The Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) is the State of Arizona’s human services agency with more than 40 different programs and services for individuals and families in need of support. In coordination with other state agencies and community partners, we work together to provide critical and essential services to all Arizonans.
Many lives have been affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) and our community partners are here to serve you during this critical time. The sections below outline our programs and services. Under orders from the Governor, DES services are considered essential services, which means DES will continue to stay open to serve Arizonans in need. The public is encouraged to access DES services online or by phone to continue social distancing, but select offices will remain open for those who cannot access services virtually.
Learn how to protect yourself and stop the spread of COVID-19.
The Unemployment Insurance Benefit Program is a nationwide program created to provide a temporary source of income for workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own, while they conduct an active search for work. Unemployment insurance benefits may be available to individuals who are involuntarily unemployed as a result of COVID-19. The amount of the benefit will vary based upon the amount of money that the individual has previously earned.
State and federal legislation expands Unemployment Insurance and eligibility amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more about what this means for you by reviewing the resources listed below.
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) provides benefits to individuals who are historically ineligible for regular unemployment benefits. To learn more about PUA, visit the PUA webpage.
The Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) is a temporary federal program that provides 13 weeks of additional unemployment benefits to qualified individuals whose regular unemployment benefits were exhausted on or after July 6, 2019. You must wait for your regular unemployment benefits to expire before applying for PEUC. Learn more by visiting the PEUC page.
In light of COVID mitigation strategies, DES is not encouraging individuals to visit the offices mentioned in the video.
In response to impacts of COVID-19, DES has revised the Shared Work program to provide maximum flexibility to support employers facing labor cuts and expedite economic recovery. The DES Shared Work program provides an alternative for employers faced with a reduction in force by allowing businesses to divide available work or hours among affected employees in lieu of layoffs. Participating employees are also eligible for partial Unemployment Assistance while working reduced hours.
ARIZONA @ WORK offers no-cost workforce readiness services to help job seekers get back to work and help employers hire and retain the best labor force for their needs. Learn more about job search services, resume support and training opportunities.
Check ARIZONA @ WORK for an expansive list of employers who are hiring immediately. DES is also hiring for many job openings across the state.
This new hotline will serve as an entry point to any questions and concerns you have about COVID-19, including:
Call 2-1-1 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. each day of the week.
DES is committed to providing assistance to Arizona communities during the COVID-19 outbreak to meet their basic needs. Apply for Nutrition, Cash and Medical Assistance online or call (855) 432-7587.
The DES Coordinated Hunger Relief Program partners with regional food banks to provide food to individuals in need.
The DES Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) is working with AHCCCS and providers who support our members to ensure the continued delivery of services. DDD has taken several actions to facilitate service delivery while Arizona deals with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Arizona Early Intervention Program knows our services are critical to the families we serve, and we want to make sure every family is supported with the continuity of their child’s necessary services. Alternative service delivery methods are currently allowed for children receiving services within our program.
There are hardship programs in place to help homeowners who have been directly or indirectly affected by the coronavirus and are struggling to make their mortgage payments. The Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, encourages homeowners adversely impacted by the coronavirus who are having difficulty paying their mortgages to reach out to their mortgage servicers as soon as possible. You can find the number for your mortgage servicer on your monthly mortgage statement or coupon book.
The Division of Child Support Services (DCSS) provides services to parents and caretakers who receive child support as well as parents who pay child support. Some of the services include obtaining or modifying a child support order, collecting child, medical and spousal support from parents who have a court order, and helping unwed parents establish paternity for their child.
View the frequently asked questions on:
The State of Arizona and its community partners are committed to making sure you have access to the resources you need as we work to get our state through the COVID-19 outbreak. We’re in this together.
Additional community partners across the state have a wide variety of services available to assist families. Browse through dozens of organizations by service type to see how they may be able to serve you.
Do you have a question about COVID-19? Go to the webform and submit your question to DES
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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.