| Cash Assistance Programs (2023)

Cash Assistance Programs in Arizona

If you are a resident of Arizona and need financial assistance, there are programs in place to help you provide for your family’s basic necessities such as food, housing, and healthcare. Here are programs that provide financial assistance to individuals in Arizona.

Cash Assistance

Cash Assistance (CA) is Arizona’s version of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. CA gives money to qualified needy families to help them pay for food, rent, and clothing. In addition to financial support, the Cash Assistance program also offers mandatory training programs and provides job support so families can become independent.

Eligibility for Cash Assistance

To be eligible for Arizona’s Cash Assistance program, you must:

1. Be a citizen of the United States of America
2. Be a resident of Arizona
3. Be a legal or qualified alien
4. Have a child 18 years or younger or
5. Be 18 years or younger and the head of your household

For the state to consider you needy, your family’s accountable income should not exceed 130% of the federal poverty level. How much you receive from the program will also be determined by the income of any minor sibling or a parent not counted in the assistance program, and the assistance will be for no more than 12 months.

How to apply for Cash Assistance

There are two ways to apply.

1. Fill in and submit your application online.
2. Request by telephone at 1-855-432-7587 for a form to be mailed to you and return a filled form by mail or fax.

Medical Assistance Program through Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS)

Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) is Arizona’s version of Medicaid offering health insurance coverage to needy families in Arizona. The AHCCCS program covers immunizations, prenatal care, doctor office visits, hospital care, and prescription drugs for eligible residents in Arizona.

Eligibility for Arizona Medical Assistance Program

To be eligible for the Arizona Medical assistance program, you must:

1. Be a U.S. citizen
2. Be a resident of Arizona
3. Be a legal or qualified alien
4. Need health care/insurance

To qualify for Arizona's Medical Assistance Program, Arizona’s Department of Economic Security (DES) must show that your combined family income is below 138% of the federal poverty level.

How to apply for Arizona Medical Assistance Program

There are three ways to apply.

1. You can fill in and submit your application online.
2. Call 1-855-432-7587 and request the application form to be mailed to you then submit it by mail or fax after filling out the form.
3. Apply in person by visiting your DES local office.

You will know the decision within 45 days. However, if pregnant, you will get the decision 20 days after the application and seven days from the application date if you are hospitalized.

Nutrition Assistance Program

Arizona's Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), assists low-income individuals and families to purchase nutritious food with the goal of reducing hunger and improving nutrition among them. The benefits are provided in the form of an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, which can be used to purchase food at participating retailers. The amount of benefits a household receives is based on its income, expenses, and household size.

Eligibility for Nutrition Assistance

To be eligible for Arizona’s NA, you should:

1. Be a resident of the state of Arizona
2. Be a U.S. citizen or legal alien
3. Have income and asset limits below the federal poverty level

Student eligibility

As per the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, certain students enrolled in higher education can now be eligible for Nutrition Assistance. For them to be eligible, they should:

1. Be enrolled in a school
2. Have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $0
3. Be eligible for a state or federally-financed work-study program

How to apply

There are three ways to apply for Nutrition Assistance in Arizona.

1. Apply in person by visiting your local DES office.
2. Call 1-855-432-7587 and request the application form to be mailed to you then submit it by mail or fax after filling out the form.
3. Apply online.

Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

If you may have lost your job or had a reduction of income due to the current economic conditions, it can be difficult to afford your heating and cooling bills and that's where LIHEAP comes in. The program is open to households with incomes at or below the federal poverty level.

Eligibility for Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in Arizona

To qualify for LIHEAP

1. You should be a U.S. citizen or a legal immigrant
2. You should be a resident of Arizona
3. You should be participating in other benefit programs, such as SNAP, SSI, TANF
4. Your household has received a utility shut-off or delinquency notice
5. You should have a child under 6 years of age, or a person 60 years of age or older in the home
6. You should have a household member with a disability
7. The combined household income should not exceed 150% of the federal poverty guidelines

Qualified households will receive the LIHEAP benefits once in a 12-month period.

How to apply for LIHEAP in Arizona

1. You can apply for utility assistance via the LIHEAP online portal.
2. You can apply by phone through the LIHEAP hotline at 1-866 494-1981.

You will need to provide a copy of your current utility bill, photo ID, disconnection notice (if any), and proof of income.

Emergency Rental Assistance Program

The Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) in Arizona is designed to provide financial assistance to eligible renters who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and are at risk of eviction or homelessness. The program provides funding to assist with past-due rent, security deposits, and utility bills. Eligible renters must meet certain income and other qualifications to participate in the program.
ERAP provides financial assistance in the form of rent and utility assistance, whereby eligible households may receive up to $3,500 per month in combined rent and utility assistance which is $63,000 in benefits paid over a period of 18 months. All ERAP assistance payments, including past-due, current, and future months, cannot exceed 18 months; once 18 months of ERAP benefits have been distributed, you can’t receive further assistance.

Eligibility for ERAP in Arizona

To be eligible for ERAP, you should:

1. Be a U.S. citizen
2. Be a resident of Arizona
3. Have an eviction notice
4. Have past due rent notice, utility notice, or utility shut-off notice
5. Be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic
6. Have a household income less than 80% of your Area Median Income (AMI)

How to apply for ERAP in Arizona

1. You can apply online using the ERAP online portal.
2. Apply by phone via the ERAP hotline at 1-833-912-0878.

Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP)

The Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) in Arizona is a program designed to provide financial assistance to low-income households who are having difficulty paying their water and wastewater bills.

Eligibility for LIHWAP in Arizona

To be eligible for LIHWAP in Arizona

1. You should be a U.S. citizen or a qualified non-citizen, such as a lawful permanent resident, asylee, refugee, or a victim of trafficking or battery.
2. You should be a Cuban/Haitian entrant.
3. You must be a resident of Arizona and provide proof of residency through a water bill for services within the state.
4. Your household income must be at or below 60% of the state median income for households of 8 or fewer members or at or below 150% of the federal poverty level for households with more than 8 members.
5. You must not have received any other financial assistance for water services during the time period for which the applicant is seeking LIHWAP assistance.

How to apply for LIHWAP in Arizona

1. You can apply online using the LIHWAP portal.
2. You can apply by phone through our hotline at 1-833-453-2142 Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Arizona Refugee Resettlement Program

The Arizona Refugee Resettlement Program (RRP) offers benefits and services to support refugees as they go through the transition process and integrate into their new community during their first 3 to 90 days. The program is carried out in collaboration with local nonprofit organizations known as Refugee Resettlement Agencies (RAs). RRP links them with refugee-funded programs to help them settle.

Eligibility for Arizona Refugee Resettlement Program

These are the eligible individuals:

1. Asylees
2. Cuban/Haitian entrants
3. Special Immigrant Visa holders
4. Victims of severe forms of human trafficking
5. Certain Amerasians

How to apply for Arizona Refugee Resettlement Program

To apply, contact the to find a local Resettlement Agency in your area and let them know you are interested in applying for the Arizona Refugee Resettlement Program. They will give you an application form to fill out, and you will need to provide proof of eligibility. You will be called for an interview and then wait for the final decision after the RA processes your application.

Arizona Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

The Arizona Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is a state-run health insurance program to cover children and families with low income and works closely with its state Medicaid program. Arizona’s Children’s Health Insurance Program covers prescriptions, dental and vision care, immunizations, doctor's visits, routine check-ups, emergency services, and laboratory and X-ray services.

Eligibility for Arizona’s Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

To be eligible for CHIP you must:

1. Be a U. S. citizen or a legal alien
2. Be a resident of Arizona
3. Be 18 years or under
4. Be a primary caregiver with a child or children 18 years of age or below
5. Be uninsured and ineligible for Medicaid
6. Have an annual household income (before taxes) that is below the federal poverty guidelines

How to apply for Arizona’s Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

1. Apply online via the Health-e-Arizona PLUS online application portal.