Assistance Programs in Alaska

The Heating Assistance Program, HAP, is Alaska's LIHEAP: a one-time seasonal payment sent straight to your heating vendor as a credit on your account. The heating season runs October 1 through April 30, and the deadline for regular, non-crisis help is April 30. Apply through the Alaska Connect portal or a local Public Assistance office, or call 800-478-7778.

Alaska's Weatherization program makes energy-efficiency repairs at no cost to income-eligible households: air sealing, insulation, and heating-system work that lowers future bills. The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, AHFC, runs it through regional providers, and both homeowners and renters can qualify, including condos. Contact your regional weatherization provider to apply, or call AHFC at 907-338-6100 or 800-478-2432 in Alaska.

SNAP is Alaska's food assistance program: monthly food money loaded onto an Alaska Quest EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. The fastest way to apply is online through the Alaska Connect portal, linked from the Division of Public Assistance SNAP page. You can also apply by phone through the Virtual Contact Center at 800-478-7778 (TDD or Alaska Relay 7-1-1) or at a local Public Assistance office.

WIC gives free healthy foods, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children under age 5. Alaska WIC runs through local clinics across the state. Call the state WIC office at 907-465-3100 to find your local clinic and start, or look up a clinic by region online.

Alaska Medicaid is free or low-cost health coverage for children, pregnant people, families, seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income adults. Alaska expanded Medicaid in 2015 to cover adults ages 19 to 64 without dependent children, and Denali KidCare covers children and pregnant people. Apply through HealthCare.gov or the Alaska Connect portal, or call the Virtual Contact Center at 800-478-7778.

The Child Care Assistance Program helps low-income working families in Alaska pay for child care, funded through the federal Child Care Development Fund. It lowers what you pay a licensed or approved provider so you can work, look for work, or go to school. Call the Child Care Program Office at 907-269-4500 or toll-free 888-268-4632 to start.

The Alaska Senior Benefits Program pays a monthly cash benefit of $125, $175, or $250 to low-income Alaskans age 65 and older, with the amount set by your other income. Savings and resources do not count. Apply online through the Alaska Connect portal or by phone at 800-478-7778, and the benefit arrives by direct deposit or an Alaska Quest EBT card.

The Alaska Temporary Assistance Program, ATAP, is the state's TANF program: monthly cash assistance and work services for low-income families with children. Most adults follow a Work First plan of job search, training, or work experience while the cash steadies the household. Apply online through the Alaska Connect portal or by phone through the Virtual Contact Center at 800-478-7778.

Unemployment Insurance pays temporary weekly benefits if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The fastest way to file is online through myAlaska at my.alaska.gov. You can also reach a UI Claim Center by phone: Anchorage 907-269-4700, Fairbanks 907-451-2871, or Juneau 907-465-5552, open 10am to 3pm, Monday through Friday.

Alaska Legal Services Corporation provides free civil legal help to low-income Alaskans on housing, family, consumer, public benefits, health care, and Alaska Native law matters. Call the statewide intake line at 1-888-478-2572 to reach the office serving your area, or apply online at alsc-law.org/intake. Offices are open Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Dial 2-1-1 from any Alaska phone for free, confidential help finding local assistance with housing, utilities, food, health care, and more. Alaska 2-1-1 is a statewide service of United Way of Anchorage that refers you to the programs and funds near you. You can also search at alaska211.org.