Relocation Benefits Checklist Generator
For any of the 2,550 possible moves between the 50 states and DC, this checklist puts the steps in order: Medicaid, SNAP, and TANF do not transfer, so you close the old case and apply again in the new state; WIC carries over with a VOC from your clinic; and an unemployment claim stays with the state that pays it, where you keep filing and meet its work-search rules.
The one-line rule for each program
| Program | What happens when you move |
|---|---|
| Medicaid | Does not transfer — close your case in the old state, apply fresh in the new one. |
| SNAP | Does not transfer — close your case in the old state, apply fresh in the new one. |
| WIC | Certification transfers via the VOC card from your clinic — every state must accept it. |
| Unemployment | Claim stays with the state where you earned wages — keep filing there after the move. |
| TANF | Does not transfer — close your case in the old state, apply fresh in the new one. |
Common questions
Which benefits transfer between states?
None of them moves on its own. Medicaid, SNAP, and TANF end in your old state and require a new application in the new one. WIC certification transfers via the VOC card from your clinic. An unemployment claim stays with the state where you earned the wages and keeps paying after you move, as long as you keep certifying with that state and meet its work-search rules.
What does the checklist actually generate?
An ordered to-do list split into before-you-move, moving-week, and after-you-arrive steps for each benefit you select, with the official agency and application links for both states, plus warnings where the destination state's income limits could end your eligibility.
Is this an official government tool?
No. This is an independent guide, not affiliated with any government agency. Every step links to the official state agency so you can act on it directly, and every data point shows the date we last verified it.
What's the biggest mistake people make when moving with benefits?
Two opposite ones: closing an unemployment claim (never close it — your old state keeps paying it while you stay eligible) and NOT closing Medicaid or SNAP cases (an open case in the old state can delay the new application, and you cannot get SNAP from two states in the same month). The checklist orders the steps so neither happens.