MEMORANDUM

DATE:         December 3, 1999

TO:               Adult Public Assistance Manual Holders

FROM:         Policy and Program Development Team

SUBJECT: Alaska Adult Public Assistance Program Manual, 1999 Edition

We are pleased to present you with the 1999 edition of the Adult Public Assistance manual. This edition does not present any new policy. However, in an effort to make the manual easier to use, the new edition:

• presents information in a slightly different format,
• expands the manual index,
• updates examples with more current information, and
• makes other minor technical corrections.

This new edition also removes information about referrals to the Alaska Longevity Bonus program, and implements new APAAdult Public Assistance need and maximum payment standards beginning with the benefit month of January 2000.

Please address any questions or comments to the Policy and Program Development Team by e-mail at dpapolicy@health.state.ak.us, by SYSM to HPAPOLY, or call us at 465-3347.

COST OF LIVING ALLOWANCE (COLA ) INCREASE

Effective January 1, 2000, a 2.4 % COLACost of Living Allowance increase will be granted to recipients of Social Security and SSISupplemental Security Income. APA need and maximum payment standards will also increase. The new standards are effective for the benefit month of January 2000.

Although the amount of APAAdult Public Assistance benefits to SSISupplemental Security Income recipients will not change, APAAdult Public Assistance payments to non- SSI recipients may decrease. However, no one will lose APAAdult Public Assistance or APAAdult Public Assistance -related Medicaid eligibility because of this COLACost of Living Allowance change.

Affected Manual Sections:

Section 451-3, APAAdult Public Assistance Need Standards

This section is updated to reflect the 2.4 % COLACost of Living Allowance increases in the 2000 APAAdult Public Assistance need standards.

Section 453, Maximum Payment Standards

This section is updated to reflect the increases in APAAdult Public Assistance and SSISupplemental Security Income maximum payment standards for 2000.

MANUAL CHANGE INSTRUCTIONS

Replace the entire manual.