help can I get? The amount of assistance a household receives depends on their utility balance and need. You may qualify for multiple payments every year but cannot exceed $300 in a year.


How long does it take? Our community action and nonprofit partners work as quickly as they can to qualify applicants and provide utility assistance. Crisis situations may be prioritized.


How do I apply?

Mississippi – I need help paying my bill – Dropdown 1

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What is this? The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program or LIHEAP provides money to help qualifying individuals with energy bills and other energy-related expenses. LIHEAP is funded through the federal government and works with state agencies and community action partners to qualify customers and distribute assistance.

Do I qualify? Mississippi Department of Human Services establishes that eligible households make 60% or less of the state median income. Other eligibility requirements may apply. As of 02/07/2024, those annual income limits are as follows and can also be found here for the most current updates. Monthly limits are also listed for demonstration purposes.

# Household Members Annual Household Income Limit Monthly Household Income Limit
1 $25,686 $2,141
2 $33,590 $2,799
3 $41,494 $3,458
4 $49,398 $4,117
5 $57,301 $4,775
6 $65,205 $5,434
7 $66,688 $5,557
8 $68,170 $5,681
9 $69,652 $5,804
10 $71,134 $5,928

Do I need any documents? Mississippi Department of Human Services requires that you submit documentation to your community action partner to prove your eligibility. As of 04/11/2024, those documents are as follows and can also be found here for the most current updates:

 

  • Photo ID for all household members over 18
  • Social Security card for all household members (originals or copies)
  • Copies of your most recent utility bills
  • Proof of residency (current utility bills can be used)
  • Proof of income (W2 form, recent paycheck stubs, award letters, etc.)
  • Additional information and/or documents may be required

 

How much help can I get? The amount of assistance a household can receive depends on a variety of factors set by the federal government and Mississippi Department of Human Services and can be found here. As of 04/11/2024, you may qualify for up to three payments every year, as follows:

  • Winter heating program (10/01/2023 to 04/30/2024): Up to $1,500
  • Summer cooling program (05/01/2024 to 09/30/2024): Up to $1,500
  • Crisis program (10/01/2023 to 09/30/2024): Up to $1,500 for households that have been disconnected, have been notified of an upcoming disconnection and/or are facing an emergency or health and safety issue as determined by the state.

How long does it take? Community action partners work as quickly as they can to qualify applicants and provide utility assistance. Crisis situations are prioritized. Households with adults aged 60 and older, individuals with disabilities, young children and/or with high energy burdens are also prioritized. The process should not take more than 60 days.


How do I apply?

You can start your application for LIHEAP by completing the pre-application and selecting Community Services. You can also find your agency’s contact information here.