How to Apply for Grandchild Benefits on Health-e-Arizona PLUS

One Application, Multiple Programs

Health-e-Arizona PLUS (healthearizonaplus.gov) is the state portal for applying for public benefits in Arizona. One FAA-0001A application covers TANF cash assistance, SNAP nutrition assistance, and AHCCCS/KidsCare health coverage. You don't need to file three separate applications.

For grandparents and relatives raising a child, this single application is the starting point for the most important financial programs the child can access.

What to Have Ready Before You Start

DES eliminated self-declarations as of September 2, 2025. Every eligibility factor requires written documentary evidence. Gather these before you sit down at the portal:

For the child: Birth certificate or other proof of identity and age. Social Security card or number. Proof of citizenship or qualified immigration status. Documentation of any income the child receives (Social Security survivor benefits, child support, trust distributions).

For the relationship: Proof that you're caring for the child — a parental power of attorney, court guardianship order, DCS placement letter, or school enrollment records showing your address. For informal arrangements without any legal document, a signed statement from someone who knows the living situation (a neighbor, teacher, or doctor) can help, but DES may request additional verification.

For the household: Proof of address. Income documentation for everyone in the household (pay stubs, Social Security award letters, pension statements). Shelter costs (rent receipt or mortgage statement) — this determines which TANF payment standard applies.

Creating an Account and Filing

Go to healthearizonaplus.gov and create an account if you don't have one. The portal walks through the application section by section: household members, income, resources, and program selection.

Check the boxes for the programs you want: Cash Assistance (TANF), Nutrition Assistance (SNAP), and Medical Assistance (AHCCCS/KidsCare). Selecting all three on one application saves time and ensures nothing falls through the cracks.

When the application asks about household composition, list yourself, any spouse, and all children in the home. For TANF and child care, the income rules exclude the grandparent's income from the child's benefit calculation. For SNAP, everyone's income counts if you purchase food together. The system handles these different rules — just report household members and income honestly.

The Authorized Representative Option

If the portal is difficult to navigate — the interface is dense — a trusted family member can file and manage the application on your behalf. Submit form FAA-1493A (Authorized Representative Request) to designate someone to communicate with DES, receive notices, and attend the telephone interview in your place.

This doesn't transfer custody or any legal authority over the child. It's a DES-specific authorization that lets a tech-savvy adult child or nephew handle the bureaucracy while you focus on the grandchild.

What Happens After You Submit

Cash Assistance requires a telephone interview within 30 days of application submission. SNAP also requires a telephone interview and has a 30-day standard processing period, or 7-day expedited processing for qualifying households. No in-person visit is required. AHCCCS applications don't require an interview and are processed within 45 days.

For child-only TANF filed by a non-needy relative, DES policy requires a decision within 20 calendar days — faster than the standard timeline.

You'll receive notices through the portal and by mail. Watch for verification requests — DES may ask for additional documents. Missing a verification deadline can result in a denial, even if you're otherwise eligible.

The Arizona kinship financial help guide includes a document-gathering checklist matched to each program's requirements and a tracking worksheet for deadlines after you submit.

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