Ariz. Admin. Code § R6-12-321 - Hardship Verification Requirements

A. Hardship due to a physical or mental impairment.

1. An adult assistance unit member, a minor parent head of household, the caretaker relative head of household, or the spouse of the caretaker relative head of household that claims hardship as specified in R6-12-319(B)(1) shall provide one of the following items:

a. A signed statement from a treatment provider or acceptable medical source;

b. Disability verification from the Veterans Administration;

c. Vocational Rehabilitation documents, examinations, or evaluations signed by a treatment provider.

2. The verification items specified in subsection (A)(1) shall include all of the following information:

a. A statement indicating that the individual's physical or mental condition prevents working or engaging in work activities,

b. The duration of the disability,

c. A prognosis of recovery, and

d. The signature of the treatment provider or acceptable medical source.

3. When the assistance unit member is a current JOBS program participant whose participation is deferred due to disability, no further verification of disability is required.

B. Hardship due to being a full-time caregiver.

1. An adult assistance unit member, a minor parent head of household, the caretaker relative head of household, or the spouse of the caretaker relative head of household who claims hardship as specified in R6-12-319(B)(2) shall provide a signed statement from a treatment provider, verifying the member is needed as a full-time caregiver of their disabled child, parent, spouse, or domestic partner.

2. An adult assistance unit member, minor parent head of household, caretaker relative head of household, or spouse of the caretaker relative head of household who receives respite care services shall provide verification of these services from the respite care provider. The verification shall indicate the number of hours per week that the person receives these services.

3. When a disabled individual is attending school, the individual shall provide verification from the school or vocational rehabilitation program of the number of hours per week the individual is in attendance.

C. Hardship due to violence, crime, or domestic violence.

1. An adult assistance unit member, a minor parent head of household, the caretaker relative head of household, or the spouse of the caretaker relative head of household who claims hardship as specified in R6-12-319(B)(3) shall provide verification from at least one of the following sources:

a. Court records;

b. Police reports;

c. Law Enforcement records;

d. Restraining Orders or Orders of Protection against the perpetrator or abuser;

e. Statements by attorneys or other legal professionals providing services to the victim of abuse or violence;

f. Child Protective Services records;

g. Written statements by medical professionals including physicians, psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors, or other treatment providers;

h. Written statements by domestic violence shelter staff;

i. Statements by clergy;

j. Statements by a third person with knowledge of the abuse or violence, such as a friend or relative to whom the member or assistance unit has fled to escape or avoid abuse or violence;

k. Receipt of Victims of Crime Act (VCA) benefits.

2. Any other evidence that supports the claim that the assistance unit member or family member is a victim of abuse or violence.

3. When the assistance unit member is a current JOBS program participant and is deferred from participating due to domestic violence, no further verification is required.

D. Hardship due to Homelessness. An adult assistance unit member, a minor parent head of household, or the caretaker relative head of household who claims hardship as specified in R6-12-319(B)(4) shall provide verification from at least one of the following sources:

1. A written statement by staff at a shelter, halfway house, or similar facility that provides temporary residence to homeless individuals or families verifying that the assistance unit, minor parent head of household, or caretaker relative head of household is a resident of the facility;

2. A written statement by the assistance unit member, minor parent head of household, or caretaker relative head of household that includes a description of where the household is residing when it does not have a fixed or regular nighttime residence;

3. A written statement by the assistance unit member, minor parent head of household, or caretaker relative head of household when the household is temporarily living with others. The statement must indicate that the residential situation is temporary and the date the assistance unit, minor parent head of household, or caretaker relative head of household expects to have its own residence;

4. Any other verification that reasonably supports the assistance unit member's, minor parent head of household's, or caretaker relative's head of household's claim of homelessness.

E. Hardship due to Educational or Training Program Completion. An adult assistance unit member, minor parent head of household, caretaker relative head of household, or spouse of a caretaker relative head of household who claims hardship as specified in R6-12-319(B)(5) shall provide the following verification:

1. A statement from the educational or training program that includes the following:

a. The enrollment status of the individual,

b. The date that the individual began participation in the program and the anticipated completion date, and

c. Verification that the individual is making satisfactory progress toward completion of the program.

2. A statement from the assistance unit member or caretaker relative head of household that explains the need for additional CA benefits in order for the individual to successfully complete the Educational or Training program.

F. Hardship due to Childcare or Transportation being Unavailable or Unaffordable.

1. An adult assistance unit member, a minor parent head of household, the caretaker relative head of household, or the spouse of the caretaker relative head of household who claims hardship as specified in R6-12-319(B)(6)(a) shall provide the following items:

a. A statement by the assistance unit member or caretaker relative head of household explaining the reasons the individual has been unable to find or afford childcare, including the availability of affordable childcare in their area; and

b. Documents that demonstrate the individual's efforts to find or afford childcare.

2. An adult assistance unit member, a minor parent head of household, the caretaker relative head of household or the spouse of the caretaker relative head of household who claims hardship as specified in R6-12-319(B)(6)(b) shall provide a statement explaining the reasons that transportation is not readily available or affordable, including the availability of affordable public and private transportation in their area.

G. Hardship due to other reasons. An adult assistance unit member, a minor parent head of household, the caretaker relative head of household or the spouse of the caretaker relative head of household who claims hardship as specified in R6-12-319(B)(8) shall provide a statement that explains the hardship circumstance and the need for additional CA benefits. The individual shall provide any documentary verification of the hardship circumstance that is requested by the Department in order to determine the need for additional CA benefits.

Notes

Ariz. Admin. Code § R6-12-321

New Section made by exempt rulemaking at 16 A.A.R. 1141, effective July 1, 2010 (Supp. 10-2).