ALASKA

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Alaska Temporary Assistance Program

Alaska Temporary Assistance Program (ATAP) provides temporary cash assistance and work-readiness services to low-income families with children to help them with basic needs.

The focus of ATAP is self sufficiency. For this reason, ATAP participants are required to immediately seek paid employment opportunities or participate in work related activities for a specified number of hours per week.

Participants must engage in approved activities, which can include:

• Job search and readiness training.
• Education and vocational training.
• On-the-job training or work experience.
• Community service.

Adults with disabilities or caring for very young children or a disabled family member may be exempt from some or all work requirements

How much is cash assistance in Alaska?

The amount of cash assistance a family receives depends on the family’s size, income, and shelter expenses. In Alaska, the maximum benefit for a family of three with no income is $923 per month.

How do I apply for welfare in Alaska?

To apply for the Alaska Temporary Assistance Program (ATAP), you can download an application and submit it to your nearest Division of Public Assistance (DPA) office, ¹ or apply online through the Alaska Connect Portal .

Division of Public Assistance
(800) 478-7778

Adult Public Assistance (APA)

Adult Public Assistance (APA) is a state program run by the Alaska Division of Public Assistance that provides cash assistance​ to aged, blind, and disabled Alaskans with limited income and resources.

If you qualify for APA, you get monthly cash payments to help you pay for your basic needs and also qualify for Medicaid health coverage, without having to file a separate application.

How much is adult public assistance in Alaska?

A person who is single and residing in an assisted living facility can get up to $1,067 per month in APA benefits or $1,650 per month for a couple.

Division of Public Assistance
(800) 478-7778

Alaska Food Stamp Program

Alaska Food Stamp Program (SNAP) is a 100% federally funded program that provides food assistance to very low income individuals and families in Alaska.

The program serves low-income families with children, older adults, people with disabilities, and working or unemployed people of all ages.

Eligible applicants must pass income and assets tests. The current gross income test is based on 130% of the current Alaska’s poverty standard.

What is the income limit for food stamps in Alaska?

In general, a household of three qualifies for the program if it has a gross monthly income of $3,609 or less as well as a net monthly income of not more than $2,776.

Alaska’s asset limit is $3,000. This limit goes up to $4,500 if your household includes at least one elderly (60+) or disabled person.

How do I apply for food stamps in Alaska?

To apply for SNAP benefits, download and submit a SNAP application to your nearest Division of Public Assistance (DPA) office, ¹ or apply online through the Alaska Connect Portal .

Division of Public Assistance
(800) 478-7778

Alaska General Relief Assistance (GRA)

Alaska’s General Relief Assistance (GRA) is a safety net program designed to help eligible individuals and families in emergency situations such as shelter (eviction notice), utilities (shut-off notice), food, clothing, or burial.

Eligibility and relief amount will be determined by the department on a case-to-case basis and is limited to a maximum of $120 for each household member in an emergency situation.

How do I apply for relief assistance in Alaska?

An electronic application for emergency assistance is currently not available. Please contact (800) 478-7778 (TDD/Alaska Relay: 7-1-1) and apply for GRA benefits over the phone.

Alaska Medicaid

Alaska Medicaid is the primary health insurance program for specified low-income target groups in Alaska, which includes:

1. Medicaid
2. Denali KidCare
3. Chronic and Acute Medical Assistance (CAMA)

Chronic and Acute Medical Assistance (CAMA) is a state-funded program for Alaskans aged 21 to 65 who do not qualify for Medicaid but who need help with one or more specific illnesses

Who is eligible for Alaska Medicaid?

Potential recipients include low-income children, pregnant women, families, and the elderly, blind, and permanently disabled who qualify for Alaska’s Adult Public Assistance (APA).

Medicaid expansion provides coverage to most adults age 19—64 with incomes less than 138% of the Alaska’s poverty level or about $3,831 a month or less for a family of three.²

How do I apply for Alaska Medicaid?

You can apply for Medicaid online through Alaska Connect Portal  or HealthCare.gov . If you qualify for Medicaid, your application will be forwarded to the Alaska Division of Public Assistance (DPA) for processing.

Virtual Contact Center
(800) 478-7778

Alaska Denali KidCare (CHIP)

Denali KidCare is a Medicaid health coverage for children from birth through age 18, including post-partum care of pregnant women who meet income guidelines.

Denali KidCare provides Medicaid coverage if the household income does not exceed 208% of the Alaska’s poverty standard or about $5,774 a month for a family of three.

There is no premium charged for eligible children, teens and pregnant women. However, youth age 18 may be required to share a limited amount of the cost for some services.

How do I apply for Denali KidCare?

If a child in your care is currently uninsured, text KIDCARE to 898-211 to see if they are eligible to receive health insurance coverage through Denali KidCare.

Questions about Denali KidCare coverage
(888) 804-6330

Alaska Child Care Assistance Program

Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) in Alaska is known as “Parents Achieving Self Sufficiency” (PASS) and is divided into three categories:

1. PASS I,
2. PASS II,
3. PASS III.

PASS I provides child care assistance for families receiving benefits under the Alaska Temporary Assistance Program. Unlike the other two, PASS I does not require you to contribute toward your child care costs.

PASS II is for those who are transitioning from the Alaska TAP and PASS III is for families who are not eligible for, or who have never received, PASS I or PASS II.

Depending on your family’s size and monthly income, you will be responsible to contribute, on a monthly basis, toward your child care costs.

What is the income limit for child care assistance in Alaska?

In Alaska, eligibility for CCAP is capped at 85% of the State Median Income (SMI). For example, a household of three may qualify with a monthly income of $7,655 or less.

How do I apply for child care assistance in Alaska?

If you are already receiving ATAP benefits, contact your case manager or DPA case worker to request for more information on how to apply for PASS I child care assistance.

Eligibility for PASS II/III child care assistance, on the other hand, is not automatic. You must complete and submit an application to your local Child Care Assistance office .

Alaska Heating Assistance Program (HAP)

Alaska’s Heating Assistance Program — commonly known as “HAP” — is a safeguard to offset the cost of home heating for eligible Alaskan residents, providing one-time payment each season between October 1 and April 30.

HAP requires a recipient household to be at or below 150% of the Alaska’s poverty standard and have at least $200 in out-of-pocket heating costs each year.

The income limits for families of different sizes are listed in the table below.

Benefits are calculated using a point system based on the area of the state where you live, heat type, dwelling type, household size and income.

Applications are available at the Division of Public Assistance (DPA) offices throughout the state. ¹

Alaska HAP Information Hotline

Alaska Unemployment Insurance

Alaska Unemployment Insurance (UI) is designed to provide temporary benefit payments to eligible Alaskans who lost their jobs through no fault of their own.

To qualify for unemployment benefits in Alaska, you must have earned at least $2,500 across two calendar quarters in a recent ‘base period’, which is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters prior to filing a claim.

How much do I get for unemployment in Alaska?

The unemployment insurance benefits are based on the amount of wages earned during the covered period. In Alaska, the benefits range from $56 to $370 per week, claimable up to a total of 26 weeks.

In addition, you may collect a dependent’s allowance of $24 per week per dependent, for up to three dependents.

How do I file for unemployment in Alaska?

For the fastest filing method, go to my.ALASKA.gov  and click on “Unemployment Insurance Benefits” to initiate a claim or if you wish to file over the phone, contact the number listed below for claim center closest to your area.

As a condition of eligibility, those who file for a claim are required to seek work and report a required number of work searches for each week claimed, unless deferred.

Alaska Education Grant (AEG)

Alaska Education Grant (AEG) provides need-based financial assistance to eligible Alaska students attending qualifying postsecondary institutions in Alaska.

Grant awards typically range from $500 to $4,000 per academic year for students who have qualifying unmet financial need as determined by the FAFSA.

The availability of funds is limited, so eligible students with the highest financial need will be awarded in order of need until funds are exhausted.

Alaska Performance Scholarship (APS)

Alaska Performance Scholarship provides an opportunity for Alaska high school students to earn a scholarship to help cover the cost of postsecondary education in Alaska.

To qualify for APS, students must take a specific, rigorous high school curriculum, earn a minimum 2.5 GPA, and do well on a college or career-readiness exam.

How much is the Alaska Performance Scholarship?

Alaska’s hardest-working students with GPA 3.5 may earn up to $7,000 a year, up to $5,250 for students with GPA 3.0 and up to $3,500 for students with GPA 2.5.

Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD)

Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) is a taxable, yearly dividend, financed indirectly from oil revenues, paid by the state government to every Alaska residents including all men, women, and children.

To be eligible for a PFD, you must have been an Alaska resident for the entire calendar year preceding the date you apply for a dividend.

The application period is January 1 through March 31 of the year for which you are applying. Applications filed after March 31 will be denied by law as late applications.

How much will Alaska PFD be this year?

According to the Department of Revenue, the dividend payout for 2025 is $1,000 per household member, which comes to about $3,000 for a family of three.