Securing Nutrition Assistance
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a monthly nutrition program that provides funds for qualified individuals and families to purchase healthy food. Maricopa Community Colleges provides SNAP application assistance exclusively to students, staff, and faculty. For more information, contact the SNAP Outreach Coordinator, Mira Nolan, at 480-731-8126 or SNAP@domail.maricopa.edu.
If you are a community member not affiliated with Maricopa Community Colleges, please visit the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) for assistance with SNAP applications or connect with a local Community Assistor for support. You can find more information on the DES SNAP Assistance page.
Have You Heard of SNAP?
It is best to prepare for the application by gathering all of the required documents that are needed for the application, DES: Documents Needed to Apply for Benefits. The SNAP application can be found and completed online at Health-e-Arizona Plus.
Here is a list of the some of the common documents needed for the application:
- Proof of citizenship and identity for everyone applying, such as birth certificates or Alien Registration Cards.
- Social Security numbers for everyone, or proof of application
- Proof of income for the last two months, including all sources
- Proof of employment termination and the last date paid, if applicable
- Proof of expenses, including rent/mortgage, utility bills, child care, and medical expenses for those 60+ or receiving disability benefits
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Class list and financial aid information, including a screenshot of your Student Aid Report (SAR) from FAFSA if you have a $0 EFC or are participating in a Federal Work-Study program. A class list with how many credits you are currently enrolled in
SNAP for Students
If you are attending a Maricopa Community College or an Institution of Higher Education and meet other SNAP eligibility requirements, and also meet at least one of these requirements (as outlined by the USDA) you may qualify for SNAP.
- Are under age 18 or are age 50 or older
- Have a physical or mental disability
- Work at least 20 hours a week in paid employment
- Participate in a state or federally-financed work study program
- Participate in an on-the-job training program
- Care for a child under the age of 6
- Care for a child age 6 to 11 and lack the necessary child care enabling you to attend school and work 20 hours a week or participate in work study
- Are a single parent enrolled full-time in college and taking care of a child under 12
- Receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) assistance
- Financial aid does not count as earned income
- Alternatively, SNAP benefits do not affect expected family contribution in regards to financial aid
- When completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), students can report that they or their families received SNAP benefits in the last 24 months, and will then qualify for a "simplified needs analysis" and won't have to answer questions about family assets
- For students receiving SNAP with a family income under $26,000, they qualify for an automatic zero EFC, and will thus be eligible for more financial aid
- A "household" is determined by who purchases and prepares food together. This means a student living with roommates or in a dorm does not have to include their housemates' income, identification documents, or other necessary documentation if they do not buy and prepare food together
- Students must apply in the state they are living in (not their home state) and they cannot receive SNAP in two states at the same time, even if they live at home on breaks
- Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students do not qualify for SNAP, regardless of exemptions or work status
Need Immediate Help?
SNAP Q&A Sessions are open to students, staff, and faculty of Maricopa Community Colleges to inquire about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This is an opportunity to meet with a SNAP Outreach Specialist to ask questions about the application process and learn about other basic needs resources available!
Application Process
Step 1: Apply
Fill out as much of the application as you can. To submit it, you must enter your name and address (if you have one), and sign the form.
- Online: Begin the application at www.healthearizonaplus.gov/Login/Default
- In Person: You can find the information for your local county office at www.azccrr.com/health-and-social-services.html
- Mail/Fax: You can download an application here
After printing and filling out an application, you can mail, fax, or hand deliver it to your local county office. You may also request an application by phone, in person, by fax, or by mail from your county office.
Step 2: Get Interviewed
Phone or in-person interviews are required. Do not miss your interview! Your SNAP worker will go over your application and review all the documents you have available. Interviews take place anywhere from the day of submission to 30 days after. Many take place within five days of submitting. You will be contacted by phone to schedule an appointment, so be sure to answer unknown numbers after submitting your application.
Step 3: Submit Missing Documents
Submit documentation to verify all the information you provide on your application as early in the application process as you can. After your interview, you will be notified if required documents are missing and given 10 days to provide them. Your application will be rejected if certain information is not verified. (Full document checklist provided on the previous page.)
Step 4: Watch and Wait
If you fulfill all application requirements, you will find out whether or not you are eligible for SNAP benefits within 30 days of the date your signed application was received. If you don’t hear back by then, contact the SNAP Center or Maricopa Community Colleges SNAP Outreach Coordinator Mira Nolan at 480-731-8126 or SNAP@domail.maricopa.edu