Alaska changed the rules in 2024. As of January 1, 2024, the Alaska Department of Corrections can issue an actual state-issued photo ID to people leaving prison who do not have valid identification. Not a paper release document that has to be exchanged -- a real ID, issued by DOC, paid for by the state, ready for use the day you walk out.
Governor Dunleavy signed Senate Bill 119 in August 2023. The bill passed with bipartisan support because legislators on both sides understood something simple: without a valid photo ID, a person leaving prison cannot open a bank account, cannot apply for housing, cannot apply for SNAP or Medicaid, cannot get a phone plan, cannot do most of the things that constitute starting over. The ID is not the finish line. It is the starting line. Alaska decided the state should provide it.
Here is what that means for you, and what still requires action on your end.
What Alaska DOC Provides at Release
Under SB 119, if you do not have a valid state ID when you are released, Alaska DOC will issue one. The department already had an ID system in place before this law -- previously it could only issue a paper identification document -- and the new law expanded that to a real, valid state ID. The state covers the cost of obtaining the ID from the Division of Motor Vehicles. You do not pay for it.
If you already have a valid Alaska ID or driver license that has not expired, confirm its status with your reentry case manager before release. If it expired during your incarceration, it needs to be renewed at the DMV.
The Alaska DOC Reentry and Vocational Services (REVS) team -- based in Anchorage and operating statewide -- coordinates reentry services both inside facilities and in communities after release. REVS provides transitional support including essential personal items, limited transitional housing assistance, and connections to the Alaska Job Center Network. If you are releasing from a rural facility -- and more than 50% of Alaska's incarcerated population is in rural locations -- ask your case manager specifically about the ID process and how it will work given your geographic situation.
Getting Your Social Security Card
Even if DOC issues your state ID at release, you still need to confirm you have your Social Security card. It is required for employment and most benefits applications.
If you do not have your original card, you can request a replacement from the Social Security Administration for free. Apply online at ssa.gov, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at your nearest SSA office. You will need proof of identity (your new DOC-issued state ID and your birth certificate) and your Social Security number.
If your facility had a prerelease agreement with the SSA, your case manager may have already initiated this process. Ask. SSA allows facilities with prerelease agreements to start Social Security card replacement and benefit applications up to 90 days before your scheduled release date.
Getting Your Birth Certificate
If you were born in Alaska, you can request a certified birth certificate from the Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics at health.alaska.gov/bvs. The fee is currently $30 for the first copy. You will need to provide proof of identity to order it.
The Alaska DBH (Division of Behavioral Health) Reentry case management program covers document fees for participants -- including birth certificates and out-of-state documents -- and case managers will accompany clients to obtain documents when needed. If you are enrolled in a DBH reentry program, use that resource. Ask your case manager to start the birth certificate request before you leave.
If you were born in another state, contact that state's vital records office. Your DOC case manager can help identify where to write or call.
SNAP: Food Assistance
SNAP -- the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program -- is available to eligible Alaskans after release. Alaska does not impose a lifetime ban on SNAP for people with drug felony convictions.
However, Alaska does impose SNAP restrictions for people on probation. If you are releasing to probation supervision, ask your case manager or probation officer specifically about your SNAP eligibility and any conditions that may affect it before you apply.
If you are not on probation, you can apply for SNAP immediately after release. Apply online at myalaska.state.ak.us or in person at your local Alaska Division of Public Assistance (DPA) office. You will need your state ID, Social Security number, proof of Alaska residency, and household income information.
Benefits are typically loaded onto an EBT card within 30 days of a completed application. Emergency SNAP benefits -- called expedited service -- can be issued within 7 days if you meet criteria for immediate need.
Medicaid
Alaska expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. That means low-income adults in Alaska -- including people releasing from prison -- are generally eligible for Medicaid if they meet income requirements, regardless of disability status or family situation. This is a significant advantage over non-expansion states.
Alaska Medicaid is administered by the Alaska Division of Public Assistance (DPA). Apply online at myalaska.state.ak.us, by phone at 1-800-478-7778, or in person at your local DPA office.
Alaska received a CMS Medicaid continuity planning grant in 2025 to prepare for the January 1, 2026 federal requirement that states suspend -- rather than terminate -- Medicaid coverage during incarceration and reactivate it upon release. Ask your DOC case manager whether Medicaid suspension and reactivation has been arranged for your release, or whether you need to apply fresh.
If you had Medicaid before your incarceration and your coverage was suspended rather than terminated, reinstatement may be faster than a new application. Confirm your Medicaid status before release day.
If you are not eligible for Medicaid, community health centers and federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) in Alaska provide care on a sliding-fee scale regardless of insurance status. Find the nearest one at findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov.
SSI and SSDI
SSI (Supplemental Security Income) and SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) are federal programs that may be available if you have a qualifying disability.
SSI payments are suspended after one full calendar month of incarceration. If you were incarcerated for less than 12 consecutive months, SSI can be reinstated the month you are released -- contact SSA immediately upon release with your release documents. If incarcerated for 12 or more consecutive months, you must file a new application.
SSDI payments are suspended after 30 continuous days of incarceration following conviction. Contact SSA upon release for reinstatement.
If you do not have an existing disability determination and believe you may qualify, start the application process as soon as possible. Disability determinations take months. Starting early matters.
Alaska's remoteness means that SSA offices may be difficult to reach in person from rural communities. SSA's toll-free line at 1-800-772-1213 and the online application at ssa.gov are the most accessible options for people in rural Alaska.
Veterans Benefits
If you served in the U.S. military, VA benefits are available to you after release. These include VA healthcare, disability compensation, pension, education and training, and housing assistance.
Contact the Alaska Division of Veterans Affairs at veterans.alaska.gov or the nearest VA facility. The VA Healthcare for Re-Entry Veterans (HCRV) program specifically assists veterans transitioning from incarceration. VA benefits suspended during incarceration can be reinstated -- notify the VA of your release date and bring your release documents.
Alaska has VA facilities in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, and several other communities. If you are in a rural area, the VA telehealth program and the Alaska Veterans Resource Coalition can connect you with services remotely.
Start Before You Leave
Alaska's REVS team and the DBH Reentry case management program both exist to start these processes before release. Your DOC case manager should be initiating the state ID under SB 119, requesting your birth certificate, connecting you to SSA for Social Security card replacement, and helping you pre-enroll in Medicaid and SNAP where possible.
If these things have not been offered, ask for them. The DBH reentry program pays document fees and accompanies clients to appointments -- you should not have to navigate this alone.
The geographic reality of Alaska means the window between release and crisis is shorter than in most states. Rural release, long travel distances to DPA and DMV offices, and limited local service options make pre-release preparation not just helpful but essential. Use every resource available to you inside before the gate opens.
ID first. Social Security card and birth certificate in parallel. SNAP and Medicaid applications as soon as you have your ID. Start before you leave and you give yourself the best possible beginning.