Alaska Food Stamps Eligibility

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Who is Eligible for Alaska Food Stamp Benefits?

The Alaska food stamps eligibility rules and benefit amounts are based on residency, limited income, limited liquid resources, household size, work requirement and other factors depending on the case.

Most Alaska food stamps eligibility rules are determined by regulations issued by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service.

The federal law allows States some flexibility when using the federal grants to implement SNAP on State level. State agencies can adapt some of the food assistance program rules in order to meet the needs of the low‐income local population. For example, Alaska has higher Food Stamp Benefits per household size for its rural areas and special rules that allow buying hunting and fishing supplies with issued food stamps.

Alaska food stamps eligibility rules are designed to qualify for Food Stamp Benefits individuals and families with limited income resources, who compose a household, and purchase and prepare their meals together for home consumption.

Alaska Food Stamp Benefits applicants must meet the following basic eligibility requirements:

• State of Alaska Resident – U.S. Citizen or Eligible Legal Alien (some legal immigrants may not be eligible);
• Work Requirement – unless exempted, each household member between 16-59 years old must work or be registered to work;
• Resource Test – have countable household assets limited to $2,250 ($3,250 for households containing a member who is disabled or 60 years of age or older);
• Income Test – Income limits eligibility depends on household size and composition. Households with no elderly or disabled individuals must meet both gross and net income limits. Households with elderly or disabled individuals must meet only the net income limits. Gross income includes wages, salaries, commissions, dividends, child support, self-employment income, unemployment compensation, social security benefits, etc. There are special rules for Alaska Permanent Fund Dividends. See the table with Alaska food stamp income limits per household size below.

Alaska food stamp eligibility rules allow for some Alaska households to be automatically or so-called categorically eligible for Food Stamp Benefits if they already participate in other means-tested assistance programs. If everyone in the household receives benefits from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) federal block grant or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) they do not need to meet any of the income limits. The participation of the household in those other programs makes the applicants for Food Stamp Benefits categorically eligible, thus bypassing the income and asset eligibility rules.

Quick Alaska Food Stamps Eligibility Check

Use this Pre-Screening Eligibility Tool to find out if you might be eligible to get Alaska Food Stamp Benefits. The Screening allows interested in getting Alaska food stamps to provide some basic information and determine if they are potentially eligible for benefits. Although you will be notified immediately if you qualify after completing the questionnaire you still have to make an application at your local Alaska Public Assistance district office.

Food Stamp Program | Apply | Approval | Benefits

To figure out, before applying,  if you’d qualify for food stamps benefits in your state you have to consider the following:

1. Your Household size: How many people you live and buy food with? Count:
   • anyone you live with and buy and make food with
   • children under 22 years old and,
   • elderly 60+ and disabled that you make food for.
2. Your Income: How much money does your household make? This includes both:
   • earned income – the money you make from jobs and
   • unearned income  – cash assistance, Social Security, unemployment insurance, child support, etc.

Who counts as a member of the household for SNAP eligibility?

In general, anyone who lives with you and you buy food with counts a member of your household.

Your children under 22 of age count as household members, even if they buy and make their own food.

But your tenant, for example, or your adult children that are over 22 of age do not count. They are not counted in the household number for the purpose of food stamp benefits qualification.

The elderly age of 60+ and disabled people count as household members if you buy and make food for them, or you buy and make food together. If they live with you, but they buy and make food separately, they do not count as household members.

See the updated table below for this fiscal year’s income limits and monthly benefits (allotments).

What is the gross and net income limit that qualifies you for food stamps?

SNAP Max Income for Food Stamps
Oct. 1, 2019, through Sept. 30, 2020 

 Source:  USDA, SNAP Income Eligibility Standards

Keep in mind that the gross monthly income includes earned and unearned income. Earned income is the money you get from working, like your paycheck. Unearned income includes money you are getting from sources like Cash Assistance Government Program, Social Security, Unemployment Insurance Benefits, etc. If you are getting child support payments, you must include them in your gross income calculation.  Learn more about the SNAP food stamps eligibility on the federal level here.