What are the eligibility requirements for the stipend?
To qualify for the stipend as a Substack writer you must meet all of the following criteria:
- Make at least $5k gross annualized revenue with your Substack publication
- Have published at least one Substack post in the last 30 days
- Be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national
- Live in the U.S.
- Be enrolled in a health plan and pay out of pocket for at least a portion of your insurance premiums.
What if I’m currently uninsured?
We’d love to support you in getting coverage and enrolling in a health plan. Any interested writer (regardless of revenue on Substack) can check out
substack.healthsherpa.com to find a health plan that fits their needs. Uninsured writers who meet all other stipend eligibility requirements can apply for the stipend and receive conditional approval. We’ll request proof of enrollment before sending the stipend.
What about writers outside of the U.S.?
We aspire to support all Substack writers with services like Substack Health and beyond. We’ve started with a focus on U.S. writers so we can learn about how to most effectively expand our work.
If I’m approved for the stipend, when will I receive the money?
Stipend payments to help writers pay for health insurance premiums will be scheduled to go out in January 2022.
How is the stipend taxed?
The stipend should be considered taxable income. Recipients are responsible for figuring out and paying their own taxes.
Can I receive multiple stipends if I write more than one Substack?
For now, each eligible writer can receive one stipend through the Substack Health program.
What if my Substack publication has multiple writers?
One stipend is available for each publication that meets the program’s criteria.
What about writers who qualify for the stipend after the application period closes?
For now, this program is limited to writers who qualify for the stipend within the allotted time frame. We will explore an expansion of the Substack Health program after this first iteration.
