Beginning July 1, 2022 an interview must be completed for DES to process your application for Nutrition Assistance benefits. DES will send a notice to you on how to complete your interview. For applications submitted prior to July 1, 2022, DES may be able to approve your application without completing an interview. DES will send a notice when more information is needed to process your application.
ANNOUNCEMENT: The vendor through which the State of Arizona utilizes to print and mail correspondence is experiencing a nationwide system outage. Until this issue is resolved, most notices, forms and paper checks from DES will be impacted. We continue to work closely with our vendor throughout the process to ensure minimal disruption to our clients and partners. We are also connecting with other vendors who are able to provide services during the outage. The services DES provides are not impacted by this incident and remain accessible to the public. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
Reporting of certain changes is required if you are eligible for benefits from the following programs:
You can report changes in the following ways:
For Nutrition Assistance and Cash Assistance, you must report the change by the 10th calendar day of the month following the month the change occurred. For Medical Assistance, changes must be reported as soon as the future event becomes known. Unanticipated changes must be reported within 10 days of the date the change occurred.
Medical Assistance (MA) is subject to Standard Reporting. Nutrition Assistance (NA) and Cash Assistance (CA) can be subject to either Standard Reporting or Simplified Reporting. Check your approval letter to determine which one you are subject to.
The following charts will help you remember some of the changes for each program you must report.
What types of changes must be reported for Standard Reporting requirements for each program you receive?
Type of Changes to Report | CA | NA | MA | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Address Change Moved or relocated to another address |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Nutrition Assistance (NA) Income - You must report the changes in your monthly income when the change is more than $125 per month (all income types) |
Changes in Household Member(s) Any member of your household |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Nutrition Assistance (NA) Income - You must report the changes in your monthly income when the change is more than $125 per month (all income types) |
Changes in Marital Status Any member of your household |
Yes | No | Yes | Nutrition Assistance (NA) Income - You must report the changes in your monthly income when the change is more than $125 per month (all income types) |
School Attendance | Yes | No | No | Nutrition Assistance (NA) Income - You must report the changes in your monthly income when the change is more than $125 per month (all income types) |
School Attendance (16 years and older) | No | No | Yes | Nutrition Assistance (NA) Income - You must report the changes in your monthly income when the change is more than $125 per month (all income types) |
Dependent Care Expense (Childcare) | Yes | Yes | No | Nutrition Assistance (NA) Income - You must report the changes in your monthly income when the change is more than $125 per month (all income types) |
Housing Expense When you have reported a change of address |
Yes | Yes | No | Nutrition Assistance (NA) Income - You must report the changes in your monthly income when the change is more than $125 per month (all income types) |
Income Earned Income: Self-employment/work wages, etc. Unearned Income: Child support, SSI, etc. |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Nutrition Assistance (NA) Income - You must report the changes in your monthly income when the change is more than $125 per month (all income types) |
Resources Examples of resource types, but not limited to: Savings, retirement account, 401k |
Yes | Yes | No | Nutrition Assistance (NA) Income - You must report the changes in your monthly income when the change is more than $125 per month (all income types) |
Medical Expenses *For Nutrition Assistance - only required for disabled or elderly members |
No | Yes* | No | Nutrition Assistance (NA) Income - You must report the changes in your monthly income when the change is more than $125 per month (all income types) |
Lottery and Gambling - Winnings of $3,750 or more in a single game | No | Yes | No | Nutrition Assistance (NA) Income - You must report the changes in your monthly income when the change is more than $125 per month (all income types) |
Type of Change to Report | CA | NA | MA |
---|---|---|---|
Income Earned Income: Self-employment/work wages, etc. Unearned Income: Child Support, SSI, etc. Lottery and Gambling winnings of $3,750 or more in a single game: Casinos, Lottery, Bingo, etc. |
No | Yes | *** |
Cash Assistance (CA) | Nutrition Assistance (NA) Income Changes |
***Medical Assistance (MA) |
---|---|---|
You only need to report changes when your total gross income of all persons getting Cash Assistance in your household totals more than 36% of the 1992 Federal Poverty Level, which is anything over the CA payment that you are eligible for. | You only need to report changes when the total gross income of all persons getting Nutrition Assistance in your household totals more than 130% of the current Federal Poverty Level. | Simplified Reporting does not apply to MA however, if you are receiving MA, income changes must be reported. |
Please note that it helps you to report a change to your mailing address to ensure that you receive information about your renewal.