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DES was informed by FEMA that LWA will end this week (benefit week ending September 5). DES has requested and received its weekly allocation for this last week. Starting next week, for the benefit week ending September 12, eligible claimants will receive their weekly benefit amount without LWA. Those who have not yet filed weekly claims or whose claims have yet to be processed may still be eligible for LWA. DES will continue to work with FEMA to provide retroactive LWA payments for eligible weeks between the week ending August 1 and the week ending September 5, as funding allows. Learn more: https://bit.ly/2RjJyvM

UPDATE: As part of its increased fraud detection efforts, DES closed accounts with suspicious account information and activity located out of state. The majority of claims identified are believed to be fraudulent. Whenever additional fraud detection and prevention measures are put into place, there will be a small portion of individuals eligible for benefits who may be impacted by these measures. These individuals will still be able to access benefits. Impacted cardholders who believe they are eligible for benefits should contact DES directly at [email protected]. Once a case is validated as not being fraudulent, a new card will be issued to the claimant and the funds will be reloaded.

DES Services Related to COVID-19

Applying for Nutrition Assistance (Formerly the Food Stamp Program)

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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.

Announcements

Emergency Allotment Extended to July

All eligible Nutrition Assistance households will receive the maximum benefits allotted for their household size for July, as a continuation of the emergency allotment distributed the three months following the passage of the Families First Coronavirus Act.

Work Requirements Are Suspended

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.

Extended Certification

If you were due to renew your benefits in March, April, May or June of 2020, you will not need to contact DES to reapply for an additional six months, following a waiver approved by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. Mid Approval Contacts in March, April, May and June have also been suspended. July certification has been extended one month to August 2020.

Returning Users

Eligibility

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.

Information needed to 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 complete your application:

Proof of citizenship and identity for everyone who is applying for benefits.
Alien Registration Cards, if there are non-U.S. citizens applying for benefits in your household.
Social Security numbers for everyone, or proof that a Social Security number has been applied for.
Proof of relationship, birth certificates may be used
Name, address & daytime phone number of landlord or neighbor.
A statement verifying your address and the names of everyone living with you. The statement must be made by a non-relative who doesn’t live with you. It must be signed, dated and include that person's address and telephone number.
Proof of ALL money your household received from any source last month and this month.
Proof that your employment ended and last date paid.
Bank or credit union (savings or checking) complete statement for the most recent month.
Proof of savings bonds, securities, retirement plans and life insurance.
Proof of rent/mortgage and utility bills (electric, water, gas, etc.) for the most recent month.
Proof of child care expenses for the most recent month.
Proof of all medical expenses for those applying for benefits who are age 60 or older or receive disability benefits.

Submitting your application

Submitting your application and required documentation starts the application process. The following are ways that you can apply:

Submit an online application through Health-e-Arizona Plus.
Download the Application for Benefits with KidsCare Application Addendum and turn it in by mail or fax.
Call (855) 432-7587 to request a paper application be mailed to you. After receiving and completing the application, turn it in by mail or fax.
Go to find an assistor, enter your ZIP Code to locate community assistors near you for help with the application process. Contact the community assistor's office by telephone. In-person services may be unavailable or limited in manners that support social distancing.

After the 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:

Give us all requested information as soon as possible
Let us know if you need assistance in getting the necessary information. We can assist you.

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:

Within seven days from the application date if you qualify for emergency benefits
At the latest, 30 days from the application date

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:

An application is denied,
Benefits are stopped, or
An application is not processed in a timely manner.

After I am approved

Reporting Changes

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.

Renewals

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.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Employment & Training

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.

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.

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