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.
Medicaid by StateMedicaid Dental Coverage for Adults: Which States Actually Pay for Fillings, Root Canals, and Dentures
Adult dental coverage under Medicaid is entirely optional for states, which is why a filling that's free in one state can cost hundreds out of pocket in another. Here's how coverage levels actually break…
SNAP by StateSNAP EBT Theft Replacement: Which States Reimburse Stolen Card Balances and How Fast
If someone drains your SNAP balance through card skimming, whether you get that money back—and how quickly—depends entirely on which state issued your EBT card. Here's how replacement rules and reimbursement windows differ across…
Unemployment by StateUnemployment Appeals: How Filing Deadlines and Hearing Rules Differ by State
If your unemployment claim gets denied, the clock starts ticking differently depending on where you live. Here's how appeal windows, hearing formats, and who shows up to argue against you vary state by state.
SNAP by StateSNAP Interview Waivers: Which States Skip the Phone Call to Speed Up Approval
Most states require an interview before approving SNAP benefits, but a growing number waive it for certain households. Here's how the rules differ depending on where you live.
Unemployment by StateUnemployment Base Periods Explained: How States Decide Which Wages Count
Before a state calculates your weekly unemployment check, it has to decide which paychecks count. The base period it uses can make or break a claim for recent hires and seasonal workers, and the…
Unemployment by StateUnemployment Benefits While You’re in Job Training: Which States Let You Keep Collecting
Enrolling in a training program can change what you're required to do to stay eligible for unemployment. Here's how states differ on approved training, work-search waivers, and whether your benefit amount changes while you…
Housing Assistance by StateLIHEAP Energy Assistance: How Waitlists and Payment Amounts Differ by State
Help paying the heating or cooling bill exists in every state, but how much you get and how long you wait for it can look completely different once you cross a state line.
SNAP by StateSNAP Minimum Benefit Amounts: Why Some States Pay More to Single-Person Households
The federal minimum SNAP benefit sounds like a flat number, but what a one- or two-person household actually receives each month can differ depending on where they live. Here's how those minimums work and…
TANF and Childcare by StateTANF Family Cap Policies: Which States Limit Cash Assistance for Additional Children
Having another child doesn't automatically raise your TANF check. A handful of states still cap how much extra cash a family gets per additional child, while most dropped the rule years ago.
Housing Assistance by StateSource-of-Income Discrimination Laws: Which States Protect Section 8 Voucher Holders
Having a voucher in hand doesn't guarantee a landlord has to accept it. Whether a property owner can legally turn you down for using Section 8 depends entirely on which state, and sometimes which…
TANF and Childcare by StateChild Support Pass-Through: How Much TANF Families Keep by State
When a noncustodial parent pays child support to a family on TANF, most states keep some or all of it. A few let families keep more. Here's how the pass-through rules differ.
SNAP by StateSNAP Restaurant Meals Program: Which States Let Elderly and Disabled Buy Hot Food
A handful of states let certain SNAP households use benefits at approved restaurants instead of grocery stores. Here's who qualifies and where the program actually exists.