AZ SB1138

Changes the cash assistance lifetime limit from 12 months to 24 months for heads of household, ineligible parents, and adult nonparent relative heads of household.

The 24-month time limit applies retroactively to cash assistance received on or after October 1, 2002, regardless of whether the months are consecutive.

Cash assistance shall terminate on August 1, 2016 for families that have received 24 or more months of assistance as of that date, without regard to whether they meet financial eligibility criteria.

The 24-month limit does not apply to child-only cases and certain months may be disregarded in calculating time limits, including months when recipients reside on Indian reservations with unemployment exceeding 50% or receive less than full monthly assistance amounts.

Maintains a 60-month federal lifetime limit for assistance funded by the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant across all states and territories.