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To protect taxpayer dollars from criminals and ensure Arizonans in need can access benefits in a timely manner, beginning this week, claimants filing initial claims for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) will need to verify their identities using ID.me’s safe and secure online portal before they can receive PUA benefits. Learn more.

States across the nation continue to see an extraordinary number of claims filed as a result of identity theft. DES has become aware that some Arizona residents are receiving notices and benefit cards at their address with the names of individuals who do not reside at that location. This is the result of criminals attempting to obtain funds from the new federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program by using randomly selected in-state addresses during the application process. More information regarding unemployment fraud can be found here. To report fraud, file a report online or call the DES Fraud Hotline at 1 (800) 251-2436.

DES Services Related to COVID-19

Family Caregiver Support

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a man helps a woman who has fallen; a young persons hand holding an older person's hand; a woman lays a hand on an older woman's shoulder

Family Caregivers provide most of the assistance that enables older Arizonans and those with disabilities to live independently in their homes and communities. Caregivers can also include grandparent raising grandchildren.

What is the Family Caregiver Support Program?

The program offers five direct services to Caregivers that best meet the range of their needs, including:

Information about available services.
Assistance in gaining access to supportive services.
Individual counseling, organization of support groups, and training to assist caregivers in making decisions and solving problems relating to their roles.
Respite care to enable caregivers to be temporarily relieved from their caregiving responsibilities.
Supplemental services, on a limited basis, to complement the care provided by caregivers.

Arizona Caregiver Resource Line:

888-737-7494
Speak with a trained volunteer who can provide a compassionate ear, information, assistance, local resources and support Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Caregiver Action Network Resource Line:

855-227-3640

Eligibility

A family caregiver is defined as an adult family member, or another individual, who is an informal provider of in-home and community care to an older individual or any individual with Alzheimer’s disease or a related neurological disorder.

A grandparent or older individual who is a relative caregiver (defined as a grandparent or step-grandparent of a child, or a relative of a child by blood, marriage, or adoption, who is 55 years of age or older):

Lives with the child who is not more than 18 years of age or who is an adult child between 19 and 59 years of age with a disability. In the situation when it is an adult child with a disability, the caregiver cannot be the parent.
Is the primary caregiver of the child because the biological or adoptive parents are unable or unwilling to serve as the primary caregiver of the minor child
Has a legal relationship to the child, such as legal custody or guardianship, or is raising the child informally.

Services, such as respite care and supplemental services, will only be provided to a family caregiver who is providing care to an older individual who has been determined unable to perform at least two Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) without substantial human assistance, including verbal reminding, physical cueing, or supervision.

Respite services shall only be provided to a family caregiver who is assessed to be at moderate or high risk as determined by an assessment tool designated by the Division of Aging and Adult Services.

Contact a local Area Agency on Aging

Being Paid to be a Family Caregiver

The DES Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) offers non-medical home and community based services and supports for individuals that qualify through our aging contractors, the local Area Agencies on Aging (AAA). Caregiver support services may also be provided through the local Area Agency on Aging.

The DES does not offer any type of program or service by which a caregiver will be paid to care for a spouse, relative, neighbor, other loved one or another person. We are often asked the question about being “paid” to be a caregiver to someone in need. In order to potentially be eligible for this program, the person requiring care must already be receiving or be eligible to receive benefits and services under ALTCS programs and services. Then, the person wishing to provide the care would apply to become an employee of one of AHCCCS/ALTCS contracted home health care agencies after passing a thorough screening and eligibility process.

To apply to become a caregiver, call your local AHCCCS/ALTCS office at (602) 417-6600 or find an ALTCS Office online.

Additional Resources

Getting Reimbursed for Family Caregiving Expenses

Family Caregiver Reimbursement Program

Starting January 1, 2020, family caregivers can be reimbursed 50% for home modifications and assistive care technology up to $1,000 for one (1) or more care recipients. The qualified family member must be 18 years or older and requires help with one (1) or more activities of daily living. Funding is limited and is distributed as first come first served.

Note: This program is not a financial assistance program.

Goal

The Family Caregiver Reimbursement Program assists family caregivers with a partial reimbursement for home modifications and assistive care technology to enable their qualified family member to be mobile, safe, and independent to avoid institutional care.

Important

The family caregiver must be the qualified family members’ spouse, child, grandchild, stepchild, parent stepparent, grandparent, sibling, in-law, uncle or aunt including half blood or by adoption.
Home modifications and/or purchases for assistive technology must occur in the same calendar year (on or after January 1, 2020).
Applications will be reviewed on a first come first served basis upon submission due to limited funding.
Family caregivers who receive reimbursement are not eligible to apply again for three (3) consecutive calendar years.
For reimbursement over $600, a 1099 tax form will be issued by the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) to the family caregiver and is considered taxable income.

Applications and program details are available starting January 1, 2020 by speaking with a Caregiver Resource Specialist at (888) 737-7494. For more information, visit https://azcaregiver.org/

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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