STATE OF ALASKA

Department of Health 

Division of Public Assistance

TRANSMITTAL NUMBER: 2026-02

MANUAL: Heating Assistance Program

DATE: September 1, 2026

Several sections of the Heating Assistance Program Policy Manual have been revised in order to incorporate new policy, clarify existing policy, and align policies within our division's policy manuals.

If you have questions, please contact the Policy & Program Development Team at hss.dpa.policy@alaska.gov.

OVERVIEW OF CHANGES

MS 3000            INTRODUCTION AND DEFINITIONS

• Updated Introduction to include the Alaska Affordable Heating Program (AAHP) as a funded program administered under HAP.
• Updated Introduction to clarify that HAP may issue a one-time direct payment when heat is included in required homeowners association or condominium association dues..

MS 3000-2           DEFINITIONS

• Revised the definition and notes for categorical eligibility to align with HAP MS 3001-4H. Clarified categorically eligible households are processed using information displayed in EIS, but only countable income may be used when determining the benefit amount.Alaska Temporary Assistance Program

MS 3001-2         THE APPLICATION FORM

• Updated complete application requirements to align with revised verification policy, clarified acceptable rental and identity verification.
• Clarified case action procedures for tribal referrals returned to DPA.

MS 3001-4           VERIFICATIONS

• Clarified verification requirements for households that otherwise meet eligibility criteria and when reliable, previously verified information or a client statement may be used in making an eligibility determination.
• Clarified that households must provide a physical residence address or, if none exists, directions to the residence.
• Clarified acceptable verification for heat, rent, and utility costs, including situations where heat or electricity is included in rent, dues, or other verified housing payments.
• Clarified that categorically eligible households are processed using information displayed in EIS and are not subject to the full interface verification process. The revision also clarifies that only countable income may be used when determining the benefit amount.

MS 3001-5           ACTIONS TAKEN ON THE APPLICATION

• Clarified when the Energy Bill Credit Exceeds Maximum Allowed denial reason applies and added direction for electric account credits that affect a requested 50/50 split but do not make the household ineligible.
• Revised the Household Already Received Benefit section to clarify the one-benefit-per-season policy and when a household or household member is considered previously served.
• Updated the Over Income denial reasons to reflect the AAHP income limit of 225 percent of FPL.
• Added subsection explaining when an application may be reopened and identified reopening as an application action.

MS 3002-1         TYPES OF HOUSEHOLDS

• Clarified categorical eligibility processing requirements to align with HAP MS 3001-4H, including use of EIS information, countable income for benefit calculation, and treatment of mixed households or other assistance types.
• Updated the income eligibility requirement to reflect the AAHP income limit of 225 percent of FPL.
• Clarified acceptable identity verification sources, including but not limited to existing records and DPA-approved systems.

MS 3003-2         NONCOUNTABLE (EXEMPT) INCOME 

• Clarified that the ANCSA income exemption is not subject to the $2,000 cap for HAP

MS 3003-4         INCOME FROM SELF-EMPLOYMENT 

• Updated the self-employment annualization standards effective October 1, 2026, to include AAHP income limit of 225 percent of FPL, and clarified rounding procedures for monthly and annualized income amounts.

MS 3003-6         GUIDELINES FOR COMPUTING INCOME 

• Reorganized into subsections, removed unsupported income rounding language, and clarified that HAP uses actual gross countable income unless a specific alternative calculation method applies .

MS 3004-5         GRANT COMPUTATION 

• Removed mobile homes from the factor for boats with heated living space less than 980 square feet to correct the applicable dwelling factor.
• Added the AAHP income range and corresponding heating cost point percentages for households with income above the LIHEAP limit.
• Updated heating assistance season reference from FY2026 to FY2027 to align with the current heating assistance season.
• Updated fiscal year reference FY 2026 reference to FY 2027 and added AAHP price-per-point rate.

MS 3008-1         TIME FRAMES FOR ASSISTANCE 

• Clarified application processing order, payment run schedules, holiday payment run procedures, vendor notice methods, and vendor responsibility for applying payments to client accounts.

MS 3008-3         DISTRIBUTION OF GRANT BETWEEN HEATING AND ELECTRICITY 

• Clarified that an electric account credit covering approximately 12 months of expenses may prevent issuance of the electric portion of a requested 50/50 split; if the household remains eligible, 100% of the grant must be issued to the primary heating vendor.

MS 3008-4         METHODS OF PAYMENT 

• Clarified that a one-time direct payment may be issued when a household pays home heating and/or electricity costs indirectly through required homeowners association or condominium association dues.

Addendum A         COMMUNITY LISTING 

• Updated the fiscal year reference to FFY2027.
• Added natural gas points for North Pole.

Addendum B         HAP TRIBAL PROVIDERS 

• Updated the fiscal year reference to FFY2027.
• Updated Orutsaramiut Native Council’s contact from Mary Simon to Peter Evon.
• Corrected APIA’s contact information.
• Updated Kenaitze Tribe of Alaska’s contact information.
• Updated Sitka Tribe of Alaska’s contact information.
• Updated TCC’s contact information.
• Updated Aniak Tribal Council’s information 
   

Addendum E         AK FEDERAL POVERTY INCOME GUIDELINES 

• Updated the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines for FFY2027 and added the AAHP income limits.