Start here
The free tool below runs entirely in this browser — no account, nothing stored or transmitted. Redact anything you would not want kept before you type it.
Open the companion tool →Why state-level status is the whole question
Federal law sets a floor and delegations vary by state; a rule announced nationally may be implemented differently or later where you live, or not at all.
A short status record with sources and dates protects you from acting on an outdated instruction, and gives you a citation when an agency tells you something different.
The protocol
- Write down the programme and the rule you are trying to understand.
- Find the state agency's own page and the date it was last updated.
- Note the status: in force, delayed, waiver pending, or litigation pending.
- Record the contact number and the date you checked.
- Re-check before you apply, renew, or appeal, and note the change.
What the tool does
Build a benefits rule status record It runs locally in this browser and sends nothing.
Limit first: This is a document-preparation aid, not legal or benefits advice. It cannot decide your eligibility, act as your representative, or guarantee that an agency will act.
Open the companion tool →Cost and free path
Cost: Free: one complete run in this browser, no account. Optional $4 one-time unlock allows unlimited runs of this tool on this browser. The free path and safety guidance never require payment.
Rule status (mixed route): Status, 2026-10-03: federal SNAP, Medicaid, and SSI rules are in flux — work requirements, waivers, and state implementation dates differ, so check the state agency page and the date it was last updated.
Automated decision this documents: state implementation of eligibility and work requirements
Free path, in order (no cost):
- The state agency's own programme page and hotline (authoritative and free)
- Benefits.gov and USA.gov programme pages for the federal baseline
- 211 for local navigators who track what is actually happening
What this cannot do: It cannot decide your eligibility, act as your representative, or guarantee that an agency will act.
Sources checked 2026-10-03 · source bank reviewed against the live pages listed in metadata.
One human next step
Call the state agency and ask for the current rule in writing or by reference number; if your state's page and the agency's answer disagree, keep both and ask the agency to correct the record.
Research log and safety checks
AI-assist path: not used for a verdict. This builder organises the reader's own documents and names an independent source; it does not infer authenticity, eligibility, or legal rights. §6.9/§6.10/§6.11 disclosed in the batch report; §6.12 status line carried in metadata as `status_line`.
§0.5 protection result: category is benefits-and-public-services; crisis-adjacent: no; fear/urgency/scarcity toolkit used: no. The protective function is free and the paid feature is convenience only.