Online Services for Key Low-Income Benefit Programs
What States Provide Online with Respect to SNAP, TANF, Child Care Assistance, Medicaid, and CHIP

PDF of this report (41pp.)

Revised May 1, 2013

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Virtually all states have made basic program information on the five main state-administered low-income benefit programs — SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as Food Stamps), Medicaid, CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program), TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), and child care assistance — available to the public via the Internet.  Many states, however, go much further, providing information such as application forms and data on the number of participants.  A number of states allow individuals to apply for benefits and transact certain related business online.  In addition to information provided for the five main state-administered low-income benefit programs, thirty states have General Assistance (GA) programs for individuals not qualifying for any other public assistance, and provide basic program information for GA online as well.   

This paper provides links to state information available online for these benefit programs.  Individuals seeking information about eligibility and benefits in a particular state will find these links a useful place to start.  Most state human service agencies also provide phone numbers for families to seek additional information.  In addition, individuals in most states (as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico) can call 2-1-1 on any type of telephone for help finding out about many kinds of assistance, including emergency help with food, housing, or clothing; physical or mental health treatment; and assistance for the aged, people with disabilities, and families with children.

Overview of Findings

Many states now provide a variety of information and services on their agency websites regarding SNAP, Medicaid, CHIP, TANF, child care assistance, and GA.  Some states provide online as well as printable applications, pre-screening tools, and the policy and procedure manuals that state agency eligibility workers use.  Table 1 below shows which states offer online applications for the five main state-administered low-income benefit programs (the table excludes GA programs.)  Some websites also allow applicants and recipients to check their application status, renew benefits, update family information, and even review benefit information online.  By making all of these materials and services readily accessible to the public, states can make their low-income benefit programs more transparent and accessible.  Table 2 below summarizes which states offer various online services.

Table 1:
ONLINE APPLICATIONS
State Y/N SNAP TANF Medicaid[1] Separate CHIP Child Care
AL Y X   X x  
AK N          
AZ Y x x X x  
AR Y x x X   x
CA Y x x X x  
CO Y x x X x x
CT N          
DE Y x x X x x
DC N          
FL Y x x X x  
GA Y x x X x x
HI N          
ID N          
IL Y x x X x  
IN Y x x X    
IA Y x x X x x
KS Y x x     x
KY N          
LA Y x x X x x
ME Y x x x   x
MD Y x x X   x
MA Y x        
MI Y x x X x x
MN Y X X X   X
MS N          
MO Y X X X x X
MT Y x x X x  
NE Y x x X   x
NV Y X X X x  
NH Y X X X X X
NJ Y x x X x X
NM N          
NY Y x        
NC N          
ND Y x x x x x
OH Y x x X    
OK Y     X    
OR Y X   X X  
PA Y x x X X X
RI Y x        
SC Y x x      
SD Y         X
TN Y x x X X  
TX Y x x X X  
UT Y x x X X X
VT Y x x X X X
VA Y x   X X  
WA Y x x X X X
WV Y x   X X  
WI Y x   X   X
WY Y     X X  
TOTAL 42 39 32 36 27 22
x = state provides an online application for this program.

Online applications allow individuals to complete and submit an application over the Internet.  They are a promising option to facilitate enrollment by enabling individuals to apply for benefits at a convenient time and place.  They also can facilitate community groups’ work to provide application assistance by allowing those groups to automatically transmit electronic applications.  Forty-two states offer online applications for at least one of the six public benefit programs.  Seventeen of those states have online applications for the main five programs:  Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia and Washington.  Only two states have online applications for all six programs:  Delaware and Maryland.  Twenty-five states provide their online application in Spanish as well as English:  Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Online policy manuals appear on all state websites for individual low-income public benefit programs; 22 of these states have the policy manuals for the five main programs on their websites.  The state policy manual is the handbook for agency workers and contains the rules, regulations, and procedures of the various benefit programs.  Some states have one policy manual that includes the policies for all public benefit programs; others have separate manuals for each program.

For purposes of Table 2, “policy manual” includes the manual that state agency caseworkers use to administer the program and also state statutes, administrative codes, or state plans pertaining to these programs.  Some states have web-based policy manuals in the form of a searchable database.  Providing a searchable manual helps to make state policies easy to locate and transparent to the public.  For example, Oregon’s policy manual includes a list of all of the benefit programs, an easy-to-use search engine that provides clear and detailed search results, and links to recent changes in the state’s policy manual so that users can see when policy changes were made and why. 

Twenty of the states that post the policy manuals also provide policy memoranda or transmittals to caseworkers describing recent changes in law or policy:  Alaska, Arizona, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. 

Printable applications for the various low-income benefit programs are available on all state websites.  A printable application allows applicants to complete the form and familiarize themselves with the application process at home, before visiting the state agency office.  This simple step can help to make the process more transparent and less daunting to potential applicants. 

Forty two states make some of their printable applications available in languages other than English.  Twenty-six of those states have printable applications in Spanish as well as English:  Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.  The other 16 states have printable applications in English plus one or more foreign languages other than Spanish:  California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri,  New York, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Save and return to complete application later, a function offered on 37 state websites, allows users to complete an application in multiple computer sessions without having to start each time from the beginning.  In order to provide this capability, online applications must ask users to set up a username and password or create an account so they can come back to work on their applications.  Although this is a useful feature, it is critical that such applications inform applicants of the importance of filing their application without delay.  For example, SNAP households receive benefits back to their date of application.

Eligibility screener/calculators are available for SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, CHIP, and child care assistance on fourteen state websites:  Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington. Four states have benefit screeners/calculators for the five main programs and General Assistance: Delaware, Maryland, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.  Six states have benefit screeners/calculators for SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, and CHIP:  Florida, Montana, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia.

Benefit screeners ask users several questions about their income and household circumstances and, based on the responses, inform them of their potential eligibility for public benefits.  Benefit calculators are similar to screeners but also provide users with an estimate of the amount of benefits for which they might qualify; they typically ask more questions than screening tools in order to generate that estimate.  Both screeners and calculators are useful tools for individuals who do not know or believe that they qualify for public benefits.  They are most effective if questions are limited to the most pertinent eligibility issues and are not so detailed as to bog down users. 

New Mexico’s benefit calculator does a good job of asking for needed information using graphics and simple language to help users understand the process.  The final results include an estimated benefit amount for SNAP and links to online applications for the other benefit programs.  In addition to SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, CHIP, and child care assistance, the program also screens for eligibility for energy assistance and WIC.  Iowa’s benefit screener is shorter and only screens for SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, CHIP, and child care assistance.  Both New Mexico’s calculator and Iowa’s screener avoid being overly cumbersome by not asking about all eligibility information (such as household financial assets); instead they include general language warning that applicants must satisfy other eligibility criteria to receive benefits. 

Check application status is a convenient tool offered on 22 state websites that enables applicants to check on the status of their application after they have submitted it.  Applicants can see which office received their application and whether it was approved (along with the effective date) or denied (along with the reason for denial).  This not only provides applicants with important information but also reduces the time that caseworkers spend handling questions regarding the status of submitted applications.   

Renew benefits, an option offered by 24 states with online applications, allows program recipients to update household income and circumstances online, fill out a renewal form, and sometimes even submit updated verifications.  Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming enable program recipients to renew benefits in one or more public benefit programs.  Most participants in low-income benefit programs must renew their eligibility at least once every 12 months in order to ensure that they still meet all program rules and their benefit amount is correct.  If the renewal is not complete, benefits will end.  Allowing applicants to renew benefits online speeds up the renewal process and helps to prevent an interruption in benefits for families, which in turn saves time for caseworkers (since renewals takes less time to process than initial applications). 

Update information/report changes, another useful mechanism on 21 state websites, enables program recipients to notify the state via a web tool about changes in their household between renewal periods, as program rules require.  Some of the changes that families can report online are a new job, a pregnancy, or the relocation of a household member. 

View account information is a feature of 23 state agency websites.  State online websites vary, but the kinds of benefit information a family can view online include benefit amounts, renewal dates, verifications needed, and other household information.  In Florida, for example, families can see if their verification has been received, what their monthly SNAP benefit amount is, or when their next renewal is due.  This function provides recipients with information regarding their case so they don’t have to contact the agency.

Program data are included on 47 state agency websites.  States provide program data and statistics, such as the number of individuals or households in each county or city that participate in public benefit programs.  States vary in how frequently they post this information and how much detail they provide.  For example, Oregon breaks out SNAP caseloads by local jurisdictions and types of households, while Pennsylvania just provides aggregate state-level data.  A few states provide additional data, such as information on how quickly they determine eligibility and issue benefits (often called “timeliness”) and average amounts of benefits.  These kinds of data can be very helpful to researchers, advocates, and others who want to know more about program participation and customer service.  In most cases, these states make information available by city and county and update it monthly.  

Table 2
SERVICES AVAILABLE ONLINE
State Policy Manual Printable Application Save & Return to Complete Later Eligibility Screener/ Calculator Check Application Status Renew  Benefits Update Information View Benefit Information Program Data
AL x x X SNAP         x
AK x x   X          
AZ x x X X X X x x x
AR x x X X X   X x x
CA x x X X X X x x x
CO x x x X x x x x x
CT X x             x
DE x x X X X X X X  
DC x x             x
FL x x X X X X x x x
GA x x X X X X X x x
HI   x             X
ID x x             x
IL x x X X X       x
IN x x X X X   x x x
IA x x X X   CHIP     x
KS X Medicaid X X         X
KY x x             x
LA x x X SNAP X X X X x
ME x x X x   X     x
MD x x X X     x   x
MA x x SNAP X       x x
MI x x X X X X X X x
MN x x X           X
MS x x             X
MO x x X SNAP     x x X
MT x x X X         X
NE x x X X X X x x  
NV x x X         X X
NH x x x x x X X x X
NJ x x X X X       X
NM x x   X         X
NY X X X X X X X X X
NC x x   X         x
ND x x X X   CHIP     x
OH x x X x X X x X x
OK x x             x
OR x x   SNAP         x
PA x x X x X X     x
RI x x   x         x
SC x x X X         x
SD x x             x
TN x x X x x x X X x
TX x x X x X CHIP   x x
UT x x   x         TANF
VT x   X X X X   x x
VA x x X x X X X X x
WA x x X x   X x   x
WV x x X x   X x x TANF
WI x x X x   X x x x
WY x x X x   X      
TOTAL 50 51 37 41 21 24 21 23 47
Note:  "x" means this feature is available online for more than one of the programs.
When a single program is noted the online service is only available for that program.

Online Links

The links below may be particularly useful to those researching basic information about each state’s programs or variations across states with respect to policies or applications. There are several caveats to consider when using these resources, however.  First, information may be presented differently across states and states may use different terminology to represent similar concepts or terms. Second, this list was not developed via a comprehensive survey of states and may not be complete. Third, in some cases it was unclear whether an application for multiple programs, including Medicaid, also served as an application for CHIP; when it was unclear whether the application served as a CHIP application, this document does not show the application as including CHIP. Finally, only a limited number of states provide CHIP policy manuals on their websites; in most cases, up-to-date CHIP state plans can be found using this link on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services site: http://www.cms.gov/NationalCHIPPolicy/StatePlan/list.asp#TopOfPage

Please notify jones@cbpp.org at the Center to update or revise this listing.

ALABAMA

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Online Application and Eligibility Screener

Program Data

ALASKA

Alaska provides CHIP through a Medicaid expansion.

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Benefit Screener/Calculator

ARIZONA

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Eligibility Screener

Online Application

Program Data

ARKANSAS

Arkansas provides CHIP through a Medicaid expansion.

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program, Eligibility and Application Information

Applications for Assistance

Benefit Screener and Online Application

Program Data

CALIFORNIA

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Online Applications (link to all California applications)

Program Data

COLORADO

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Benefit Screener and Online Application

Program Data

CONNECTICUT

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Program Data

DELAWARE

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Benefits Screener/Calculator and Online Application

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

The District of Columbia provides CHIP through a Medicaid expansion.

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

FLORIDA

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Benefit Screener/Calculator and Online Applications

Program Data

GEORGIA

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Benefit Screener and Online Applications

Program Data

HAWAII

Hawaii provides CHIP through a Medicaid expansion.

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Program Data

IDAHO

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Program Data

ILLINOIS

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Benefit Screener/Calculator and Online Applications

Program Data

INDIANA

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Benefit Screener and Online Application

Program Data

IOWA

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Benefit Screener/Calculator and Online Applications

Program Data

KANSAS

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Benefit Screener/Calculator and Online Application

Program Data

KENTUCKY

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Program Data

LOUISIANA

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Online Application

Program Data

MAINE

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Benefit Screener and Online Application

Program Data

MARYLAND

Maryland provides CHIP through a Medicaid expansion Policy

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Benefit Screener and Online Application

Program Data

MASSACHUSETTS

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Benefit Screener/Calculator and Online Application

Program Data

MICHIGAN

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Benefit Screener/Calculator and Online Applications

Program Data

MINNESOTA

Minnesota provides CHIP through a Medicaid expansion.

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Online Application

Applications for Assistance

Program Data

MISSISSIPPI

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Program Data

MISSOURI

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Online Application and Eligibility Screener

Program Data

MONTANA

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Benefit Screener/Calculator and Online Application

Program Data

NEBRASKA

Nebraska provides CHIP through a Medicaid expansion.

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Benefit Screener/Calculator and Online Application

NEVADA

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Online Application

Program Data

  • SNAP, TANF, Medicaid and CHIP
    Monthly Statistical Data (Statewide)
    https://dwss.nv.gov/ (under “Public Information” then under “Budget and Statistics Caseload”)

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Online Application

Program Data

NEW JERSEY

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Benefit Screener and Online Applications

Program Data

NEW MEXICO

New Mexico provides CHIP through a Medicaid expansion.

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Benefit Screener/Calculator

Applications for Assistance

Program Data

NEW YORK

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Benefit Screener/Calculator and Online Application

Program Data

NORTH CAROLINA

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Benefit Screener/Calculator

Program Data

NORTH DAKOTA

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Benefit Screener/Calculator and Online Application

Program Data

OHIO

Ohio provides CHIP through a Medicaid expansion.

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Benefit Screener/Calculator and Online Application

Program Data

OKLAHOMA

Oklahoma provides CHIP through a Medicaid expansion.

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Online Application

Program Data

OREGON

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Benefit Screener/Calculator and Online Application

Program Data

PENNSYLVANIA

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program, Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Benefit Screener/Calculator and Online Application

Program Data

RHODE ISLAND

Rhode Island implements CHIP as a Medicaid expansion.

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Benefit Screener/Calculator and Online Application

Program Data

SOUTH CAROLINA

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Benefit Screener/Calculator and Online Application

Program Data

SOUTH DAKOTA

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Online Application

Program Data

TENNESSEE

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Benefit Screener/Calculator and Online Application

Program Data

TEXAS

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Benefit Screener/Calculator and Online Applications

Program Data

UTAH

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Benefits Screener/Calculator and Online Application

Program Data

VERMONT

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Benefit Screener/Calculator and Online Application

Program Data

VIRGINIA

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Benefit Screener/Calculator and Online Applications

Program Data

WASHINGTON

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Benefit Screener/Calculator and Online Application

Program Data

WEST VIRGINIA

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Benefit Screener/Calculator and Online Application

Program Data

WISCONSIN

Wisconsin provides CHIP as a Medicaid expansion program.

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

(Not an application, just agency listing.)

Benefit Screener/Calculator and Online Application

Program Data

WYOMING

Policy Manuals/Materials

Descriptive Program and Eligibility Information

Applications for Assistance

Benefit Screener/Calculator and Online Application

End notes:

[1] AK, AR, DC, HI, MD, MN, NE, NM, OH, OK, RI, SC and WI provide all of their CHIP coverage through a CHIP funded Medicaid expansion.

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