If you live in the state of Arizona and you or your family cannot afford to buy food, you may qualify for food assistance through the department of Economic Security (DES). There are currently about 46 million people on Food Stamps in the United State.
In some states like Tennessee, Mississippi and Oregon, roughly one in five people are on food stamps. There is no shame in applying for food assistance if you cannot afford to buy food.
In this article, we will walk you through the Arizona food stamps online application process (you can also apply in person and we will show you how) and how to submit a successful application. We will review the guidelines for qualification and also review what happens once you are approved.
How to Apply for Arizona Food Stamps
For help applying for Arizona SNAP benefits online, follow the instructions provided below to complete your food stamps online application.
Step 1: Qualification Guidelines for Arizona Food Stamps
To be approved for food stamps in Arizona, you have to meet the following guidelines (click on the image to enlarge it and then click on the “back” link to return to the article)
Arizona SNAP Income Guidelines for 2023
| Arizona SNAP Income Eligibility Standards for Fiscal Year 2023 | ||
| Effective October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2023 | ||
| Household Size | Monthly Net Income (100% of FPL) |
Monthly Gross Income (130% of FPL)
|
| 1 | $1,133 | $1,473 |
| 2 | $1,526 | $1,984 |
| 3 | $1,920 | $2,495 |
| 4 | $2,313 | $3,007 |
| 5 | $2,706 | $3,518 |
| 6 | $3,100 | $4,029 |
| 7 | $3,493 | $4,541 |
| 8 | $3,886 | $5,052 |
| Each Additional Household Member Add: | +$394 | +$512 |
Of all the guidelines for food stamps approval, the income guideline is the most important. The income requirement is based on your household income. You have to meet both the gross income requirement and the net income requirement as shown below.
As you can see, if you are applying by yourself, your gross income cannot be more than $1,473 to qualify. And your net income cannot be more than $1,133 to qualify.
The table below shows the deductions you are allowed to take from your gross income to arrive at your net income.
Allowable Deductions
The following is a list of allowable deductions when calculating your total household net income.
The following deductions are allowed for SNAP:
- A 20-percent deduction from earned income.
- A standard deduction of $193 for household sizes of 1 to 4 people.
- A dependent care deduction when needed for work, training, or education.
- Medical expenses for elderly or disabled members that are more than $35 for the month if they are not paid by insurance or someone else. This is described on the elderly and disabled page.
- Legally owed child support payments.
- A standard shelter deduction for homeless households of $166.81.
- Excess shelter costs as described below.
Excess Shelter Costs
For help determining your excess shelter deduction, please refer to the information below.
The shelter deduction is for shelter costs that are more than half of the household’s income after other deductions.
Allowable shelter costs include:
Fuel to heat and cook with, electricity, water, basic fee for one telephone, rent or mortgage payments and interest, and taxes on the home.
Once you have calculated your allowable deductions, you can use the example below to calculate your total household net income.
| Net Income Calculation: | Example for a 4-person household: |
|---|---|
| Subtract 20% earned income deduction… | $2,050 gross income $1,500 earned income x 20% = $300. $2,050 – $300 = $1,750 |
| Subtract standard deduction… | $1,750 – $193 standard deduction for a 4-person household = $1,557 |
| Subtract dependent care deduction… | $1,557 – $362 dependent care = $1,195 |
| Subtract child support deduction… | $0 |
| Subtract medical costs over $35 for elderly and disabled… | $0 |
| Excess shelter deduction… | See below |
| Determine half of adjusted income… | $1,195 adjusted income/2 = $597.50 (rounded up to $598) |
| Determine if shelter costs are more than half of adjusted income… | $700 total shelter – $598 (half of income) = $102 excess shelter cost |
| Subtract excess amount, but not more than the limit, from adjusted income… | $1,195 – $102 = $1,093 net monthly income |
| Apply the net income test… | Since $1,093 is less than $2,313 allowed for a 4-person household, this household has met the income test. |
Step 2: Apply for Food Stamps in Arizona
There are two ways you can submit an application for food stamps in Arizona. The Arizona food stamps online application is the easiest.
You can apply online here – through the healthearizona.gov website or you can visit a Department of Economic Security (DES) office location to submit an application in person.
For a DES food stamps office near you and phone number, click here.
Step 3: Complete your Interview
Once you apply for food stamps, you will be invited for an interview to review your application and make sure it’s complete. They will also review your income information to confirm that you qualify.
If your interview is successful and are approved for food stamps, the table below will show you how much you could get in monthly benefits.
Again, this is based on your income and number of people in your household.
| Maximum SNAP Benefit Amount by Household Size in Arizona | |
| Effective October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2023 | |
| Household Size | Maximum SNAP Benefit Allotment |
| 1 | $281 |
| 2 | $516 |
| 3 | $740 |
| 4 | $939 |
| 5 | $1,116 |
| 6 | $1,339 |
| 7 | $1,480 |
| 8 | $1,691 |
| Each Additional Household Member Add: | $211 |
Step 4: Receive Your EBT Card
Once you are approved, you will be mailed a Food Stamps Card, which is also called an Arizona EBT Card. Each month, your food stamps allocation will be deposited into your EBT account. You will then use the EBT card to purchase food on the approved food list.
Other ways to apply for Arizona SNAP
You can also apply for Arizona food assistance benefits by mail and in-person at your local DES office. For more information on how to apply by mail or in-person, click here.
Arizona SNAP EBT
We hope this article has been helpful. If you have any questions about Arizona food stamps online application process, please ask us below in the comments section. If you are experiencing problems applying, let us know in the comments section below.
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Plus, did you know that 670+ Restaurants and Fast Food Locations accept EBT in Arizona?! Check out the list complete list here!
Be sure to check out our other articles about Arizona Food Stamps and EBT, including:
- How to Check Arizona EBT Card Balance
- Arizona EBT Card Discounts & Free Admissions
- Income Limit for Arizona Food Stamps
- Farmers Markets In Arizona that Double Your EBT Money
- Restaurants that take EBT in Phoenix
- Grocery Stores that Accept EBT online
- How to Get 50% off Amazon Prime with EBT