Alaska Food Stamps and EBT Guide

If you are trying to see if you are eligible to apply for Food stamps in Alaska (SNAP) or need more information about Alaska EBT, you’ve come to the right place. The Alaska food stamps and EBT program is a federal nutrition program that helps low-income individuals and families buy food.

Food Stamps benefits can be used to purchase food at grocery stores, convenience stores, and some farmers’ markets.

The program is run at the state level by the Alaska Division of Public Assistance (DPA)

If you apply and are approved for benefits, your monthly food stamps allocation will be given to you each month on a plastic card called an EBT (electronic benefits transfer) card, which works like a debit card.

We have provided below everything you need to know to successfully apply for food stamps. We have also explained how EBT Card works and what you can expect with your card if you are approved for food stamps.

In this post, we will cover the following:

• Should I apply for Alaska Food Stamps?
• Who is Eligible for Alaska Food Stamps?
• 2019/2020 Alaska Food Stamps Income Limit
• How Much Will I Recieve in Alaska Food Stamps?
• How to Apply for Alaska Food Stamps
• How long to get Approved for Alaska Food Stamps?
• What is Alaska EBT Card?
• What can I buy with EBT in Alaska?
• What time are Food Stamps EBT deposited in Alaska?
• How to Check Alaska EBT Card Balance?
• How Do I Get an Alaska EBT Card Replacement?
• Alaska EBT Discounts, Perks and Freebies

Should I apply for Alaska Food Stamps?

If you’ve hit tough times and are struggling to afford food for yourself or your family, you should consider applying for food stamps.

The food stamps program is a federal entitlement program. This means anyone who is eligible will receive benefits. You will not be taking away benefits from someone else if you apply.

In addition, the food stamps program is a nutrition program and not a welfare cash assistance program (which is called TANF). You do not have to be receiving TANF to get food stamps.

Who is Eligible for Alaska Food Stamps?

The food stamps program is SNAP focused on helping low-income individuals and families, predominantly serving households with children, elderly or disabled members.

Nearly half of all food stamps participants are children.

Eligibility for SNAP is limited to people with gross incomes up to 130% of the federal poverty line.

This means that a family of four can make no more than $2,790 a month to receive benefits. However, in Alaska, that number is $3,488.

Able-bodied adults without dependents can only receive three months of benefits during any three-year period if they’re not working a minimum of 20 hours per week or participating in a training program.

There are several requirements you have to meet to be approved for Alaska food stamps and EBT, however, the most important is the income limit.

As stated above, to be eligible for food stamps, your gross income cannot exceed 130% of the federal poverty line.

In addition, after deductions are taken out, your net income cannot exceed 100% of the poverty level.

2019/2020 Alaska Food Stamps Income Limit

Below is the 2019/2020 food stamps income limit. It is based on the number of people in your household. For example, if you are a family of 4, you cannot make more than a gross income of $3,488 to qualify for food stamps.

Here is what the table looks like after allowable deductions are applied.

How Much Will I Recieve in Alaska Food Stamps?

The amount of food stamps benefits a household gets depends on how many people are in the household and how much monthly net income remains after taking allowable deductions.

Because food stamps households are expected to spend about 30 percent of their own resources on food, the amount of food stamps you get is calculated by multiplying your household’s net monthly income by 0.3, and subtracting the result from the maximum monthly allotment for your household size.

How to Apply for Alaska Food Stamps

There are 3 ways you can apply for food stamps in Alaska.

Option 1 – Apply online

You can apply online through my.alaska.gov account (as shown in the image below). If you have an account, you can login or create your my.alaska.gov account. Click here to be taken to the website.

Option 2 – Apply at DPA Office Near You

You can apply in person at the Alaska Division of Public Assistance (DPA) office near you. Click here to locate a DPA office.

Option 3 – Download Alaska Food Stamps Application

You can download an application, complete it and mail it to your county DPA office or submit it in person.

How long to get Approved for Alaska Food Stamps?

Once you submit a complete application, your caseworker will schedule an interview with you to review your application information and ask any questions they may have about the information you submitted.

Generally, a decision will be made on your food stamps application within 30 days of the day you submitted a COMPLETE application.

What is an Alaska EBT Card?

The Alaska EBT Card, also called the Alaska Quest card is used to administer your monthly benefits.

If you are approved for food stamps, your monthly food stamps allocation will be given to you each month on an Alaska EBT Card, which works like a debit card.

What can I buy with EBT in Alaska?

You are allowed to use your food stamps benefits card to buy foods that your household will prepare to eat at home, including the following

• breads and cereals
• fruits and vegetables
• meats, fish and poultry; and
• dairy products
• Seeds and plants to produce food for the household to eat
• Soft drinks, candy, cookies, snack crackers, and ice cream
• Seafood, steak, and bakery cakes
• Energy drinks that have a nutrition facts label
• Energy drinks that have a supplement facts label are classified by the FDA as supplements and are therefore not eligible

Now that you know what you can buy with your SNAP card, here is the list of things you CANNOT buy with the card:

• Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes or tobacco
• Any nonfood items, such as pet foods, soaps, paper products, diapers, and household supplies
• Vitamins and medicines
• Food that will be eaten in the store
• Hot foods
• Live animals

NOTE: In some areas, restaurants can be authorized to accept SNAP benefits from qualified homeless, elderly, or disabled people in exchange for low-cost meals.

What time are food stamps EBT deposited in Alaska?

Food Stamps Benefits in Alaska are deposited into EBT Card accounts on the first day of every month and are available at midnight.

How to Check Alaska EBT Card Balance?

There are three ways to check your Alaska EBT Card balance.

Option 1

Call 1-888-997-8111 to check the balance on your Alaska Quest Card

Option 2

• You can check the balance online here

Option 3

• You can also check the balance by locating your Last Receipt

How Do I Get an Alaska EBT Card Replacement?

To report your card lost, stolen, damaged, or not received in the mail call the Alaska EBT Customer Service number at – 1-888-997-8111.

If your EBT card is stolen and benefits are used these benefits cannot be replaced.

You can also call the number above for the following:

• To report your card lost, stolen, damaged, or not received in the mail.
• To know the date your benefits will be available in your account each month.
• To know if your benefits have been deposited into your account and get your account balance.
• To hear your last 10 transactions.
• To file a claim if you question a transaction in your account.
• If you want to select or change your PIN.
• If your card does not work.
• To find the nearest location where you can use your card.
• If you have other questions about or problems with your card.

Alaska EBT Discounts

Your Alaska EBT Card comes with some perks, discounts, and freebies.

Sign up for Amazon Prime Discount for EBT Holders

Amazon.com has announced that beneficiaries enrolled in some government assistance programs can now get Amazon Prime subscriptions for $5.99 a month. EBT Cardholders are included in this offer.

This means that if you are currently receiving benefits on an EBT card, like Food Stamps, you can sign up for Amazon Prime discount for EBT holders. To sign up, click here to be taken to their sign-up page.

The regular Amazon Prime membership is $12.99 a month. However, if you have an EBT Card, you can get Prime Membership for $5.99. That’s over 50% off the regular price.

Home Phone and Cell Phone Services

If you are currently on Food Stamps, and your income is below a certain level, you may qualify for FREE or low-cost cell phone or home phone service for you or a member of your family through the Federal Lifeline Program, which serves nearly 13 million Americans.

This program provides discounts on cell phone service or home phone service for qualifying low-income consumers, including those on Food Stamps. Here are the companies that participate in the program in the state of Alabama. 

There are different companies providing cell phone and home phone service. Be sure to view the “Type of Service” column to make sure you are selecting the right company.

Free things to do with EBT Card in Alaska

The Alaska Museums listed below all offer individual admission fees ranging from FREE to $3.00 to individuals and families who have an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, and a valid form of photo ID. The offer covers up to four individuals per EBT card

We advise that you call the museum first before you go to confirm their hours and the offer for Alaska EBT Cardholders. 

Fairbanks Children’s Museum

302 Cushman Street 

Fairbanks, Alaska 99701

907-374-6873

Website

Directions

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