The Six-Month Residency Requirement
Arizona adds a residency condition to its parents as paid caregivers program. Before a parent can receive compensation through the program for caring for their child with a disability, the parent must have lived in Arizona for at least six months.
Subject to the approval by the centers for medicare and medicaid services, a parent must be a resident of this state for at least six months to be eligible to provide care under the parents as paid caregivers program.
A.R.S. § 36-3312The statute includes an important qualifier: the six-month residency requirement is subject to CMS approval. Medicaid is jointly funded by the federal and state governments, and the federal government must agree to any eligibility conditions Arizona adds to its waiver program. Until CMS approves this provision, its enforceability may depend on the status of the waiver amendment.
What This Means for Families
For families who recently relocated to Arizona, this residency requirement creates a waiting period before the parent can participate in the program. The child's AHCCCS eligibility is determined separately, but the parent's ability to be compensated as a caregiver under this specific program requires established Arizona residency.
This type of residency requirement is common in state benefit programs. It helps ensure that program resources are directed to established state residents while still providing a path for newer residents to qualify after the waiting period ends.
If you are planning a move to Arizona and your family relies on caregiver compensation through Medicaid, understanding this waiting period can help you prepare financially for the transition. Your child's broader AHCCCS coverage may begin sooner, but compensation under the parents as paid caregivers program specifically requires the six-month residency threshold.