Title: Pandemic Unemployment Insurance Provisions: What They Mean for Access to SNAP, Medicaid, and TANF | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Headings: Pandemic Unemployment Insurance Provisions: What They Mean for Access to SNAP, Medicaid, and TANF
Pandemic Unemployment Insurance Provisions: What They Mean for Access to SNAP, Medicaid, and TANF
Impact of UI on SNAP, Medicaid, and TANF Applications
Impact of UI on People Already Enrolled
Impact on Benefits and Eligibility
Reporting Requirements
Receipt of Lump Sum
Overpayments
Example: Impact of Receipt of UI Through 2020
Health Insurance Marketplaces
Additional Considerations
End Notes
Stay up to date

Content: Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) provides additional weeks of benefits for recipients who exhaust state benefits. The UI expansions mean that more low-income people will be eligible and that their benefits will be at least temporarily greater and last longer. The amount, timing, and type of UI benefits that low-income individuals receive will likely affect their eligibility for SNAP (formerly food stamps), Medicaid, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Impact of UI on SNAP, Medicaid, and TANF Applications
Effect on eligibility. For those already receiving UI, the full benefit amount counts as unearned income for SNAP at application. For Medicaid, the additional $600 per week of PUC is not countable and should be excluded in determining eligibility, but other UI benefits are counted. States have flexibility for treatment of income under TANF; most states count the full amount of UI, but some states are excluding the additional $600 per week of PUC. No delay in processing applications. State agencies must not delay processing of SNAP, Medicaid, and TANF applications while an individual is applying for UI.