Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
The Alaska
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides food benefits to low-income households. The federal government funds 100% of the SNAP benefit. The State pays half the costs of operating the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Alaska.
The Division of Public Assistance issues SNAP benefits via the Alaska Quest card. The amount a household receives each month depends on the household's countable income and size of the household. Eligible households use SNAP benefits to buy food products from authorized stores statewide.
Eligible applicants must pass income and assets tests. The gross monthly income test is based on 130% of the current Alaska poverty standard.
Alaska has special rules that allow for higher SNAP benefits in rural areas, and the use of benefits to purchase certain hunting and fishing subsistence supplies.
Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP)
The Alaska Department of Health is introducing the Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP), designed to make it easier for older adults and people with disabilities to maintain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. ESAP is approved to run from December 1, 2024, to November 30, 2029. ESAP streamlines the recertification process, making it easier for these households to maintain their SNAP benefits.
What Is ESAP?
ESAP is for SNAP households where all adults are aged 60 or older or have a disability as defined by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). With ESAP:
- Certification period lasts 36 months instead of 24
- No interim report is required during the certification period
- No interview is needed when recertifying unless questions arise
Who Is Eligible for ESAP?
To qualify, households must meet the following rules:
- All adults in the household must be older (60+) or have a disability as defined by FNS
- No one in the household can be working
- Be eligible for SNAP benefits
What Needs to Be Reported?
Households must report changes that affect eligibility, such as:
- All adults in the household are no longer older or disabled
- An adult in the household starts working
- Someone in the household had lottery/gambling winnings of $4,500 or more
How to Report Changes or Learn More:
October 8, 2024 - SNAP Texts for Interviews
We are starting to send text messages about SNAP interviews. We will text you an update from a six-digit number when your SNAP interview has been scheduled. Make sure you call the VCC at 1-800-478-7778 during your scheduled time to complete your interview.
April 24, 2024 - SNAP Interim Report
Did you receive a SNAP Interim Report form (FSP 95) in the mail to complete and return?
If the answer is yes, you can submit the
SNAP Interim Report online instead:
Note: If you do not submit the Interim Report by the deadline, your SNAP benefits will be terminated.
April 9, 2024 -
Scam Alert!
SNAP scams are on the rise in Alaska. Protect your benefits by:
- Changing your card PIN on a regular basis,
- Never giving out your card or PIN number,
- Check the credit card machine at check out for skimming machines by gently tugging on the machine before inserting your card.
If you are a victim of benefit fraud, make a report to your local police department and then contact us. We may be able to replace benefits.
For more information on SNAP and what to do if you are a victim of SNAP fraud visit our
SNAP webpage.
Keep your guard up! Read about the current scams:
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December 28, 2023 - New Online SNAP Application
An
online application for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is now available on the DPA website. This application is optimized for use on any mobile device as well as desktop devices. The online application is a “smart form,” streamlining the process and the amount of time it takes to complete the form by only populating fields that the applicant needs based on their responses. All documents can be uploaded directly using a variety of formats including photos and scanned items. To learn more or to apply, click the green "Apply for SNAP Benefits" box.
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The Department of Health and Division of Public Assistance will continue to help Alaskans in any way possible.
For more information and updates refer to the
Public Assistance website. People can contact the division’s Virtual Contact Center at 800-478-7778 for status on their case.
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September 28, 2023 - SNAP Interviews to Resume October 2nd
During COVID, Alaska was able to work SNAP applications without the required interview. This ends on September 30th, and interviews are starting again for new applicants and recertifications on October 2nd. If your household is due, we will schedule an interview for you when we register your SNAP application or recertification. Reviews for other programs with no SNAP involvement will continue to be processed without requiring an interview. -
June 20, 2023 - Interim Reports for SNAP recipients
Starting June 1, 2023, the division requires SNAP households to complete and return a report halfway through their certification period to continue eligibility. For more information, see:
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October 3, 2022 - Language Interpretation Services
Did you know that DPA offers no-cost language interpretation services for people when they interact with the department? Callers can reach the division’s Virtual Contact Center in their preferred language, by using the numbers provided for commonly spoken languages that are listed on our
Foreign Language Support page.
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June 30, 2022:
Director’s letter about changes to supplements for SNAP recipients
Learn more about the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program:
Requirements for Eligibility
Residency. Applicants must be residents of the State of Alaska to receive Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from Alaska.
Age and Relationship. There are no specific age limits to receive SNAP benefits. Parents and their children 21 years old or younger living together are considered one household. Minors who apply on their own must be living independently. Individuals living together and who purchase and prepare food together are treated as one household.
Citizenship and Social Security Numbers. An applicant must be a U.S. citizen, a U.S. National, or a qualified alien to get SNAP benefits. Some legal immigrants are ineligible for SNAP benefits; however, dependents of an ineligible immigrant are often eligible. All household members must have a social security number or proof of having applied for one.
Work. To receive SNAP benefits, most able-bodied people between 16 and 59 years old must register for work, participate in the Employment & Training Program (E&T) if offered, accept offers of employment, and cannot quit a job. In addition, unless exempt, SNAP benefits are limited to 3 months within a 36 month period for Able Bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWD’s) between the ages of 18 and 52 (increasing to age 54 effective 10/01/24) who are not working or participating in an approved E&T program an average of 20 hours per week.
Other Factors. Strikers must be resource and income eligible before the day of the strike. Most college students must be working half time, enrolled in work-study, caring for young dependents, or receiving Temporary Assistance. Felons convicted of drug-related offenses are not eligible for SNAP benefits unless they meet specific conditions. Individuals disqualified for fraud are ineligible for one year for the first offense, two years for the second offense, and permanently for the third. Dependents of disqualified or ineligible individuals may be eligible.
Resource Test. The asset limit is $3,000 for most households and $4,500 for households containing a member who is disabled or 60 years or older.
Many types of assets are not counted such as the home you occupy and its lot, household goods, burial plots, cash value of life insurance, money in retirement savings accounts, pension plans, income producing property, 529 college savings plans, and vehicles used for an exempt reason or with an equity value under $1,500.
Countable assets include cash on hand, money in checking or savings accounts, certificates of deposit, U.S. savings bonds, stocks, bonds, property not up for sale, crowdfunding accounts, and lump-sum payments. Special rules apply to Alaska Permanent Fund Dividends.
Income Test. SNAP does not count loans, Title IV Education Act and Bureau of Indian Affairs Grants and Awards, reimbursements, Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Corporation payments to shareholders, heating or energy assistance, and earnings of children under age 18 who are in school.
Countable income includes wages, self-employment, public assistance benefits, unemployment benefits, worker's compensation, child support, Social Security benefits (SSA), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), pensions, and Senior Benefits payments. Special rules apply to Alaska Permanent Fund Dividends.
Deductions. SNAP rules allow income deductions, including a 20% deduction of gross earned income, a standard deduction of $348 given to households with one to five members and $364 given to households with six or more members, a deduction for dependent care costs if they are for a child who is a member of the SNAP household and are necessary to allow a household member to work or attend school, medical expenses over $35 for elderly or disabled household members, and a shelter/utility deduction not to exceed $1,137 for most households. There is no limit on shelter/utility deductions for households that contain an elderly or disabled individual.
Alaska SNAP Program Standards,
Income Limits, and Standard Deductions
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed)
For SNAP-eligible residents, SNAP-Education services are available in several communities throughout the state. To learn more about this program, visit the
SNAP-Ed webpage.
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement – Food and Nutrition Service
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the agency (state or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at:
https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (833) 620-1071, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to:
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mail:
Food and Nutrition Service, USDA
1320 Braddock Place, Room 334
Alexandria, VA 22314; or -
fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or -
email:
FNSCIVILRIGHTSCOMPLAINTS@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
