Financial and Health Insurance
GRANDPARENTS, GREAT GRANDPARENTS, AUNTS, UNCLES, COUSINS, BROTHERS OR SISTERS.
Are you raising the children of a relative?
If so, you may qualify for a TANF "CHILD ONLY" Grant from your local Department of Economic Security (DES) Office.
What is the TANF "CHILD ONLY" Grant?
This is federal money available to financially help people who are raising their relatives' children in Arizona. You may qualify to receive up to $204 per month ($173 if you do not pay for housing) for the first child, and $73 for each succeeding child. This money is available all across Arizona. If the child(ren) in your care receive other types of benefits, such as Social Security, child support, SSDI, an inheritance, etc., such funds may make them ineligible to apply for this money, depending how much money they get. Children must be citizens or, in some cases, may be permanent residents, in order to be eligible for the "CHILD ONLY" Grant.
Even if I do not want money for myself or for the other people living in my home, can I apply just for my relatives' children?
Yes, that is the purpose of the TANF "CHILD ONLY" Grant. If you need money, food stamps, or other help for everyone living in your house, you may use the same application, but you will have to answer more questions about the income of everyone in the household, and your application will take longer to process.
What else may I receive for relatives' children from DES?
Using the same application, you may receive AHCCCS or KidsCare health insurance for each child eligible. You can ask about DES Child Care and other services.
For how long can I receive this money?
As long as it is for the "CHILD ONLY", until the child reaches the age of eighteen. For adults who receive TANF, there are work requirements and other limitations, but this is not the case in Arizona with the "CHILD ONLY" Grant, when relatives' children only are on the application.
How do I apply for the TANF "CHILD ONLY" Grant?
Call the DES office for your zip code. If you need help finding the office, call 1-800-352-8401 and ask them for the number you need. Request the application for the "CHILD ONLY" Grant. Make sure you write at the top "CHILD ONLY" so the worker will know the right questions to ask you. You may do your interview by phone, or if you feel it is necessary the worker can interview you in your home. In any case, if you qualify you should learn about receiving your benefits within twenty days of the time of your interview.
If I live within the boundaries of an Indian Nation, can I qualify for the TANF "CHILD ONLY" Grant and the AHCCCS Insurance?
Yes you can qualify. Call your DES office for more information and an application.
How do I prove my relationship to the child?
As a relative you can provide proof in the following ways:
- If you are an unlicensed relative foster parent for Child Protective Services (CPS), your child's case manager should fill out the application for you, write "CHILD ONLY" across the top, then fax it over to DES. A DES worker will then call you for an interview.
- If you are a guardian with the Probate Court, or a Title 8 guardian who is not receiving a "Guardianship Subsidy", you can use your court document to prove the relationship. A "power of attorney" document or a piece of paper given to you by the parent is not enough to prove the relationship.
- If you are taking care of relatives' children, but have no guardianship or court documents, you can prove the blood relationship with documents, such as birth certificates, baptismal documents (when issued to child before child was five years old), certificates of Indian Blood, Bio Data Sheet provided by refugees, Acknowledgement of Paternity Form, Juvenile Court Records, etc. Sometimes DES requires more than one document.
Will Child Support Enforcement be involved if I apply for the "CHILD ONLY" Grant?
Yes, Arizona law requires that your application be turned over to Child Support Enforcement. But if, as the relative, you feel worried about the safety of yourself and/or the children, tell your DES worker or the Child Support Enforcement worker at once. For more information, call the Child Support Enforcement office in your area.
Why should I turn to DES ("Welfare") now for this help? My family and I have always been proud we did not have to ask for help. You did not ask for this situation, circumstances made it necessary. Most likely, strangers would be taking care of the children if you were not doing the job. And, as foster parents, they are currently receive much more services and money than you as the relative, will, for the job of taking care of these children. The TANF "CHILD ONLY" Grant and the AHCCCS is a small benefit to help you keep these children fed, clothed, cared for and educated. Apply for your sake, and for the children's sake!
Where can I get more information about other services and benefits to help me raise my relatives' children? For phone numbers and locations of grandparent support groups, call the University of Arizona 's Cooperative Extension office in your country (In Pima County, call 520-617-6105). For other services for grandparents or other relatives raising children in Pima County call the KARE Family Center in Tucson : (520) 323-4476. (se habla espanol).
Si usted es persona domiciliado en Arizona, y tiene la resposibilidad de criar ninos de sus hijos u otros ninos parientes, y quiere ver este informe en espanol, llame gratis a: Centro Familiar KARE - (520) 323-4476
For more information on the "CHILD ONLY" Grant and for other services for relative children call the KARE Family Center in Tucson : (520) 323-4476.
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