Tens of thousands of Arizonans have lost SNAP benefits in the last year. Now the city of Phoenix is offering financial help to some affected households.
Since Republicans in Congress approved new SNAP requirements last summer, nearly half-a-million Arizonans have lost their food stamps. Those changes include new work standards and call for applicants to provide more information to prove their eligibility.
The city of Phoenix is now offering one-time financial assistance to support Phoenix households that have completely lost their SNAP benefits on or after Oct. 1, 2025, and have not been reinstated. Funds will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. Eligible households can receive up to $700 to go toward utility expenses, allowing families to use their remaining income for groceries.
City of Phoenix overview
This assistance offers a one-time benefit for eligible residents affected by recent federal changes to SNAP. Assistance is issued on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible applicant households and may only be accessed once during the program year.
Eligible households may receive up to $700 total, including:
- $600 applied toward a utility account
- $100 in transportation assistance (gas card or bus/light-rail pass)
Once all funds for this program have been allocated to eligible households applications will no longer be accepted.
Eligibility requirements
To qualify for the Targeted One-Time Crisis Assistance, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Residency: Must currently reside in the City of Phoenix or receive City of Phoenix water services.
- Federal Benefit Risk: Must have experienced a complete loss of nutrition assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits on or after Oct. 1, 2025, and have not been reinstated.
- One-Time Assistance Limit: Assistance may be issued one time per household between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2027.
Participants can apply at phoenix.gov/BenefitLossAssistance.
Not sure if you are a Phoenix resident? Check your address here. If you are not a city of Phoenix resident, please contact 211 for additional resources.
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