Who qualifies?

To qualify for SNAP you must meet the following requirements:

Residency - Applicants must be residents of the State of Alaska.

Age and Relationship - There are no specific age limits to receive SNAP benefits. Parents and their children 21 years old or younger living together are considered one household. Minors who apply on their own must be living independently. People living together and who purchase and prepare food together are treated as one household.

Citizenship and Social Security Numbers - An applicant must be a U.S. citizen, a U.S. National, or a qualified alien to get SNAP benefits. Some legal immigrants are ineligible for SNAP benefits; however, dependents of an ineligible immigrant are often eligible. All household members must have a social security number or proof of having applied for one.

Work - To receive SNAP benefits, most able-bodied people between 16 and 59 years old must register for work, participate in an Employment & Training (E&T) program, if offered, accept offers of employment, and cannot quit a job. In addition, unless exempt, SNAP benefits are limited to three months within a 36-month period for Able Bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWDs) between the ages of 18 and 54 who are not working or participating in an approved E&T program an average of 20 hours per week.

Other Factors - Workers on strike must be resource and income eligible before the day of the strike. Most college students must be working half time, enrolled in work-study, caring for young dependents, or receiving Temporary Assistance. Felons convicted of drug-related offenses are not eligible for SNAP benefits unless they meet specific conditions. Individuals disqualified for fraud are ineligible for one year for the first offense, two years for the second offense, and permanently for the third. Dependents of disqualified or ineligible individuals may be eligible.

Resource Test - The asset limit is $3,000 for most households and $4,750 for households containing a member who is disabled or 60 years or older.

Many types of assets are not counted such as the home you occupy and its lot, household goods, burial plots, cash value of life insurance, money in retirement savings accounts, pension plans, income producing property, 529 college savings plans, and vehicles used for an exempt reason or with an equity value under $1,500.

Countable assets include cash on hand, money in checking or savings accounts, certificates of deposit, U.S. savings bonds, stocks, bonds, property not up for sale, crowdfunding accounts, and lump-sum payments. Special rules apply to Alaska Permanent Fund Dividends.

Income Test. SNAP does not count loans, Title IV Education Act and Bureau of Indian Affairs Grants and Awards, reimbursements, Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Corporation payments to shareholders, heating or energy assistance, and earnings of children under age 18 who are in school.

Countable income includes wages, self-employment, public assistance benefits, unemployment benefits, worker's compensation, child support, Social Security benefits (SSA), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), pensions, and Senior Benefits payments. Special rules apply to Alaska Permanent Fund Dividends.

Deductions. SNAP rules allow income deductions, including a 20% deduction of gross earned income, a standard deduction of $371 given to households with one to five members and $385 given to households with six or more members, a deduction for dependent care costs if they are for a child who is a member of the SNAP household and are necessary to allow a household member to work or attend school, medical expenses over $35 for elderly or disabled household members, and a shelter/utility deduction not to exceed $1,229 for most households. There is no limit on shelter/utility deductions for households that contain an elderly or disabled individual.