Increase would come as lawmakers contend with surplus built up as precaution

COLUMBUS - The state is proposing the first raise in five years for families receiving welfare and other ways to spend most of the program's balance, which has surpassed what the federal government gives the state each year for welfare.

Staff with the Department of Job and Family Services were to present the agency plan to House lawmakers. The legislature must approve spending for the federal-state program as part of the state's next two-year budget that begins in July.

(NBC Affiliate) More than one out of ten Alaska households has trouble feeding the family. That's one suggestion made by a new report by the advocacy group the Food Research and Action Center.

Newscenter 11’s Seth Linden explains from Washington:

For many families, dining together may be a given. It's assumed food will be on the table. But for other families in Alaska, regular meals are a false assumption.

This page is devoted to listing resources available to people who are in need of a variety of services and for those who do not qualify for either the Chronic and Acute Medical Assistance program or the Medicaid program.

Division of Health Care Services - Beyond Medicaid and CAMA

There's good news to share regarding our Better Than Average food stamp payment accuracy campaign. We did top our 2004 goal of 93% payment accuracy. I received a message from the FNS Regional Food Stamp Program Director today saying it's a sure thing that Alaska will be the state with the most improved payment accuracy in FFY 2004. It will be a few months until the formal annoucement is made and our award amount determined, so we'll be recognizing your acheivement and celebrating more at that time.

Gov. Frank Murkowski at the beginning of the 2005 legislative session plans to introduce a bill to make permanent a program allowing Alaska Native nonprofit organizations to continue overseeing their regions' temporary assistance programs.

The state Legislature in 2000 authorized a pilot program, called the Native Family Assistance Program, that adds state money to federal funds so that regional nonprofit organizations can operate the welfare-to-work and welfare cash benefits programs under the state Department of Health and Social Service's Division of Public Assistance.