Frequently Asked Questions
Who runs this website?
The Arizona Self Help website was created and is managed by the Arizona Community Action Association (ACAA), a statewide 501(c)3 nonprofit which advocates, educates, and partners to prevent and alleviate poverty. Learn more at wildfireaz.org.
How can I contact you?
You can send comments or questions regarding Arizonaselfhelp.org to ACAA by email at info@azcaa.org or calling us at 602-604-0640. Questions regarding eligibility determinations and comments regarding the programs listed on this site should be directed to the agency administering each program, found at the All Contacts tab.
How is this site funded?
This site was created in 2003 through a federal grant, and is supported through grant money and donations provided to ACAA. Arizona Self Help is not directly affiliated with any state or federal agency.
I need to contact someone at DES to ask a question about my case or report a change. Where do I do this?
AHCCCS/DES has a customer service center which can be reached at 1-855-HEAPLUS (1-855-432-7587). If you have already applied for or are receiving DES benefits and need to check on your status or report a change, please visit myfamilybenefits.azdes.gov.
Please be aware that comments and emails sent via this website DO NOT go to DES directly, and DES and other state and federal agencies do not have access to any information collected on this website.
Where can I find out the basic eligibility and income limits for the programs listed on your site?
Each program has its own eligibility criteria and income limits, and this information is subject to change based on legislation changes and/or changes to the Federal Poverty Level.
The easiest way to find up to date information on eligibility and income limits is by contacting the agency administering the program or visiting their website. For a complete list of websites for each of the programs featured on this site, please click on the All Contacts tab at the top of this page.
Why do you ask for my gross income? I have expenses such as my car payment, cost of health/auto/home insurance, groceries, and utilities that you are not considering, and these expenses make it hard to make ends meet.
ACAA does not set the income guidelines or eligibility rules for any of the programs listed on this website. We ask for gross income because the majority of programs and services included in this screening require it for most households as the basis for income eligibility.
Depending on who is in your household, we may ask about other expenses that can be deducted from your gross income to help you meet eligibility requirements, including out-of-pocket medical expenses, child care, court ordered child support, and housing costs. We do not ask about other expenses because, in most cases, these expenses are not included in the eligibility calculation for the programs included on this site.
I thought I could apply for programs on this site, but I don't see how to do it.
Arizona Self Help is not an online application. To apply online for AHCCCS (Medicaid), SNAP (formerly Food Stamps) and/or TANF (Cash Assistance), please visit www.healthearizona.org. For all other programs, please see the Applications tab or contact the agency administering the program for details on how to apply.
Your site says my household is not eligible for any benefits, but we need help. What do we do now? Why aren't there services available to help people like me?
ACAA is not a government agency, and we do not set or regulate the eligibility rules, funding levels, or availability of the programs listed on this website. If you have completed the Arizona Self Help prescreening and your household does not appear to be eligible for any programs, we advise that you consider taking the following steps:
- Apply even if you don't think you are eligible. Arizona Self Help's questions are designed to collect general information used to determine eligibility, but your particular situation is unique and only an eligibility worker can make a final eligibility determination.
- Try other resources to see what other assistance may be available. Arizona Self Help does not include all programs and services available to households in need in Arizona. More resources can be found in the People's Information Guide or through Community Information and Referral at 602-263-8856 or 1-800-352-3792.
- Make your voice heard. Register to vote and vote in local, state, and national elections. You can voice your feelings on the eligibility rules, regulations, and policies related to most of the programs on this site by speaking to the agencies who manage the programs (see the All Contacts list for more information) or contacting policy makers elected to represent you directly.
I'm looking for a program that's not listed on your site.
More programs, services, and agencies are listed in the People's Information Guide, available on ACAA's website at wildfireaz.org/find-help/peoples-information-guide/.
The website is giving me an error or won't accept my zip code as valid. What do I do now?
We apologize for the inconvenience. ACAA and our web developers at ECONorthwest make every effort to ensure that the information on this website is current and accurate. We occasionally take the site offline for a few minutes to update information and while we usually can do this at a time of day when no one is using the site, if you attempt to prescreen during this time you may receive an error. Please wait a few moments and try to load the site again.
If you continue to receive an error message or find a problem with our information including zip code errors, please let us know! You can email us at info@azcaa.org, and we will usually have the error addressed immediately or within 24 hours on regular business days.
Who do I contact if I have questions or would like to speak to someone?
Please email us at info@azcaa.org if you have questions we have not addressed, would like to host a training on using this website, are interested in having your information included, or want outreach materials to provide to those you serve.
