Government Benefits in Alaska
Where Alaska residents apply for SNAP, Medicaid, home energy assistance, and unemployment insurance, plus every nationwide program available to everyone.
How This Works
SNAP, Medicaid, LIHEAP, and unemployment insurance are all administered at the state level, so each state runs its own application portal and sets some of its own rules — including, for Medicaid, whether the state expanded eligibility to more adults under the Affordable Care Act, and for unemployment insurance, the maximum weekly benefit and how long you can collect it. The cards below link you straight to Alaska's official application system for each program. Exact SNAP/Medicaid income limits change with annual poverty-guideline updates, so we intentionally don't publish a specific number for those — the portal will show your exact cutoff for your household size. Unemployment insurance figures below are official published caps from the U.S. Department of Labor, current as of January 2026.
SNAP
AK Div. of Public Assistance
Same office also handles Medicaid and other public assistance programs.
Alaska Medicaid (DenaliCare)
Medicaid ExpandedAK Div. of Public Assistance
Alaska expanded Medicaid, so adults without dependent children can qualify based on income alone.
Heating Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
AK Dept. of Health & Social Services
State-run heating assistance program for eligible low-income households.
Unemployment Insurance
Has Waiting WeekAK Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development
Max Weekly
$370 ($442 with dependents)
Min Weekly
$56
Max Duration
16–26 weeks
Alaska is one of three states where employees also contribute to UI funding.
Looking for more programs available to Alaska residents?
Alaska residents also qualify for every nationwide program on our full benefits tool — WIC, Lifeline phone/internet discounts, ACA health insurance subsidies, SSI, SSDI, Section 8, VA disability compensation, TANF, Pell Grants, Head Start, and unemployment insurance.
See All 16 Programs →