NORTH DAKOTA

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North Dakota Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

North Dakota TANF provides monthly cash assistance for poor families with children under age 18 along with work readiness, training and job placement services.

Unless determined to be exempt, most TANF recipients are required to participate in the Job Opportunity and Basic Skills (JOBS) program which is the employment and training component of North Dakota’s TANF program.

If you have a child under age 6, you are required to participate in an approved work activity for an average of 20 hours per week to maintain eligibility for TANF.

How much cash assistance will I get in North Dakota?

In North Dakota, TANF benefits vary by household size, income, and available resources. A family of three with no income may receive up to $872 per month in cash assistance.

If you need short-term help rather than long-term ongoing cash assistance, you may request for assistance through the Diversion Assistance.

How do I apply for TANF in North Dakota?

Applications for TANF can be done online using the Self-Service Portal  (SSP) or apply in person at the Human Service Zone office near you.¹

Economic Assistance Policy Division
TANF / JOBS Programs
(800) 755-2716

North Dakota Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

North Dakota SNAP provides monthly food assistance benefits to low-income individuals and families to help them afford a nutritionally adequate diet.

SNAP benefits can be used to buy food products at any participating grocery stores, farmers markets and other USDA-approved vendors.

As a condition of eligibility, all SNAP recipients who aren’t exempt must either work or participate in an approved activity for a certain number of hours per week.

What is the income limit for SNAP in North Dakota?

In North Dakota, eligibility for SNAP is based on gross income up to 200% of the poverty level or about $4,442 per month for a family of three.

How do I apply for SNAP/TANF in North Dakota?

To apply for SNAP/TANF, please complete and submit your application online  or contact the local Human Service Zone Office in the county in which you reside.¹

North Dakota Medicaid

North Dakota Medicaid is a program designed to assist individuals and families who are uninsured, or who have health insurance that does not cover all of the individual’s or family’s medical needs.

It covers families with children up to age 18, pregnant women, women with breast or cervical cancer and people who are aging, blind and disabled.

What are the income guidelines for Medicaid in North Dakota?

As North Dakota is expanding Medicaid coverage, all non-elderly adults age 19—64 and children age 6-18 qualify with income up to at least 138% of poverty level. Newborns and children under age 5 qualify with income up to 147%.

How do I apply for Medicaid in North Dakota?

Medicaid enrollment is year-round; you do not need to wait for an open enrollment period to apply for Medicaid in North Dakota.

Complete and submit an Application for Medicaid using the Self-Service Portal  (SSP). The completed application will be directed to the appropriate county social service office.

You can also enroll by phone at (800) 318-2596, or you can apply in person or by mail at your local County Social Services Office .

North Dakota Healthy Steps

Healthy Steps provides health coverage to uninsured children in North Dakota whose families earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but too little to afford private coverage.

Healthy Steps is a Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) for children up to age 18 that includes vision and dental coverage.

For most families, it’s free. The only out-of-pocket costs are a $2 co-payment for each prescription, a $5 co-payment for each emergency room visit, and a $50 co-payment for each hospital admission.

What is the income limit for CHIP in North Dakota?

Families with incomes of 205% of the federal poverty level — that’s $4,553 a month for a family of three — now qualify for North Dakota Healthy Steps.

For eligibility questions, contact
N.D. Department of Human Services
(877) 543-7669

North Dakota Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)

North Dakota CCAP is the state subsidy program targeted at low-income families who need help paying for child care. It provides assistance with payment for child care on a sliding fee basis for eligible parents.

Most families pay a co-payment, which is the amount you are required to pay towards the costs of child care. This sliding fee chart  shows what the co-payment would be based on your income and household size.

What is the income limit for child care assistance in North Dakota?

Eligibility is based on the family’s gross income and household size. In North Dakota, eligibility is capped at 75% of State Median Income (SMI). For a family of three, that’s about $6,820 a month to qualify.

How do I apply for child care assistance in North Dakota?

You can submit an application online using the Self-Service Portal  or apply in person at the Human Service Zone office  near you.

For questions about eligibility, call
Customer Support Center
(866) 614-6005

North Dakota Special Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

North Dakota WIC is a nutrition program that provides nutrition and health education, healthy food, health screenings and other services, at no cost, to qualifying families.

The program serves pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children younger than 5 years of age whose gross income falls below certain limits and are at risk for nutritional deficiencies.

What is the income limit for WIC in North Dakota?

WIC is open to North Dakota families with a household income less than or equal to 185% of the poverty level. That’s about $4,109 per month for a family of three.

If you’re on SNAP or Medicaid, you will automatically qualify for WIC since these programs have stricter income limits. But you still need to have a nutritional risk to be fully qualified.

How do I apply for WIC in ND?

Call (800) 472-2286 to request for a certification appointment from a WIC clinic near you. Due to COVID-19, you can complete your WIC appointment over the phone.

North Dakota Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

North Dakota LIHEAP helps eligible low-income families with home heating costs. The program partially pays the cost of natural gas, electricity, propane, fuel oil, coal, wood, or other fuel sources.

The program also covers:

• Weatherization services (insulation, weather stripping around doors and windows, etc.)
• Furnace cleaning, repair, and replacement
• Chimney cleaning and inspection
• Emergency assistance

Qualifying households may receive up to $1,100 in heating assistance and up to $500 in crisis assistance. For LIHEAP cooling, which is available during the summer months, the cap is $1,000.

What is the monthly income limit for LIHEAP in North Dakota?

Eligibility for LIHEAP is based on 60% of North Dakota’s median income, based on household size as shown in the table below.

Applications for LIHEAP are available at your county social services office or you can submit your application online through the Self-Service Portal (SSP) . Applications are accepted from October 1 to May 31 each year, or until program funds are exhausted.

For help completing and submitting a LIHEAP application, call
(800) 823-2417

North Dakota Unemployment Insurance

North Dakota Unemployment Insurance (UI) provides temporary income support to eligible workers unemployed through no fault of their own.

In order to be eligible for unemployment benefits in ND, you must have earned a minimum amount of wages in a recent ‘base period’, which is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters

How much unemployment benefits can I get in North Dakota?

Those who file for a new claim may be entitled to up to 26 weeks of unemployment benefits. Weekly benefit amounts range from a minimum of $43 to a maximum of $786.

How do I file for unemployment in North Dakota?

There are two ways to file your claim either online using Job Service North Dakota’s UI ICE  or by telephone using the automated telephone system by calling (701) 328-4995.

North Dakota State Grant

North Dakota State Grant, also known as State Student Incentive Grant (SSIG) awards up to $1,375 per semester or $917 per quarter to first-time undergraduate students pursuing an eligible program at a qualifying North Dakota institution at least quarter-time.

Qualifying institutions include the state accredited public, tribal, and private institutions, provided the institutions have programs of study of at least two years in length.

Application is through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by April 15 for priority consideration. As funding is limited, applications are accepted until all funds are committed.

North Dakota Supplemental State Grant

Supplemental State Grant provides additional financial assistance students who are recipients of the North Dakota State Grant.

Award amounts depend on a student’s financial need, other aid received, and available funding. The total award cannot exceed the cost of regular undergraduate tuition.

To be considered for the supplemental grant, a student must:

1. Must first be awarded the ND State Grant
2. Have total family income (as reported on the FAFSA) of $80,000 or less
3. Must be enrolled in at least 3 credit hours
4. Must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and complete verification, if required

If you qualify, your institution will automatically include the Supplemental State Grant in your financial aid offer. Funds are disbursed after the ND State Grant is applied each semester.