Application

The easiest way to apply for Nutrition Assistance is online using Health-e-Arizona Plus.

Or, you can download the application for benefits, print it, fill it out, and then either mail or fax it to your local Family Assistance Administration (FAA) office.

You can also request a paper application from your local FAA office. If you need help locating your local FAA office, use the online tool to search by city or zip code.

Next, you will have an eligibility, or fact-finding, interview. The interview will be at your local FAA office. If you can’t go to the office, you can ask for an interview over the phone.

You will need to show documentation about your situation, including your citizenship status, your household composition, your disability, income, resources, medical expenses, and shelter costs. The Arizona Department of Economic Security has a list of the documents you may need to submit (or bring with you to the interview).

FAA will make a decision within seven days if you qualify for expedited benefits or within 30 days for regular Nutrition Assistance. They will mail their decision to you. You can also check the status of your application online at My Family Benefits.

If you need help filling out the application form or have questions about the proofs FAA needs for your application, be sure to ask. They want to help you get benefits if you are eligible. You can call FAA at 1-855-777-8590.

Reporting

In order to avoid problems with your benefits, it’s important to tell Nutrition Assistance when your income, resources, or living situation changes. You will get instructions from Nutrition Assistance on how to report changes. Alternatively, you can report changes online at Health-e-Arizona Plus or at My Family Benefits.

Appeals

If your application is denied, and you don’t agree with a decision that was made, the first step is to contact your FAA office and see if things can be resolved with them. A lot of times, the denial may be because FAA needs more information from you. If you’re not able to resolve it with the FAA office, you can file an appeal. You can find information on appeals on the website of Arizona's Department of Economic Security (DES). If you need to file an appeal, you must do so within 90 days of the decision notice.