Denise Carpenter
Denise tracks how states set income limits, work requirements, and payment amounts for food and cash assistance programs. She lines up state charts side by side so a move from one state to another doesn't come with a surprise cutoff.
State-Only ProgramsState-Only Burial and Funeral Assistance Programs: Which States Still Help Cover Final Expenses
A handful of states run indigent burial or funeral assistance funds separate from federal aid. Here's how the payment caps, income tests, and application windows differ if you're trying to help a family cover…
SNAP by StateSNAP Standard Utility Allowance: The Hidden Deduction That Changes Your Benefit Amount by State
Your heating and cooling costs can quietly raise or lower your SNAP benefit through a deduction called the Standard Utility Allowance. Here's how it's calculated, why it varies so much, and what to check…
SNAP by StateSNAP Eligibility for College Students: Which States Offer Exemptions to the Federal Work Rule
Being a full-time student usually disqualifies you from SNAP, but a handful of states have carved out extra exemptions for parents, trainees, and low-income students that others haven't adopted. Here's how the rules actually…
Unemployment by StateCombined-Wage Unemployment Claims: How to File When You Worked in Multiple States
If you worked in more than one state before losing your job, you may be able to combine those wages into a single unemployment claim. Here's how combined-wage claims work, which state ends up…
Unemployment by StateUnemployment Work Search Requirements: How Many Job Contacts You Must Log Each Week by State
Collecting unemployment usually means proving you're looking for work, but how many contacts you need, how you document them, and how closely they're checked can look completely different depending on which state's unemployment office…
TANF and Childcare by StateTANF’s Family Violence Option: How States Handle Work Requirement Exemptions for Domestic Violence Survivors
Federal law lets states waive TANF work requirements and time limits for domestic violence survivors, but whether that protection actually exists on paper in your state — and how you prove it — depends…
Unemployment by StateRefusing a Job Offer While on Unemployment: How ‘Suitable Work’ Rules Differ by State
Turning down a job while collecting unemployment can cost you your benefits — but what counts as a valid reason to say no depends heavily on which state you're filing in. Here's how 'suitable…
Medicaid by StateMedicaid Spend-Down Programs: How ‘Medically Needy’ Income Limits Work Differently by State
If your income is too high for regular Medicaid but medical bills are piling up, some states let you 'spend down' to qualify. Here's how those medically needy programs differ depending on where you…
Unemployment by StateUnemployment and Pension Offsets: How Retirement Income Reduces Your Weekly Check by State
If you're drawing a pension, Social Security, or a 401(k) distribution while collecting unemployment, some states will dock your weekly check dollar-for-dollar and others won't touch it at all. Here's how the offset rules…
Medicaid by StateMedicaid Managed Care vs. Fee-for-Service: How Your Coverage Actually Works Depending on the State
Some states hand your Medicaid coverage to a private insurance plan that picks your doctors and drug list. Others pay providers directly and let you see almost anyone who accepts Medicaid. Here's how to…
Medicaid by StateMedicaid Presumptive Eligibility: Which States Let You Get Care Before Your Application Is Approved
Some states let hospitals and clinics enroll you in temporary Medicaid on the spot, before your full application is even reviewed. Here's where that exists, who qualifies, and what happens if your later application…
Medicaid by StateCHIP Income Limits for Kids: How Much a Family Can Earn and Still Qualify by State
The Children's Health Insurance Program covers kids in families that earn too much for Medicaid but not enough for private insurance — but the cutoff line moves a lot depending on where you live.…