Nutrition Assistance (formerly the Food Stamp Program) is Arizona’s program for the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Nutrition Assistance supports families to prevent under-nutrition in Arizona.
The recently enacted federal Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 allows some students enrolled in higher education to now participate in SNAP. Students who are enrolled at least half-time, meet the income and eligibility requirements, applied for financial aid, and either have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $0 OR are eligible to participate in a state or federally financed work-study program, can now participate in SNAP. Note: The new federal exemptions require only that students are eligible for a work-study program; they do not need to participate.
Following the passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, Nutrition Assistance households will receive up to a 15% increase in their monthly benefit amount for the months of January 2021 through June 2021.
Nutrition, Cash and Medical Assistance services are available virtually online and by phone. Learn more about how to connect with us safely and comfortably.
If you were due to renew your Nutrition or Cash Assistance benefits in November 2020 – June 2021, you will not need to contact DES to reapply for an additional six months. This excludes Transitional Benefit Assistance, Grant Diversion, Refugee Cash Assistance, Hopi Tribal TANF and Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRP-MIC) Tribal TANF. Pascua Yaqui Tribal TANF participants must still contact the Pascua Yaqui Yoemem Organization for Employment and Member Enhancement Services.
Mid Approval Contacts December 2020 – June 2021 have also been suspended, but November MACs must be completed.
Following federal guidance, work requirements for Nutrition and Cash Assistance recipients are temporarily suspended while the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect employment opportunities. The DES website is not the main source of information for Tribal TANF work requirements. Tribal TANF work requirements have been suspended, please contact your Tribal TANF program for more information.
You can use the screen for eligibility website to see if you qualify for Nutrition Assistance; however, the best way to know if you are eligible is to submit an application for benefits and go through the application process. The application process includes verifying that we have received complete and accurate information along with an interview conducted by our staff. For more information, see the How to Apply for Cash, Medical, and Nutrition Assistance Video.
Able-bodied adults without dependents are only eligible for a few months of Nutrition Assistance unless they are exempt, working, or participating in the SNA E&T program.
If you do not qualify for Nutrition Assistance benefits, or need help with food during the application process, please contact The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). Persons receiving Nutrition Assistance automatically qualify for TEFAP.
Submitting your application and required documentation starts the application process. The following are ways that you can apply:
Whether you are applying for the first time, or renewing your benefits, you may need one or more of the following pieces of information to determine whether you are eligible:
When possible, please include this information with your application.
You may need to complete an eligibility interview by phone. We strongly recommend that you have income information, ID, Social Security numbers, and Citizenship verification at the interview. During your interview, we will review your information in order to see if you qualify for the program.
At the end of your interview, we will let you know if we need any additional information to decide your case. We will also send you a letter asking for this information.
How do I provide additional information, when requested?
To serve you better and assure that you receive the benefits you qualify for, please:
You can mail or fax copies of the requested information. Please do not turn in original documents.
When you apply online, you can either upload requested information or fax it. Please include a cover sheet with your faxed documents. (For additional instructions, see the Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) in Health-e-Arizona Plus titled 'How do I fax documents to HEAplus').
When will I know if I am approved?
A decision will be made by one of the following dates:
When a decision is made regarding your case, you will be mailed a letter with the results. You can also monitor the status of your application online at Health-e-Arizona Plus or MyFamilyBenefits.
What can I do if I disagree with the decision?
You can request an appeal when:
You are required to report any changes that may affect your Nutrition Assistance eligibility. Your approval letter will identify whether you qualify for Standard or Simplified reporting.
Nutrition Assistance requires a renewal to determine if there have been any changes to your current status. Renewal dates can range from three months to two years from the initial application date. You will be mailed a letter informing you that it is time to renew your benefits. It is important to report a change in your mailing address to ensure you receive notification regarding your renewal.
If approved for Nutrition Assistance benefits you may be required to participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Employment & Training Program (SNA E&T). If you are required to participate in the SNA E&T program, you will be sent a letter with additional information.
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Pursuant to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other nondiscrimination laws and authorities, ADES does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. Persons that require a reasonable modification based on language or disability should submit a request as early as possible to ensure the State has an opportunity to address the modification. The process for requesting a reasonable modification can be found at Equal Opportunity and Reasonable Modification.