Baldwin County residents who receive or are applying for SNAP or TANF benefits will eventually have access to a new Alabama Department of Human Resources computer system designed to make managing those benefits easier, but the county is not part of the initial pilot.

DHR is beginning a pilot Monday, Oct. 5, of the Alabama Combined Eligibility System, or ACES, in Montgomery, Elmore, Tuscaloosa, Dallas and Talladega counties, a news release said. The pilot will allow the agency to test the new system with clients, caseworkers and workforce placement providers before a planned statewide rollout.

If the pilot is successful, ACES is tentatively scheduled to go live statewide in January 2027, bringing the new system to Baldwin County and the rest of Alabama.

ACES combines 12 existing systems into one modernized eligibility system. The system will include separate portals for DHR staff and caseworkers, SNAP and TANF clients and workforce placement providers.

Once available statewide, the client portal will allow Baldwin County SNAP and TANF clients to apply for benefits, check application status, submit recertification documentation and complete other tasks online.

“Creating this new eligibility system has been years in the making, but as we prepare for the final phases of launch, we are proud of what this new system will mean to our clients, providers and staff,” Commissioner Nancy Buckner said in the release. “ACES creates a more user-friendly environment for our clients and providers, as well as improves the workflow for our staff as we strive to make both programs as efficient and accessible as possible.”

For now, DHR is limiting use of the self-service portal to clients in the five pilot counties. Letters with additional information, quick tips and details about the transition will be mailed Oct. 8 to SNAP and TANF clients in those counties.

DHR said the transition to ACES will not affect clients’ benefit issuance dates or the amount of benefits issued.

Baldwin County clients can expect more information as the statewide rollout approaches. The ACES self-service portal is available to eligible clients in the pilot counties at https://acesselfservice.dhr.alabama.gov.