APA - Alaska Adult Public Assistance Manual
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MEMORANDUM

 

DATE:          December 1, 2000

 

TO:                Adult Public Assistance Manual Holders

 

FROM:          Policy and Program Development Team

 

SUBJECT: Adult Public Assistance Manual Change #1

 

This manual change implements new APAAdult Public Assistance need and maximum payment standards beginning with the benefit month of January 2001. It also updates the manual’s table of contents, and clarifies APAAdult Public Assistance policy on substantial gainful activity, DDSDisability Determination Service referral procedures, and educational assistance. This change also makes minor technical corrections. All changes other than the 2001 COLACost of Living Allowance increases are effective upon receipt of this manual change.

 

Effective January 1, 2001, a 3.5% Cost of Living Allowance (COLA ) increase will be granted to recipients of Social Security and SSISupplemental Security Income. APA need and maximum payment standards will also increase.

 

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.  

 

The explanation of the manual changes and the affected manual sections are described below.

 

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

 

Explanation of Manual Changes

 

 

Old Policy

 New Policy
 

Table of Contents

Lists chapters, sections, and subsections.

Retains the chapter titles, but deletes sections and subsections. The deleted information is now available in each chapter’s table of contents.
 

Section 425-1, Definition of Blindness/Disability

 

Defines what disability means.

Expands the disability definition by describing what substantial gainful activity (SGA ) means.
 

Section 425-2D, State-Only Blindness or Disability Decisions

Describes when state-only disability decisions are necessary.

Clarifies that DPADivision of Public Assistance case workers are responsible for making state-only disability determinations when substantial gainful activity is involved.
 

Section 425-3, Procedures for Initial Blindness or Disability Decisions

Directs staff to send requests for state-only disability decisions through Field Services.

Updates the referral process by directing staff to send requests for state-only disability decisions directly to Disability Determination Services (DDS ). The change also requires each district office to maintain a log of DDSDisability Determination Service requests and decisions.
 

Section 432-2A, One Automobile

References the "National Market Reports Red Book" as source of verification for determining vehicle values.

Corrects the references to "National Market Reports Blue Book."
 

Section 432-4K, Educational Assistance

Provides that educational assistance to an undergraduate made or insured under any program administered by the U.S. Commissioner of Education is totally excluded from resources.

Clarifies that educational assistance received under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, and under Bureau of Indian Affairs education programs, is totally excluded from resources. This policy applies to all students, not just undergraduates.
 

Section 442-3A(7), Educational Assistance

Provides that educational assistance to an undergraduate made or insured under any program administered by the U.S. Commissioner of Education is totally excluded from income.

Clarifies that educational assistance received under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, and under Bureau of Indian Affairs education programs, is totally excluded from income. This policy applies to all students, not just undergraduates.
 

Section 451-3, APAAdult Public Assistance Need Standards

Provides APAAdult Public Assistance need standards for 2000.

Updates the APAAdult Public Assistance Need Standards for 2001.
 

Section 453, Maximum Payment Standards

Gives APAAdult Public Assistance and SSISupplemental Security Income maximum payment standards for 2000.

 Updates the APAAdult Public Assistance and SSISupplemental Security Income maximum payment standards for 2001.

 

 

Manual Change Filing Instructions

 

Remove Old Pages
 

Insert New Pages
 

Table of Contents, i through xiv

Table of Contents, i through ii

Chapter Contents (Chapter 425)

Chapter Contents (Chapter 425)

H-1 through H-8

H-1 through H-8

L-5 through L-6

L-5 through L-6

L-19 through L-20

L-19 through L-20

P-11 through P-12

P-11 through P-12

S-1 through S-2

S-1 through S-2

U-1 through U-2

 U-1 through U-2