Alaska, AK

In a state where “we live and die by oil”, Alaska is officially in recession due to plummeting oil prices hitting the state hard. Among the hardest-hit is single parent families who are already struggling to make ends meet — even during the best of times.
$923
$681
$370
26
208%
138%
326%
0

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.

How do I apply for welfare in Alaska?

To apply for Alaska Temporary Assistance Program (ATAP), you need to download an application and submit it to the Public Assistance office closest to you.

Adult Public Assistance (APA) #

Adult Public Assistance (APA), a program run by the Alaska Division of Public Assistance, provides cash assistance​ to needy aged, blind, and disabled Alaskans with income and resources within APA eligibility threshold.

How much is adult public assistance in Alaska?

Alaska Food Stamp Program #

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

Eligible applicants must pass income and assets tests. The gross income test is based on 130% of the current Alaska’s poverty standard — about $3,119 per month for a single mother of two. 1

How do I apply for food stamps in Alaska?

Alaska does not have an online application. If you think you might be eligible for food stamps benefits and want to apply, download and submit an application form to the Public Assistance office closest to you.

Alaska General Relief Assistance (GRA) #

General Relief Assistance (GRA) is a safety net program designed to help 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. However, the amount of assistance for subsistence is limited to a maximum of $120 for each household member.

Alaska Medicaid #

Medicaid is a health insurance program for specified low-income target groups in Alaska. Potential recipients include children, pregnant women, the aged, blind, and/or disabled, as well as women with breast or cervical cancer.

Eligibility is determined based on income, resources, residency status, and other requirements. The state’s Medicaid covers parents up to 138% of the poverty level and up to 205% for pregnant women.


How do I apply for Alaska Medicaid?

Apply for Medicaid online at MyAlaska — you’ll need to create an account if you don’t already have one. Alternatively, you may enroll through Healthcare.gov.


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 federal poverty — about $59,880 a year 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 FREE health insurance through Denali KidCare.

Alaska Child Care Assistance Program #

Child care assistance in Alaska is known as “Parents Achieving Self Sufficiency” ( PASS ) and is divided into three categories: PASS I, PASS II, and PASS III.

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 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 a local Child Care Assistance office.

Alaska Heating Assistance Program (LIHEAP) #

The 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 November 1 and August 31.

HAP requires a recipient household to be at or below 150% of the federal poverty income guidelines and who have at least $200 in out-of-pocket heating costs each year.

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.

Information Hotline
1-888-804-6330 (Outside of Anchorage)
269-5777 (In Anchorage)

Alaska Unemployment Insurance #

Alaska’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) Program is designed to provide temporary benefit payments to eligible Alaskans who lost their jobs through no fault of their own, and who are ready, willing, and able to work.

Those who file for unemployment are required to seek work and report a required number of work searches for each week claimed, unless deferred.


How much is Alaska unemployment benefits?

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


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 your area.

Anchorage UI Claim Center
(907) 269-4700

Juneau UI Claim Center
(907) 465-5552

Fairbanks UI Claim Center
(907) 451-2871

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.

Students who meet the requirements for the largest scholarship level receive $4,755 per year for four years, or up to $19,020.

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.

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.

How much will Alaska PFD be this year? The dividend payout for 2022 is $3,284, which comes to about $9,850 for a family of three.

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.


  1. 100% of the federal poverty level for a family of three in Alaska is equal to $28,790.
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