Department of Human Services

The State of Hawaii Department of Human Services (DHS) continues to take aggressive and proactive actions to protect the health and safety of the individuals and families we serve through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. DHS staff is committed to ensuring that benefits are processed as quickly as possible and that the department is responsive to the needs of the community and questions they may have.

Noted below are comprehensive SNAP as well as Med-QUEST comparative data starting from the beginning impacts of COVID-19 (March/April 2020), to present.

 

DHS is working diligently to improve the telephone system and call center process and thanks the community for your continued patience and understanding.

For more information  contact the Public Assistance Toll Free Information Line at 1-855-643-1643. Since February 24, 2022, a majority of the Processing Centers statewide, re-started in-person services Monday through Friday (except holidays), from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

 

SNAP Data by County Received and Approved – click here

Total SNAP Recipients by Month: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023

January 2019 = 158,949
January 2020 = 153,634
January 2021 = 193,761
January 2022 = 170,598
January 2023 = 154,477

February 2019 = 158,581
February 2020 = 152,252
February 2021 = 197,958
February 2022 = 171,271

March 2019 = 155,902
March 2020 = 153,047
March 2021 = 201,193
March 2022 =173,054

April 2019 = 154,526
April 2020 = 171,451
April 2021 = 202,822
April 2022 = 171,976

May 2019 = 154,618
May 2020 = 177,569
May 2021 = 203,885
May 2022 = 171,182

June 2019 = 154,161
June 2020 = 180,301
June 2021 = 205,282
June 2022 = 170,452

July 2019 = 154,669
July 2020 = 176,516
July 2021 = 206,226
July 2022 = 159,234

August 2019 = 154,642
August 2020 = 177,083
August 2021 = 197,132
August 2022 = 160,804

September 2019 = 155,293
September 2020 = 179,205
September 2021 = 189,956
September 2022 = 159,601

October 2019 = 155,061
October 2020 = 177,792
October 2021 = 182,632
October 2022 = 158,492

November 2019 = 154,517
November 2020 = 184,713
November 2021 = 171,219
November 2022 = 156, 708

December 2019 = 154,377
December 2020 = 189,285
December 2021 = 166,139
December 2022 = 155,862

 

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

More than 138,000 additional lives are covered by Medicaid from the start of the pandemic (March 2020), this equates to 42% increase in enrollment.

Now, more than 30% of our entire state population receives their health insurance through Medicaid and 50% of our keiki (children) are on Medicaid

An unprecedented number, 465,746 individuals, are now covered by Medicaid.

Website – medquest.hawaii.gov

Questions about Med-QUEST coverage and the fee schedule? – click here

DHS is committed to transparency and provides public information on federal funds to the department as noted below.

The State of Hawaii Office of Federal Awards Management hosts this data – click here