2005 Arizona Revised Statutes - Revised Statutes §46-233  Eligibility for general assistance

A. A person is eligible for general assistance only for a total of twelve months out of each thirty-six consecutive month period unless the person is eligible as an adult caretaker of a person who meets the requirements of paragraph 7. The general assistance shall cease for both a caretaker and noncaretaker upon receipt, denial or termination of federal disability benefits, except that the department shall grant up to an additional six months of general assistance to an eligible person during the period of and from the date the person files an appeal with the social security administration. No person shall be entitled to general assistance who does not meet and maintain the following requirements:

1. Has established residence at the time of application. The applicant shall prove that he meets the residence requirements.

2. Is not an inmate of or being maintained by any municipal, county, state or federal institution at the time of receiving assistance. This shall not be construed to prohibit granting assistance to a person temporarily confined in an institution for medical or surgical care.

3. Is not employable according to the findings of the state department.

4. Has not, within one year prior to application, or while a recipient, transferred or assigned real or personal property with the intent to render himself eligible or with the intent to increase his need for assistance. The transfer of property with retention of a life estate for the purpose of qualifying for assistance is prohibited. Where fair consideration for the property was received, no inquiry into motive is necessary. A person found ineligible under this paragraph shall be ineligible for such time as the state department determines.

5. Does not have resources in excess of the following:

(a) Household furnishings used by the recipient and his family in his usual place of residence.

(b) Wearing apparel and necessary personal effects.

(c) A home in which the recipient resides and the land contiguous thereto and in which the recipient has an equity value not in excess of fifty thousand dollars.

(d) An automobile in which the recipient has an equity value of fifteen hundred dollars or less, except that if such value exceeds twelve hundred dollars, the excess value shall be counted against the other property or assets specified in subdivision (e).

(e) Other personal property or assets having a total gross market value of one thousand dollars for a single recipient or fourteen hundred dollars for a recipient and spouse, or two or more recipients in a single household.

(f) Tools of his trade.

6. Is a citizen of the United States by birth or naturalization, or if an alien, has been legally admitted for permanent residence.

7. Has a certified disability that the department believes meets the program definition of disability under title XVI of the social security act (42 United States Code) and has applied for federal disability benefits. The disability must have lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve months, or can be expected to result in death.

B. Real and personal property shall be valued at their gross market value including encumbrances.

C. Nothing in this section, except citizenship or legal admittance for permanent residence, shall be construed to prevent granting of assistance in emergency cases.