Department of Human Services

The State of Hawaii Department of Human Services is taking aggressive and proactive actions to protect the health and safety of the individuals and families we serve by maintaining essential services to help the people of Hawaii during this COVID-19 crisis. DHS staff is committed to ensuring that processing times are as quick as possible and that the department is responsive to the needs of the community and questions they may have.

Current Application/Enrollment Increases Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic:

SNAP/Financial:

SNAP Data by County (Applications Received and Approved) – click here

Applications Received (Households):

4/26 – 9/11/2020 = 31,528

Applications Approved (Households):

4/27 – 9/11/2020 = 34,965
(data includes approvals from past eligibility reviews)

Due to the increase in applications and the subsequent workload at Processing Centers, we are experiencing delays. As of 9/10/2020, the initial application processing is average 8 days, with longest wait at 17 days.  We care deeply about the individuals and families in our community and we are working hard to process all applications as quickly as possible.

Website – humanservices.hawaii.gov

Total SNAP Recipients by Month in 2020 (vs 2019)

January 2019 = 158,949
January 2020 = 153,634

February 2019 = 158,581
February 2020 = 152,252

March 2019 = 155,902
March 2020 = 153,047

April 2019 = 154,526
April 2020 = 171,451

May 2019 = 154,618
May 2020 = 177,569

June 2019 = 154,161
June 2020 = 180,301

July 2019 = 154,669
July 2020 = 176,516

August 2019 = 154,642
August 2020 = 177,083 (Percentage increase 2019 vs 2020 = 14.5%)

Note:  This is data of all recipients of SNAP that may be receiving other program benefits as well.

 

Med-QUEST/Medicaid:

Med-QUEST/Medicaid Data by County – click here

QUEST Applications Received March through Saturday, September 12, 2020 (2019 vs 2020)

2019: 37,920

2020: 50,270 (Percentage increase in applications 2019 vs 2020  =33%)

QUEST Applications Approved March through Monday, September 14, 2020

2020: 46,484 (Percentage approved during this time period = 92%)

 

QUEST Total Enrollment 2019 vs 2020 snapshot

September 13, 2019 = 330,482

September 14, 2020 = 373,603

Percentage increase in enrollment 2019 vs 2020 = 13.05%

Average time to process:  1-2 days average

Website – medquest.hawaii.gov

 

The Table Below Highlights Whether Financial Assistance Related to COVID-19 is, or is not, Considered Income for Eligibility Determination of DHS Related Services/Benefits that are Income-Based

		TYPES OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM	State Unemployment Insurance	Cares Act Sections 2102 / 2104 /2107  (see information below) FEMA Unemployment Insurance Payme	Coronavirus Stimulus Check
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)/Temporary Assistance for Other Needy Families (TAONF)	No	No/No/No/No	No
General Assistance (GA)	No	No/No/No	No
Assistance to Aged, Blind and Disabled (AABD)	No	No/No/No	No
Child Care subsidies	No	No/No/No	No
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)	Yes	Yes/Yes/Yes	No
Medicaid	Yes	Yes/No/Yes	No
Child Health Insurance Program (CHIP)	Yes	Yes/No/Yes	No
Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)	No	No/No/No	No

 

Section 2102 creates the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program that provides benefits for eligible individuals who are self-employed, seeking part-time employment, or who otherwise would not qualify for unemployment benefits under state or federal law. To be eligible, among other requirements, individuals must demonstrate that they are otherwise able to work and available for work within the meaning of applicable state law, except that they are unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable or unavailable to work because of COVID-19 related reasons.

 

Section 2104 provides that, under the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program, eligible individuals who are collecting certain UI benefits, including regular unemployment compensation, will receive an additional $600 in federal benefits per week for weeks of unemployment ending on or before July 31, 2020.

 

Section 2107 creates the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program that allows those who have exhausted benefits under regular unemployment compensation or other programs to receive up to 13 weeks of additional benefits. States must offer flexibility in meeting eligibility requirements related to “actively seeking work” if an applicant’s ability to do so is impacted by COVID-19.

Note: Information is subject to change as federal rules change.