General Relief Assistance

Overview

General Relief Assistance (GRA) is funding from the state that helps Alaskans facing emergencies meet their basic needs when they do not qualify for other kinds of help. Basic needs include things like a place to live, utilities (like gas and electricity), food, and clothes. GRA is also sometimes used to help pay essential funeral costs (also called burial assistance).

To make the best use of state funds, GRA money is used as a last resort. This means it is only used when a household's emergency need cannot be met by any other programs or agencies. 

Who qualifies?

To qualify to receive money from the General Relief fund, you must:

• Have an immediate and specific need for shelter (eviction notice), utilities (shut-off notice), food, clothing, or burial
• Not have access to other resources, like cash or credit
• Not be eligible for other programs that help with basic needs
• Be an adult or eligible minor (a person under 18 who is married or living apart from parents, in control of their own finances)
• Be an Alaska resident
• Be a U.S. citizen or legal alien
• Meet the resource and income limits described below

Resource and income limits

• A household cannot have more than $500 in resources. Resources include "liquid assets" such as cash, savings, and stocks, or bonds, and real property or personal property.  Resources do not include your home and home property, property up for sale, property you use for work or that makes you income, and a vehicle, such as an car or motorcycle.
• Maximum net income must be below the amounts shown, based on how many people are in the household:
  • 1 person = $300
  • 2 people = $400
  • 3 people = $500
  • More than 3 people = Add $100 for each additional person.

How do I sign up?

You can apply for GRA using the Alaska Connect Portal. 

Resources