Cash Assistance (TANF)
The Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program gives cash and other help to families with children in need. TANF helps families meet their basic needs while they work to support themselves.
A family may be eligible for TANF if a child does not have care or support because a parent died, is not in the home, has a disability, or is unemployed.
You can use TANF money to pay for food, rent, utilities, and other needs. TANF also offers job training and daycare.
You can apply for TANF through the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES).
Families can receive TANF cash assistance in two ways:
Monthly Cash Assistance (CA) Program
You and your family receive cash every month.
Grant Diversion
Your family gets a one-time lump-sum payment of cash to help with living costs while you look for a full-time job. You can only get Grant Diversion once in a 12-month period.
To get Grant Diversion, you must qualify for Cash Assistance and you must not have received either:
- Cash Assistance in the same month when you apply; or
- Grant Diversion the month before you apply.
Besides money, the TANF program can also help your family with:
TANF gives you job training and support to help you find and keep a job.
TANF helps you pay for childcare so you can continue to work or attend trainings.
TANF helps you pay for bus, car, or another service to get to work or training.
TANF can give you education and special job training to improve your job skills and prospects.
TANF provides families with services and resources to help build a strong and stable future.
TANF services continue for six months after your TANF assistance ends.
Who is eligible for Cash Assistance?
The Department of Economic Security (DES) runs cash assistance programs in Arizona. Federal laws and regulations set the eligibility for cash assistance programs like TANF.
To be eligible for TANF benefits:
- You must live in Arizona.
- You must be a U.S. citizen or have a qualified immigration status.
- You will need a Social Security number (or proof of application).
- You must meet certain income and household size requirements.
You must live in Arizona to get TANF.
You meet the residency requirement if:
- Arizona is your permanent home.
- You just moved to Arizona.
- You temporarily moved away but plan to return.
To prove that you are an Arizona resident, you can give DES:
- Proof of address like a lease agreement or utility bills;
- State issued identification like a driver’s license or ID card;
- A residency statement from a non-relative who does not live with you. This statement must state where you live and who you live with. The person must date and sign it with their address and phone number.
How do I apply for Cash Assistance?
Anyone can apply for TANF. You can apply for yourself or for someone in your family. When you fill out the TANF application, you need to include everyone who lives with the child, even if they will not get TANF benefits.
You can apply for TANF in the way that is easiest for you:
If you need help applying - ASK! DES must provide you help. Call the HEAPlus Customer Service Center:
How are benefits determined?
DES has 45 days from when you apply to send you written notice that they approved or denied your application.
If DES approves your TANF application, you will get a notice of approval. The notice will tell you:
- Your monthly benefit amount;
- Who is included in your household; and
- How long you will get Cash Assistance.
DES will count the date you applied for Cash Assistance as the first date you can get benefits.
You must report changes in your household members or changes in income to DES.
The notice will also explain what changes you need to report within 10 days of the next month. You can report changes by going to your local DES office, online at HEAplus, or by calling 1-855-432-7587 (1-855-HEAplus). Remember, reporting changes might increase or decrease your benefits.
You will get an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card to buy food from grocery stores and farmers markets.
It looks and works just like a debit card or prepaid credit card. You can use your EBT card to buy household items and pay utilities. You can also use your EBT card to withdraw cash from ATMs displaying the QUEST symbol. You cannot use your Cash Assistance EBT card at ATMs and check-out machines at liquor stores, casinos, race tracks, adult entertainment places, and marijuana shops.
Protect your EBT information.
Keep your personal identification number (PIN) secret. Do not tell anyone when you get benefits on your card. Keep your card in a safe place. If you lose your card, the first replacement card is free. DES will charge you $5 for each extra replacement card. If you ask for more than four cards within a 12-month period, it may cause DES to ask you questions or investigate you for fraud.
You can get TANF benefits for 12 months. If you have a hardship, you might be able to get benefits for longer.
You may qualify for a hardship extension if you:
- Are age 60 or older;
- Are a victim of a crime, domestic violence, or other violence;
- Have a disability, or are a full-time caregiver for a family member or domestic partner with a disability;
- Are homeless;
- Are the only one caring for dependent children who get Cash Assistance, but you are not their parent;
- Cannot finish school or training without cash assistance; or
- Cannot find or pay for childcare or cannot find or pay for the bus, light rail, car, or another service to go to work or work activities.
To request a hardship extension, fill out a Cash Assistance Benefit Limit Extension Request form. Give DES proof of your hardship with your form.
If you are not approved for Cash Assistance, DES will send you a notice. Some reasons they might deny your application are:
- You do not meet the eligibility conditions for Cash Assistance; or
- There is not enough information included with your application to decide if you are eligible, even after trying to get the information from you or other sources.
You will receive a denial or reduction notice if DES denies your application or if they approve your application but later decide to stop or reduce your benefits. Read the entire notice because it explains the reason for the decision. The notice tells you what to do if you disagree with the decision.
If you disagree with a decision
If you disagree with a decision about your benefits, you usually have the right to ask someone to review the decision. This review is called an appeal.
The notice you get from DES will give you a deadline to appeal. Usually, the appeal deadline is 30 days from the date on the notice.
If you currently receive benefits and want to keep getting them during the appeal process, you must appeal within 10 days of the notice date, or before the date the termination (or reduction) goes into effect.
If you lose your appeal, you may have to pay back any benefits you received during the appeal process.
You generally cannot appeal decisions based on changes in law.
How to appeal
There are several ways you can appeal a decision made by DES. Choose the way that is easiest for you:
You do not need to use special language in your appeal. Each decision letter includes a pre-printed “Appeal Request Form” or “I Am Asking For A Hearing” section. You do not have to use the form or letter to request an appeal. You can write your own letter that explains why you disagree with the decision.
Make sure to include:
- The reason for your appeal (e.g. “I disagree with…”)
- The date of the notice you want to appeal
- Your DES case number
Keep proof of how and when you appeal. This will help you prove you appealed before the deadline in case AHCCCS or DES loses your appeal or does not process it. If you appeal by phone, make a note of the date, time, and who you talked to.
What to expect after your appeal is filed
After you file your appeal, you will schedule a Fair Hearing with an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). An ALJ is like a judge for your appeal. The ALJ does not know about your case until the hearing. The ALJ learns about it from you and DES.
- Before the Hearing
- Changing The Hearing Date
- Pre-Hearing Discussion
- At the Hearing
- The Hearing Decision
After DES gets and reviews your appeal, they will send you a Hearing Packet in the mail. Read the hearing notice carefully because it has important instructions.
The packet will include:
- The date and time of the hearing;
- Issues the ALJ will talk about;
- The legal rules; and,
- Your hearing rights.
Hearings are usually by phone unless you ask for an in-person hearing. It will tell you how to ask for an in-person hearing, how to send proof, and how to have witnesses speak. If you do not hear from DES, call them at (602) 774-9279 or (888) 842-7295 to make sure they have your appeal.
If the hearing date does not work for you, you can ask to move it to a different date. This is called a continuance. To ask for a continuance, you must write to:
- The Office of Appeals (OOA)
In your letter, explain why you need to change the date. DES might agree to your request, but if they do not, the ALJ will decide.
After you appeal, you can try to solve the issue at a pre-hearing discussion with DES. This is a chance to meet informally with DES and explain why you think they made a mistake. You can show proof to explain your side.
If DES agrees they made a mistake, they might ask you to let them file a Motion to Vacate and Remand. This means they ask the judge to cancel the hearing so DES can fix the mistake. After fixing it, DES will send you a new notice with new appeal rights.
During the Pre-Hearing Conference, you might find out that DES did not make a mistake. If you agree, you can choose withdraw your appeal. If you cannot solve the issue in the pre-hearing discussion, you will go to a hearing.
At the hearing, an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) will listen to your case. The ALJ will:
- Swear in all witnesses, including you and a DES representative.
- Give you and DES a chance to explain your side of the story.
- Ask you questions.
- Review the Hearing Packet and any proof you provide.
After the hearing, the ALJ will decide your case and send you notice of the decision. The Notice of Decision will explain your appeal rights.
If you disagree with the decision, you can ask for a review from the Office of Appeals (OOA) Appeals Board. If you win the appeal, DES must add the benefits to your account within 10 days.
7 C.F.R. § 273.15(c)
What to expect after your appeal is filed
After you file your appeal, you will schedule a Fair Hearing with an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ).
An ALJ is like a judge for your appeal. The ALJ does not know about your case until the hearing. The ALJ learns about it from you and DES.
You will get a notice in the mail before the hearing. The notice will tell you:
- The date and time of the hearing;
- Issues the ALJ will talk about;
- The legal rules; and,
- Your hearing rights.
Hearings are usually by phone unless you ask for an in-person hearing. The notice will tell you how to ask for an in-person hearing. It will also explain how to send proof to the ALJ and how to have witnesses speak.
Overpayments and Calculation Issues
Sometimes DES will give you more cash assistance than you should get. This is called overpayment.
Overpayments can happen for a few reasons:
- DES made a mistake in calculating your benefits. This is called an agency error.
- You did not report changes in your income or household. This can be an accidental mistake or an 'intentional program violation’ (IPV).
- You got benefits during an appeal process but lost the appeal, and DES was right that you should get less.
Intentional Program Violations mean you did something on purpose, like not telling the truth or hiding facts about your case to DES or a state agency, or using your benefits in a way that breaks the rules, like selling them for cash.
You might face criminal charges if the violation is serious. If DES says you did an Intentional Program Violation, you should get legal help right away.
You have a few options if you get a Notice of Overpayment:
Request a Fair Hearing:
If you think the overpayment notice is wrong, you can challenge it.
Request an Overpayment Compromise:
If you owe too much money, you can ask to pay less. How much less depends on your income and expenses for one month and if you can pay it back in 36 months. To ask for this, fill out a Compromise Request Form (FAA-1768A) from the DES website or ask DES to send you one. DES will tell you what papers they need from you.
Repayment:
You can pay back the overpayment in one lump sum or ask DES to accept monthly payments.
Recoupment:
If you get benefits now, DES can take some of your benefits to pay back the amount owed. They will take: a. 10% of your benefits or $10, whichever is more, for mistakes made by the agency or household. 20% of your benefits or $20, whichever is more, for Intentional Program Violations (IPV).
DES will not make you pay back the overpayment if:
- They did not find the mistake during a Quality Control Review.
- The amount is $300 or less.
- It is not because of an Intentional Program Violation (IPV).
You must pay back all overpayments you owe to DES, even if DES made a mistake.
Sanctions
DES may sanction (punish) you if they believe that you violated your Personal Responsibility Agreement. If DES sanctions you, they will end or lower your monthly benefits.
A violation would mean that you did not:
- Make sure all children ages 6 through 15 go to school.
- Keep your children’s immunizations up to date.
- Keep your job and not quit without a good reason.
- Refrain from illegally selling, having, or using drugs.
- Follow the rules of Cash Assistance, the Jobs Administration, and Child Care Administration; and
- Work with DES Child Support Services, if needed.
There are two levels of sanctions:
For the first violation:
DES will reduce your total cash benefit by 50%.
For the second and any additional violation:
DES will stop your benefits and close your case.
DES cannot impose sanctions without notice. DES must send you a written notice and give you a reason for the sanction and information about how to appeal.
This topic can be complicated. You may want to talk to a legal professional for help.
This website shares general legal information. Some content may be simplified or may not reflect recent changes in law. If you need advice for your specific situation, you should talk to a legal professional.
This context was last updated on Oct 1, 2025.