South Carolina splits benefit applications across two portals. Medicaid runs through the Healthy Connections Citizen Portal at apply.scdhhs.gov (SC Department of Health and Human Services). SNAP, TANF (called Family Independence in SC), and child care subsidies run through the DSS Benefits Portal at benefitsportal.dss.sc.gov (SC Department of Social Services). There is no combined application. Call SCDHHS at 888-549-0820 for Medicaid or DSS at 800-616-1309 for SNAP, TANF, and child care.
This guide covers both portals, the 2026 income limits, the documents to gather, and what to expect after submission. SC has not expanded Medicaid, which changes who qualifies in ways that surprise people from other states.
General information, not legal or financial advice. Rules can change. Confirm with SCDHHS at apply.scdhhs.gov or SC DSS at dss.sc.gov before applying.
How to Apply Through the Healthy Connections Portal in 2026
The Healthy Connections Citizen Portal at apply.scdhhs.gov handles Medicaid, Healthy Connections Kids (CHIP), pregnancy coverage, and long-term care. Here is the seven-step flow.
1. Create your Healthy Connections account at apply.scdhhs.gov
Select "Create Account." You need an email, phone, username, and password. The account saves your application in progress, lets you upload documents, and is where you check status, report changes, and complete renewals. If you applied before, use "Forgot Password" rather than creating a new account, which can confuse your case file.
2. Start a new application
Choose "Apply for Benefits" and pick the category: health coverage for a family, pregnancy coverage, coverage for a child, long-term care, or coverage for a person with a disability. If you are not sure, start with the general health coverage application; SCDHHS will determine eligibility for every category your household might qualify for.
3. Complete the household and income sections
List everyone in the household with date of birth, Social Security number (if they have one), and relationship to the head of household. Enter every income source for each adult: wages, self-employment, Social Security, SSI, pensions, child support, unemployment, VA. Use gross amounts, not take-home pay. Mis-stating household size or income is the most common reason Healthy Connections applications get delayed.
4. Answer the citizenship and immigration questions
US citizens and certain lawfully present non-citizens qualify for full Medicaid in SC. Others may qualify for emergency Medicaid or pregnancy coverage. Children may qualify for Healthy Connections Kids regardless of the parent's status if the child meets citizenship rules. Mixed-status households are normal; only applying members document status.
5. Upload required documents
The portal accepts PDFs and clear phone photos. Upload identity, the last 30 days of pay stubs, SC residency, and any program-specific documents below. You can also fax to 888-820-1204 or mail to SCDHHS Central Mail, P.O. Box 100101, Columbia, SC 29202-3101.
6. Review, sign, and submit
The portal shows a summary before you sign. Read it carefully; errors caught here save weeks later. Save the confirmation number and SCDHHS case ID.
7. Watch for verification requests and respond on time
SCDHHS verifies what it can electronically through the federal hub, state wage records, and Social Security. For anything it cannot verify, you get a paperwork request through the portal and by mail. You have 10 days to respond or the case is denied for "failure to provide." Check your portal inbox every few days the first month.
How to Apply for SNAP and Family Independence Through the DSS Portal
For SNAP and Family Independence (SC's TANF program), use the DSS Benefits Portal at benefitsportal.dss.sc.gov. Create a separate account; the Healthy Connections login does not work here. The flow mirrors the Medicaid portal: account, application, household and income, citizenship, documents, sign and submit.
SNAP requires an interview by phone within about 20 days. DSS calls from an SC area code or 800 number. If you miss the call, call DSS at 800-616-1309 quickly or the case is denied for "failure to interview." Expedited SNAP cases (under $150 monthly gross, under $100 in cash) get an interview within 7 days.
You can also apply by phone at 800-616-1309, in person at a county DSS office, or by mailing DSS Form 3800. The online portal is fastest because it timestamps the application date when you submit, which sets the start of benefits if approved.
2026 South Carolina Income Limits for Medicaid, CHIP, and SNAP
Medicaid uses Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) tested against category-specific FPL percentages. SNAP uses 130% FPL gross and 100% FPL net. The numbers below come from the January 2026 HHS poverty guidelines.
| Household Size | Pregnant Women Medicaid (199% FPL, monthly) | Healthy Connections Kids CHIP (213% FPL, monthly) | SNAP Gross Limit (130% FPL, monthly) | SNAP Net Limit (100% FPL, monthly) |
|---|
| 1 | $2,647 | $2,833 | $1,729 | $1,330 |
| 2 | $3,590 | $3,842 | $2,344 | $1,803 |
| 3 | $4,531 | $4,850 | $2,960 | $2,277 |
| 4 | $5,473 | $5,859 | $3,575 | $2,750 |
| 5 | $6,415 | $6,867 | $4,190 | $3,223 |
| 6 | $7,357 | $7,875 | $4,806 | $3,697 |
| 7 | $8,299 | $8,884 | $5,422 | $4,170 |
| 8 | $9,241 | $9,892 | $6,037 | $4,643 |
| Each additional | +$942 | +$1,008 | +$616 | +$473 |
SC coverage gap callout. SC has not expanded Medicaid, so adults ages 19 to 64 without dependent children generally cannot qualify at any income. Parents qualify only at roughly 67% FPL, around $1,837/month for a family of four. The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates more than 100,000 South Carolinians fall into the coverage gap where income is too high for Medicaid but too low for ACA subsidies. If you are a low-income adult without children, the Healthy Connections portal will not approve you for Medicaid in most cases. Check your eligibility for SC benefits in 2 minutes before starting a full application.
What's Different About South Carolina's Application in 2026
SC runs its own eligibility system with policy choices that make the portal behave differently than national guides describe.
- Non-expansion Medicaid. SC is one of 10 remaining non-expansion states in 2026. The portal will not consider adults ages 19 to 64 for full Medicaid unless they are pregnant, parents at very low income, disabled, or in another categorical group. Childless adults below 138% FPL fall into the coverage gap with no Medicaid pathway and usually no ACA subsidy.
- Two separate portals. Unlike Texas or California, SC does not combine Medicaid and SNAP. Apply for Medicaid at apply.scdhhs.gov and SNAP at benefitsportal.dss.sc.gov. You create two accounts and submit two applications.
- Healthy Connections is the Medicaid brand. The Medicaid card you receive says Healthy Connections on it. Pharmacies, doctors, and hospitals know the program by both names.
- Healthy Connections Kids is the CHIP brand. Children in families above the Medicaid threshold but at or below 213% FPL qualify for CHIP, branded Healthy Connections Kids. The portal assigns each child automatically based on age and income.
- Healthy Connections Choices is the managed-care brand. Most members enroll in one of five MCOs: Absolute Total Care, Healthy Blue of SC, First Choice by Select Health, Humana Healthy Horizons in SC, and Molina Healthcare of SC. SCDHHS sends a Choices packet after approval; you have 90 days to pick a plan or one is assigned. Help: 1-877-552-4642.
- Family Independence is the TANF brand. Max monthly grant in 2026: $229 for one child, $308 for two, $388 for three. 60-month lifetime limit; most adult recipients must participate in work activities.
- SNAP at 130% FPL, no BBCE expansion. Unlike Texas, SC has not adopted Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility. SNAP gross stays at 130% with a 100% net test after deductions.
- OBBB raised SNAP work requirements through age 64. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (July 2025) expanded ABAWD work requirements from 18-54 up to 18-64. SC DSS is rolling out the expansion in 2026. ABAWDs in non-waived areas must work or train 20 hours/week or lose SNAP after 3 months in any 36-month period.
Documents You Need Before You Start
Have these in PDF or clear phone-photo form before you log in. Missing documents are the most common reason SC applications stall.
- Photo ID for every adult applicant. Driver's license, SC ID card, passport, or military ID.
- Social Security numbers for everyone applying. Children applying for Medicaid or Healthy Connections Kids need SSNs. Non-applying household members do not.
- Proof of SC residency. Utility bill, lease, mortgage statement, or government letter dated within the last 60 days.
- Income verification for the last 30 days. Pay stubs from every job, or an employer letter with gross pay and hours. Self-employed: P&L, last year's tax return, or 90 days of bank statements.
- Other income proof. Social Security or SSI award letters, pension statements, unemployment letters, child support orders, VA award letters.
- Proof of citizenship or immigration status. US birth certificate, US passport, naturalization certificate, or USCIS document.
- Proof of pregnancy (for pregnancy Medicaid). A provider note confirming pregnancy and due date.
- Childcare receipts. For the SNAP childcare deduction. Informal arrangements count with proof of payment.
- Housing expense documentation. Lease, rent receipts, mortgage statement, property tax bill, current utility bills. The SNAP shelter deduction often raises benefits substantially in SC.
- Medical expense receipts (elderly or disabled members). Out-of-pocket costs over $35/month can be deducted from SNAP income for members ages 60+ or disabled.
You do not need every document to start the application, but you do need to upload them within 10 days of an agency request or the case will be denied.
What Happens After You Apply
Each agency starts the clock from the application date. SNAP: up to 30 days. Medicaid: up to 45 days (90 days for disability-based Medicaid). Expedited SNAP (under $150 monthly gross income, under $100 in cash): 7 days. Pregnant women often get faster Medicaid decisions.
The SNAP interview call comes within about 20 days, or 7 days for expedited cases. Medicaid does not require an interview in most non-disability cases. Watch your portal inbox and mail for verification requests; you have 10 days to respond before the case closes for "failure to provide."
Once approved, SNAP benefits load onto an EBT card mailed to your address. Medicaid approval comes with a Healthy Connections member ID card and a Healthy Connections Choices packet for picking your MCO. Medicaid coverage can be retroactive up to 3 months before the application date if you were eligible then, which can help pay outstanding medical bills.
If denied, the notice tells you why and how to appeal. You have 30 days from the notice date to request a fair hearing. Request through the portal, by mail, or by calling SCDHHS (888-549-0820) for Medicaid or DSS (800-616-1309) for SNAP and FI. If you appeal before the effective date of the action, benefits continue during the appeal.
To check status, log into the portal you applied through. The dashboard shows case status, missing documents, next renewal date, and benefit amount.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Healthy Connections Medicaid approval take in 2026?
Up to 45 days for MAGI-based Medicaid (parents, pregnant women, children) from the date SCDHHS receives the application. Up to 90 days for disability-based Medicaid that requires a medical determination. Missing documents are the main reason cases run past the standard window.
Can I apply for Medicaid and SNAP in one application in South Carolina?
No. SC runs Medicaid through SCDHHS Healthy Connections at apply.scdhhs.gov and SNAP and Family Independence through SC DSS at benefitsportal.dss.sc.gov. You create separate accounts and submit two applications. The agencies do not automatically share data, so report the same household and income to both.
What if I'm denied? How do I appeal a Healthy Connections decision?
You have 30 days from the notice date to request a fair hearing. Request through the portal, by calling SCDHHS at 888-549-0820, or by mail. Hearings are decided by independent SCDHHS hearings officers, usually by phone. For SNAP and Family Independence denials, contact SC DSS at 800-616-1309 within the same 30-day window.
Do I have to pay anything to apply for Healthy Connections or SNAP in South Carolina?
No. Medicaid, Healthy Connections Kids, SNAP, and Family Independence applications are free. The only official Medicaid application is apply.scdhhs.gov; the only official SNAP application is benefitsportal.dss.sc.gov.
Can I qualify for Medicaid in South Carolina as a single adult without children?
In most cases no, because SC has not expanded Medicaid. Adults ages 19 to 64 without dependent children, who are not pregnant, not disabled, and not in another categorical group, generally cannot qualify for Healthy Connections at any income. If income is above 100% FPL, you may qualify for an ACA subsidized plan at HealthCare.gov. Below 100% FPL, you likely fall into the coverage gap.
Does the Healthy Connections portal handle Medicaid renewal in 2026?
Yes. SCDHHS sends a renewal notice through the portal and by mail roughly 60 days before coverage ends. Log in, confirm household and income, and upload new verification. Failure to complete renewal closes the case at the end of the certification period.
Check Your Eligibility Before You Apply
SC has some of the strictest adult Medicaid rules in the country, and SNAP uses a different income test. Two portals mean two applications; getting denied at one does not check the other. A free screening saves 30 to 45 minutes per application if you do not qualify.
Check your eligibility for SC benefits in 2 minutes with Benefits USA's free screener. It checks Healthy Connections, Healthy Connections Kids, SNAP, Family Independence, ACA subsidies, and other programs at once and links you to the right application for each.
For situation-specific questions, call SCDHHS at 888-549-0820, SC DSS at 800-616-1309, or visit a local DSS office. SC Thrive helps applicants complete both applications for free.
Check Your Eligibility →
