Adult Public Assistance

Direct deposit or EBT now available

Direct deposit is now available for Adult Public Assistance and Senior Benefits. Your benefits will go straight into your bank account, even if your bank is outside Alaska. Paper checks are no longer used.

Sign up for direct deposit here.

If you do not enroll for direct deposit, you will automatically receive an Alaska Quest Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, which works like a debit card.

Overview

Alaska’s Adult Public Assistance (APA) program provides cash support to Alaskans with low-income who are older adults or who have disabilities or blindness, helping them live independently.

Who qualifies?

Age or disability

A person can get APA if they are:

• 65 or older
• 18 or older and meet one of the following:
  • Having blindness, which means their corrected vision is 20/200 or less, or if their visual field is 20 degrees or less ("tunnel vision")
  • A disability, which means they cannot work regularly for pay because of a physical or mental health condition (not caused by drug or alcohol use), and the condition has lasted or is expected to last at least 12 months

Other benefits

A person must apply for any other benefits they may qualify for, such as:

• Private and public sector pensions and annuities
• Social Security Insurance benefits
• Unemployment Insurance
• Department of Veterans Affairs pension and compensation benefits
• Workers’ Compensation
• Other disability benefits

Citizenship and residency

• A person must be a U.S. citizen or a qualified immigrant
• A person must be a resident of Alaska

Resources

Countable resources may not exceed $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a couple. Resources are money and property that a person (and their spouse, if married) owns and can turn into cash.

Not everything a person owns counts towards these limits. For a full list of what counts and what does not count as a resource, visit SSI Spotlight on Resources.

Income

A person's or couple's countable monthly income must be at or below the APA income limits.

To see the current limits and payment standards, visit: Adult Public Assistance Income Limits and Payment Standards.

How to sign up

Sign up for APA

You can apply online by using the Alaska Connect Portal. In the portal you can apply for assistance, renew benefits, report changes, and upload documents all in one place.

Sign up for direct deposit

The Division of Public Assistance uses direct deposit for Adult Public Assistance and Senior Benefits. This means your benefits go straight into any bank account, no matter where your bank is located. Paper checks are no longer in use.

To sign up, complete the Direct Deposit Request Form and include a voided check or deposit slip.

• Download the form: GEN-153 Direct Deposit Request Form
• Or call 888-620-1111 to request a form by mail

If you do not enroll in direct deposit, you will automatically receive an Alaska Quest Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, which works like a debit card and can be used at many stores and ATMs that accepts the Alaska Quest EBT card.

If you have questions about how your APA benefits are paid or used, you may contact the Division of Public Assistance by phone at 800-478-7778 for help.

How to use

APA provides monthly money deposits to help pay for basic living costs, such as:

• Rent or housing costs
• Food and basic household items
• Utilities (heat, lights, water, phone)
• Transportation
• Personal needs

Resources