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.
TANF and Childcare by StateChildcare Subsidy Provider Payment Rates: Why Some Daycares Won’t Take Your Voucher
States set their own reimbursement rates for daycares that accept childcare subsidy vouchers, and when those rates fall below market price, providers simply opt out. Here's how that gap plays out differently across state…
Housing Assistance by StateLocal Preference Rules: Why Some Housing Authorities Favor People Already Living There
Many public housing agencies give priority to applicants who already live, work, or have family in the area. Here's how local preference policies vary by state and why they can push new arrivals to…
Unemployment by StatePartial Unemployment Benefits: How States Calculate Pay for Reduced Hours
If your hours got cut instead of your job disappearing entirely, you might still qualify for partial unemployment — but the formula for how much you get, and how much you're allowed to earn…
SNAP by StateSNAP Work Requirements for Adults Without Dependents: Which States Have Waived the Time Limit
The three-month SNAP time limit for able-bodied adults without dependents isn't enforced the same way everywhere. Here's how waivers, exemptions, and local unemployment triggers change what you actually have to do to keep your…
TANF and Childcare by StateTANF Diversion Payments: The One-Time Cash States Offer Instead of Ongoing Aid
Some states offer a single lump-sum payment to keep families off the TANF caseload entirely. Here's how diversion programs work and which states use them.
Medicaid by StateMedicaid Estate Recovery: Which States Come After Your Home After You Die
Medicaid can pay for nursing home care now and file a claim against your estate later. Here's how estate recovery rules and exemptions differ from state to state.
TANF and Childcare by StateTANF Time Limits: How Many Years of Cash Assistance Each State Actually Allows
Federal law caps TANF at five years of lifetime assistance, but almost no state actually gives families the full five. Here's how state-imposed time limits shrink that window and what counts against your clock.
State-Only ProgramsState Disability Insurance: The Five States That Pay You When You’re Too Sick to Work
Most states have nothing like it, but if you live in California, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, or Hawaii, a short-term illness or injury can come with a paycheck. Here's how these state…
Medicaid by StateMedicaid Long-Term Care: How Asset Limits and Look-Back Periods Differ by State
If you're helping an aging parent apply for nursing home Medicaid, the asset limits and look-back rules can be very different from the Medicaid rules you already know for kids or adults without children.…
State-Only ProgramsUnemployment Benefits for Gig and Self-Employed Workers: How Eligibility Differs by State
Regular unemployment insurance was built for traditional employees, but states handle freelancers, rideshare drivers, and self-employed workers very differently. Here's how eligibility rules and special programs vary depending on where you file.
Housing Assistance by StateSection 8 Voucher Portability: How Moving States Affects Your Housing Assistance
How housing choice voucher portability rules work when you move to a new state and what can slow the transfer down.
Medicaid by StateMedicaid Income Limits in Texas vs. California: What Changes When You Move
A side-by-side look at how Medicaid income cutoffs and coverage groups differ between a non-expansion and an expansion state.