101-5           WHERE TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION

101-5 A.      DPA Division of Public Assistance OFFICES

DPA Division of Public Assistance offices are located in the communities listed below.  Staff in these offices handle all aspects of application processing, including determining initial eligibility, issuing benefits, and processing recertification and review applications.  Individuals can mail or hand-deliver applications for public assistance to the DPA Division of Public Assistance office that serves their community.  

Individuals and families living in areas where there is neither a DPA Division of Public Assistance office nor a designated fee agent may obtain applications from the nearest DPA Division of Public Assistance office.  Requests for applications can be made by phone or in writing.  The applicant will mail the completed application to that office.

101-5 B.      FEE AGENTS

Paid volunteers, called fee agents, help individuals apply who live in communities that do not have a local Division of Public Assistance office.  DPA Division of Public Assistance provides fee agents with a supply of applications and other forms individuals need to apply for public assistance.

Individuals living in areas where there is no DPA Division of Public Assistance office will normally submit an application to the local fee agent.  The fee agent assists the applicant in completing the application, interviews the applicant, and forwards the application and required forms and verification to the appropriate DPA Division of Public Assistance office for processing.  

Individuals are not required to go to a fee agent, and may send the application directly to the nearest Division of Public Assistance office.

101-5 C.      NATIVE FAMILY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

See Chapter 116, NFAP and DPA Case Processing Procedures, for information on accepting application forms from Native Family Assistance Programs.  

Note:

A workflow chart for applications received from Fee Agents and Native Family Assistance Programs is provided in Addendum A to this chapter.

101-5 D.      LOCATION OF APPLICANTS

Applications must be made to the DPA Division of Public Assistance office serving the area in which the applicant resides.

Note:

In the event a district office receives an application or recertification from a client that resides in another district office area, the application must be accepted and transferred to the appropriate district office. Refer to MS 103-7E for additional guidelines in transferring application or recertification.

The following are exceptions:

1. Temporary Residence within the State

When an individual who is not receiving public assistance is temporarily living in an Alaskan community that is not his or her permanent home, he or she should apply to the DPA Division of Public Assistance office or fee agent serving the area where the individual is at the time.  The office receiving the application will determine eligibility and establish the case.  When the individual returns home, this office will transfer the case file to the office serving that area.

2. Residents of Institutions within the State

Applications will be accepted from residents of institutions, by the office serving the area where the institution is located.   

3. Residents of Other States and Countries

When a request for an application is received from someone who is living outside Alaska but who intends to live in Alaska, an application will be mailed to the requester.  If he or she returns an identifiable application to any DPA Division of Public Assistance office, the application will be accepted and forwarded to the office serving the area of the State in which the applicant intends to live.

For an applicant to be eligible for benefits, he or she must meet all eligibility factors of the program for which application is made, including residency and citizenship or qualified alien status.  Refer to the program manuals for specific policies.

Recipients who leave Alaska for certain purposes but remain within the US may continue to be eligible for assistance from the State of Alaska. Refer to the program manuals for policies on temporary absence.

4. Applicants Represented by Office of Public Advocacy

When a request for an application is received from someone represented by Office of Public Advocacy (OPA), applications will be accepted by the office serving the area where OPA Office of Public Advocacy is located.