Urgent Bulletins Due to the 2020 Covid-19 Crisis
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a coronavirus discovered in 2019. The Arizona Department of Health Services confirms the first case of coronavirus in Arizona was on 01/26/2020.
Due to rising numbers of Covid-19 cases and continuing coronavirus concerns, Governor Ducey issued a Declaration of Emergency and an Executive Order on 03/11/2020.
Changes were quickly made to the NA and CA processes, with the approval from the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), so both the participant and staff could complete the application process safely and efficiently.
The following are Urgent Bulletins which changed the NA and CA processes during the Covid-19 crisis in 2020.
ABAWD Work Requirement Suspension – Active Waiver through 09/2023
ABAWD work requirements were suspended on 03/27/2020 and are still suspended.
ABAWD work requirements are reinstate effective 10/01/2023.
Refer to the following for additional information:
DCSS Requirement Suspension
DCSS requirements, except for Hopi and Pascua Yaqui Tribal TANF, were suspended from 03/31/2020 through 06/30/2020. DCSS Pre-Approval Cooperation was reinstated on 07/01/2020.
Refer to the following for additional information:
Documentation Requirements During Covid-19 Emergency
Documentation and verification requirements have not been waived during the Covid-19 emergency. The words “Coronavirus”, “COVID-19”, “pandemic”, or “epidemic” in documentation are restricted to documentation instructed to be completed by a broadcast, notification, or a supervisor for tracking purposes.
Do not violate HIPPA by documenting that a participant has contracted the virus. Unless the documentation causes a HIPAA violation, do not request the documentation in AZTECS or HEAplus be redacted when it includes the words “Coronavirus”, “COVID-19”, “pandemic”, or “epidemic”.
Refer to the following for additional information:
Gila River Indian Community COVID-19 Emergency Fund
A one-time Emergency Fund payment of $500 was sent to each tribal member in the Gila River Indian Community who was 18 years of age or over on 04/03/2020.
Refer to the following for additional information:
Grant Diversion Script and Applicant Agreement (FAA-1410A) Form Signature Suspension
A signature was not required on the Grant Diversion Script and Applicant Agreement (FAA-1410A) form from 04/13/2020 through 06/30/2020.
Refer to the following for additional information:
●Notification occurred in General Information on the
What’s Changed page displayed on 04/13/2020
Interview Requirement Waived
The interview requirement was waived in certain situations for all NA and CA application determinations completed, beginning 04/06/2020 ending 07/31/2022.
Refer to the following for additional information:
Jobs and CA Work Requirement Suspension
CA Work requirements, except for Hopi and Pascua Yaqui Tribal TANF, were suspended on 03/31/2020 and are still suspended. The CA work requirements cover the Jobs Program, the TPEP Jobs and the Tribal NEW work programs. The JPPO requirement and the TPEP pre-compliance requirement were also suspended.
Refer to the following for additional information:
LIBL/STBL Requirements Suspended
Federal and State time limit requirements were suspended on 03/31/2020 and are still suspended.
Refer to the following for additional information:
NA E&T Suspension
NA Work requirements were reinstated effective 04/12/2021.
Refer to the following for additional information:
NA E&T requirements were suspended on 03/27/2020.
Refer to the following for additional information:
NA Renewals Extended and Mid Approval Contact Reinstated
NA renewals were extended. Reinstatement of the MAC Process is effective for the benefit month of 07/2021. For specific dates, see the following Urgent Bulletins:
NA Expungement Time Frame
The time frame for NA expungement of unused NA benefits changed effective 01/20/2021. For more information see the following Urgent Bulletin:
Online Purchasing Pilot
DES coordinated with Walmart and Amazon to enable online NA and CA purchases with their EBT card. This will remain a Purchasing Pilot program.
Refer to the following for additional information:
P-EBT Pandemic School Meal Replacement Benefits
FAA assisted the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) with distribution of P-EBT benefits. P-EBT Benefits were issued to replace the meals the children would have received in the free or reduced-price school meals program under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) had school not been closed due to Covid-19.
P-EBT for the 2020/2021 school year includes a Child Care P-EBT. Child Care P-EBT provides a supplement for children under the age of six receiving Nutrition Assistance (NA) benefits in Arizona. See the following web pages for additional information:
Also, refer to the following Urgent Bulletins for additional information:
2020/2021 School Year
2019/2020 School Year
Personal Responsibility Agreement (PRA) Requirement Suspended
It was not required to sign and comply with the Personal Responsibility Agreement (PRA) for applications registered from 04/07/2020 through 06/30/2020.
Refer to the following for additional information:
Pascua Yaqui Tribal TANF Interview Waiver
PY YOEME is waiving the PY Tribal TANF interviews according to the Waiver of the Interview Requirement (Amended) Urgent Bulletin issued on 10/01/2021.
Recent Employment/Training Background (FAA-0155A) Form Signature Suspension **Ended 07/01/2020**
A signature is now required on all documents. See the
Urgent Bulletin emailed on 07/01/2020.
A signature is not required on the Recent Employment/Training Background (FAA-0155A) form from 04/13/2020 until further notice.
Refer to the following for additional information:
●Notification occurred in General Information on the
What’s Changed page displayed on 04/13/2020
Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) Time Limit Extension
Effective 04/24/2020 through 09/30/2020, the Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) eligibility period was extended up to 18 months, not to extend past 09/30/2020.
Refer to the following for additional information:
Signature Waiver **Ended 06/30/2022**
The availability of verbally attesting to the information provided on the application has ended effective 06/30/2022. See the Urgent Bulletin below, emailed on 06/23/2022.
When conducting a phone interview and the technology for a voice signature is not available, the participant may verbally attest to the information provided on the application. This applies to all CA and NA application dated on or after 03/01/2020.
Refer to the following for additional information:
Student Eligibility Exemption for NA
College students may be eligible for NA due to additional temporary student exemption reasons from 01/01/2021 until further notice. The PS exemption is ending, however, there are still conditions for ongoing eligibility.
Refer to the following for additional information:
Supplemental NA Benefits/Emergency NA Benefits
Participants receiving NA benefits were given a supplement in order to provide them with the maximum NA benefit amount for the month. The supplement is identified as CMAX with an asterisk before it (*CMAX) on FSBH. Each month, the FAA Policy Support Team must request FNS approval to provide supplements. An Urgent Bulletin is issued when FNS approval is provided.
For more information, see the following Urgent Bulletins:
Tax Credit Stimulus Payment
During the Covid-19 crisis, the federal government issued tax credit stimulus payments to households.
Refer to the following for additional information:
Thrifty Food Plan and the NA Minimum Allotment
Effective 01/01/2021 through 09/30/2021 there is a temporary 15% increase to the Minimum NA Allotment.
Refer to the following for additional information:
TPEP Personal Responsibility Agreement (FAA-1523A) Form Signature Suspension **Ended 06/30/2020**
The PRA requirement has been reinstated effective for all CA applications registered on or after July 1, 2020
A signature is not required on the TPEP Personal Responsibility Agreement (FAA-1523A) form from 04/13/2020 until further notice.
Refer to the following for additional information:
●Notification occurred in General Information on the
What’s Changed page displayed on 04/13/2020
Tribal TANF Program Referrals
During the Covid-19 crisis, the federal government issued tax credit stimulus payments to households. The Hopi and PY Tribal TANF programs have now reinstated the Tribal TANF referral processes. See the What’s Changed for 10/25/2021.
Refer to the following for additional information:
Unemployment Insurance (UI) Supplements
There were multiple Unemployment Insurance (UI) supplements issued due to the Covid-19 crisis including FPUC, MEUC, PUA, and LWA.
Refer to the following for additional information:
Voluntary Quit Requirements Suspended (Effective 03/27/2020 through 04/12/2021)
Voluntary Quit requirements were reinstated effective 04/12/2021.
Refer to the following for additional information:
Voluntary quit requirements were suspended on 03/27/2020
Refer to the following for additional information: