What reinstatement means and when you might need it
Reinstatement is the process of restarting your Dependents' Family information (DFA) benefits after they have been stopped. The Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) stops DFA for specific reasons — usually because your income rose above the limit, your household composition changed, or you missed a required action like recertification. Reinstatement means you are asking DHS to turn those benefits back on.
You do not automatically get reinstated. You have to contact DHS, show that the reason your benefits stopped no longer applies, and meet current DFA rules. The timeline depends on why your benefits ended and how quickly you provide what DHS asks for.
Reinstatement is different from reapplying. When you reapply, you start from the beginning as a new case. When you reinstate, DHS looks at your existing case file and decides whether to restart benefits based on your current situation. Reinstatement is usually faster if you are still within the time window DHS allows.
Key Takeaways
- Contact the DHS office that closed your case or call the DFA hotline to ask about reinstatement options for your specific situation.
- You will need to show that the reason your benefits stopped — such as income increase or missed recertification — has changed or been resolved.
- Reinstatement timelines vary depending on whether you are within a grace period and how quickly you provide required documents.
- If reinstatement is not possible, DHS can help you understand whether you can reapply or whether other programs might help your household.
Why DFA benefits stop and what triggers reinstatement
DFA stops for several common reasons. Your household income may have exceeded the monthly limit. A family member may have left the home or turned 18. You may have missed a recertification important date or failed to report a change in your situation. You may have reached the time limit for benefits in your case. Each reason has different rules for whether reinstatement is possible.
Income-related stops are among the easiest to reverse through reinstatement. If your income dropped back below the limit — because you lost hours at work, a household member's job ended, or child support changed — you can ask DHS to reinstate based on your new income. You will need recent pay stubs or a letter from your employer showing your current earnings.
Stops due to missed recertification or unreported changes are also often reversible. If you missed a important date but your household still meets DFA rules, DHS may reinstate you once you complete the recertification process. If a family member left your home and that is why benefits stopped, but you still have dependent children and meet income limits, reinstatement is usually an option.
Time-limit stops are harder to reverse. Arkansas DFA has a 60-month lifetime limit on benefits. If your case was closed because you reached that limit, reinstatement is not available — you would need to reapply and show changed circumstances, or explore other programs.
How to contact DHS and request reinstatement
Start by contacting the DHS office that handled your case. If you know which county office closed your benefits, call that office directly. The DHS website lists county office phone numbers and addresses. Have your case number ready if you have it — it appears on any DFA notice you received.
You can also call the DFA hotline at 1-800-482-8988. This line can tell you why your benefits stopped, whether reinstatement is an option for you, and what documents you need to provide. The hotline staff can also connect you to your local office or schedule an appointment if you need to meet in person.
When you contact DHS, be ready to explain your current household situation: who lives with you, what income you have, and what has changed since your benefits stopped. DHS will tell you whether reinstatement is possible and what you need to do next. Some cases can be handled by phone; others require you to submit documents or come in to the office.
If you prefer to start in person, visit your county DHS office. Bring any documents you have about your current income, household members, and the reason you believe your benefits should restart. DHS staff can review your case on the spot and tell you what additional information they need.
Documents and information DHS will ask for
The exact documents depend on why your benefits stopped. If income was the reason, DHS will ask for recent pay stubs (usually the last 30 days), a letter from your employer, or proof of job loss or reduced hours. If you receive unemployment, Social Security, child support, or other income, bring documentation of that as well.
If your case was closed because of a household change, DHS will ask you to confirm who currently lives in your home. Bring identification for all household members and proof of their relationship to you — birth certificates for children, marriage certificate if applicable. If a household member moved out, you may need to show that they no longer live with you.
If you missed recertification, DHS will ask you to complete the recertification form now. This form asks about your income, household, expenses, and other factors that affect DFA. You can ask DHS to mail it to you or complete it at the office. Some counties allow you to complete it online through the Arkansas DHS portal.
Bring proof of residency if DHS asks — a utility bill, lease, or mortgage statement with your current address. If you have changed addresses since your benefits stopped, let DHS know right away. Mail sent to an old address may have been returned, which can delay reinstatement.
Timeline for reinstatement decisions
Reinstatement timelines vary. If you contact DHS quickly after your benefits stop and your situation clearly meets DFA rules, reinstatement can happen within one to two weeks. If DHS needs to verify information — such as contacting your employer or checking income records — it may take three to four weeks.
The clock starts when DHS receives your complete request and all required documents. If you submit documents by mail, allow extra time for them to reach the office and be processed. Submitting documents in person or through an online portal is usually faster.
Once DHS approves reinstatement, benefits typically restart in the next payment cycle. DFA payments are usually issued monthly. Ask DHS when you can expect your first reinstated payment and whether any back benefits will be issued for the months you were off the program.
If DHS denies reinstatement, they will send you a written notice explaining why. The notice will tell you how to request a hearing to challenge the decision. You have the right to appeal within a set timeframe — usually 10 days from the date of the notice.
What to do if reinstatement is not possible
If DHS tells you that reinstatement is not an option — for example, because you have reached the 60-month time limit — ask about reapplication. Reapplication means starting a new case from scratch. You can reapply if your circumstances have changed significantly since your benefits stopped, such as a major drop in household income or a new dependent child.
DHS can also tell you about other programs your household might be able to use. Temporary information for Needy Families (TANF) is the federal program that DFA is part of, and there may be other services available through DHS — such as child care help, job training, or emergency information — even if DFA itself is not available right now.
If you are struggling with basic needs, ask DHS about food information (SNAP), Medicaid, or emergency information programs. These programs have different rules and time limits than DFA, and you may be able to get help through them while you work on your DFA situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I reinstate DFA if I quit my job?
It depends on why you quit and your current situation. If you quit and now have no income, and you have dependent children, you may be able to reinstate. DHS will want to know why you left the job — if it was for a valid reason like unsafe conditions or to escape domestic violence, reinstatement is more likely. If you quit without cause, DHS may ask what you are doing to find new work.
What if I missed the recertification important date by several months?
You can still ask for reinstatement. DHS will have you complete the recertification now, and if your household meets current DFA rules, benefits can restart. There may be a gap in your benefits during the months you were off the program, but you are not permanently disqualified for missing a important date.
Do I have to go to the DHS office in person to request reinstatement?
Not always. You can start by phone or online if your county offers it. DHS will tell you whether your case can be handled remotely or whether you need to come in. If documents are needed, you can usually mail or upload them instead of visiting in person.
Will I get paid for the months I was off DFA while waiting for reinstatement?
Possibly, but it depends on the reason your benefits stopped and how long you were off. Ask DHS specifically about back benefits when you request reinstatement. Some situations allow for retroactive payment; others do not.
What if DHS says I do not meet the income limit anymore?
Ask DHS to explain exactly how they calculated your income and what the current limit is. If you believe the calculation is wrong — for example, if they counted income that should not be counted — you can ask for a review or request a hearing. Bring all your income documentation to support your case.