Mary Jo Pitzl

The Republic | azcentral.com

Arizona lawmakers' decision to limit to one year cash assistance to poor families established the state as the strictest in the nation in that regard and reignited a long-simmering debate over who is considered poor and how best to help them.

For example, the change to the cash-assistance program, which took effect July 1, affects families with annual incomes of a few thousand dollars.

Meanwhile, when the state judges "low income" in connection to another key state policy — school choice — an income of nearly $70,000 per year can qualify.

Eligibility levels for other programs that the state administers vary, but are generally based on the federal poverty level. In some cases, such as the cash-assistance program and private-school tuition aid, the state has a significant say. In others, federal guidelines apply.

Here's a look at the income threshold for various programs administered by the state to help Arizonans. Examples are based on the annual income for a family of three:

Temporary Assistance to Needy Families

What it is: Cash-assistance program to help low-income families with children.

Maximum yearly income: $3,336.

Who sets the limit: The Arizona Legislature. TANF is a block grant, and states have leeway in how to administer it. Since 2009, lawmakers have cut the program from its maximum five-year lifetime eligibility limit to one year. They also reduced the eligibility cap from the original 1996 limit of 32 percent of the poverty level to 16 percent, and pegged it to a 1992 poverty level.

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Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program

What it is: Food stamps.

Maximum yearly income: $26,117.

Who sets the limit: The federal government. The cap is 130 percent of the federal poverty level.

AHCCCS

What it is: The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System is Arizona's Medicaid program.

Maximum yearly income: $27,724.

Who sets the limit: The federal government, although states can opt to expand the program if it provides matching dollars for people above 100 percent of the poverty level. The Legislature did so in 2013, with then-Gov. Jan Brewer helping it gain passage.

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Child Care subsidy

What it is: Child-care assistance for low-income working parents with kids.

Maximum yearly income: $33,168.

Who sets it: The federal government, at 165 percent of the poverty level.

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KidsCare

What it is: Arizona's children's health-insurance program.

Maximum yearly income: $40,180.

Who sets it: The federal government. Like Medicaid, states can opt to expand beyond the federal limit of 138 percent of the poverty level, up to 200 percent. The Legislature opted to do so this year after a holdout by Senate leadership, using money provided by a federal program. Enrollment opened July 26.

School-tuition scholarship funded by corporate income tax

What it is: Scholarships to help students from low-income families attend the private school of their choice.

Maximum yearly income: $68,758.

Who sets it: The Legislature.

Reach the reporter at maryjo.pitzl@arizonarepublic.com and follow her on Twitter @maryjpitzl.