Division of Public Assistance
Public assistance promotes self-sufficiency and provides basic living expenses to Alaskans in need. Read more…
Our programs help with:
Division of Public Assistance (DPA) Service Changes – 11/8/23 - 11/12/23
Starting at noon on Wednesday, November 8, DPA will have limited access its electronic filing system because of scheduled system maintenance. We apologize for any delays that might occur when workers need access to older documents to make decisions, or are checking the status of paperwork received by the division. Staff will make every effort to use other information to minimize the impact on clients. It is not necessary to resubmit paperwork sent before November 8 at noon.
Regular service will resume on Monday, November 13. The division’s eligibility information systems will not be affected by this scheduled maintenance.- September 28, 2003 - SNAP Interviews to Resume October 2nd
During COVID, Alaska was able to work SNAP applications without the required interview. This ends on September 30th, and interviews are starting again for new applicants and recertifications on October 2nd. If your household is due, we will schedule an interview for you when we register your SNAP application or recertification. Reviews for other programs with no SNAP involvement will continue to be processed without requiring an interview.
- September 13, 2023 - Replacement of Electronically Stolen SNAP Benefits
The Consolidated Appropriations Act included a temporary provision that allows for the replacement of electronically stolen Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. States will only be able to replace SNAP benefits that were electronically stolen from October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2024. (Read More)
- June 20, 2023 - Interim Reports for SNAP recipients
Starting June 1, 2023, the division requires SNAP households to complete and return a report halfway through their certification period to continue eligibility. For more information, see:
- April 20, 2023 - Public Health Emergency Ending
The COVID-19 public health emergency is set to expire on May 11, 2023. This means that the flexibilities permitted during the PHE will end, but the end date will vary depending on the type of flexibility approved by CMS. Find out more on the Alaska Department of Health’s Public Health Emergency Ending website.
- February 15, 2023 - Medicaid Renewals
Alaska will return to the regular pre-pandemic process of Medicaid annual renewals beginning April 1, 2023. When it is your turn for renewal, we will recheck your eligibility to make sure you still qualify for coverage.
- January 11, 2023 –
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
SNAP requires most households receiving benefits to demonstrate that they continue to meet program eligibility criteria every six months. This process is called recertification. As part of the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the requirement for recertification was suspended. In July 2022, this requirement was reinstated, and DPA must request that SNAP households provide documentation to review eligibility. To better address questions the public may have about processing these recertifications, DPA has compiled some answers to these Frequently Asked Questions.
- January 11, 2023 - SNAP recertification application timelines:
- Filed on or before the 15th of the last month of the current certification period, uninterrupted SNAP benefits.
- Filed after the 15th but before the end of the certification period, within 30 days.
- Applications filed during the month following the expiration of the certification period are considered initial applications and follow timeframes for regular and expedited SNAP applications.
We will continue to improve our systems and processes to give Alaskans the fastest possible service.
- October 3, 2022 - Language Interpretation Services
Did you know that DPA offers no-cost language interpretation services for people when they interact with the department? Callers can reach the division’s Virtual Contact Center in their preferred language, by using the numbers provided for commonly spoken languages that are listed on our Foreign Language Support page.
- June 30, 2022: Director’s letter about changes to supplements for SNAP recipients
- June 24, 2022: Director's message regarding 2022 WIC service changes
More Help