Relocation Benefits Checklist Generator
Moving to another state? Pick both states and the benefits you receive. You get the exact close-here, apply-there sequence — with timing that avoids coverage gaps and links to the official agencies on both ends.
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?
Almost none transfer automatically. 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. Unemployment claims stay with the state where you earned the wages and keep paying after you move.
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 — it keeps paying from your old state) and NOT closing Medicaid or SNAP cases (which blocks or delays the new state's application). The checklist orders the steps so neither happens.