MEMORANDUM
DATE: August 22, 2003
TO: Adult Public Assistance Manual Holders
FROM: Ellie Fitzjarrald, Chief
Policy and Program Development Team
SUBJECT: Adult Public Assistance Manual Change #6
This manual change introduces a new, more comprehensive medical review process for Interim Assistance ( IA ) that is expected to result in benefit savings.
Instead of relying solely on a physician's opinion of his or her patient's disability, a secondary assessment will be completed for most applicants. Only those applicants who pass this secondary assessment will become eligible for IA . This should result in the opening of fewer IA cases with only those applicants likely to be found eligible for SSI receiving IA .
Doctors of patients applying for IA will complete the new AD #2 form, Preliminary Examination for Interim Assistance, to certify that the individual is disabled according to the SSI definition. The APA worker will then send this form with medical records to the medical screener within the Division of Alaska Longevity Programs. The medical screener reviews the form along with any attached information and approves or denies the doctor’s preliminary disability determination. The APA worker will determine IA eligibility based on the medical screeners decision. A copy of the revised AD #2 form and a flow chart of the IA screening process is attached to this memo.
This manual change also incorporates the requirement that APA applicants submit a signed SSI application to the Social Security Administration before Interim Assistance is approved. This policy change was previously issued through an e-mail broadcast on July 14, 2003.
Additional manual revisions align policy and language with previously issued changes for the Food Stamp and Temporary Assistance programs. These policy alignments
Clarify that U.S. nationals are treated the same as U.S. citizens;
Identify a new qualified alien category, Victims of Trafficking;
Recommend the use of the NADA Appraisal Guides website for determining vehicle values; and
Clarify policy on estimating income.
This change also updates the manual index and makes other technical corrections.
Implementation Dates: The requirement for proof of a signed SSI application before Interim Assistance is approved is effective July 14, 2003. This policy change was previously published and distributed through an e-mail broadcast on that date. All other changes are effective upon receipt of this manual change.
Highlights of these policy revisions are described below. If you have any questions, please contact any member of the Policy and Program Development Team at 465-3347 or e-mail us at dpapolicy@health.state.ak.us.
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OLD POLICY |
NEW POLICY |
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Section 421, U.S. Citizenship and Eligible Alien Status |
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States that U.S. citizens and qualified aliens are eligible for APA . |
Clarifies that U.S. nationals are also eligible for APA . |
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Section 421-1, United States Citizens and United States Nationals |
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States that persons born in the United States, and certain other areas are presumed to be U.S. citizens. |
Clarifies that persons born in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands are U.S. citizens. Persons born in American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, or Swain’s Island are U.S. nationals. |
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Section 421-2, Qualified Aliens |
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Defines the various categories of qualified aliens. |
Adds victims of trafficking to the list of qualified aliens. |
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Section 421-3, Five-Year Bar |
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Lists the qualified alien categories that are not prohibited from receiving assistance for five years from their date of entry into the U.S. |
Adds victims of trafficking to the list of aliens who are exempt from the five-year bar. |
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Section 421-4, Proof of Qualified Alien Status |
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Provides guidance on acceptable verification of qualified alien status. |
Adds verification information for victims of trafficking. |
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Allows Interim Assistance to be approved based on a protective filing for SSI benefits. |
Requires APA applicants to submit a signed SSI application to the Social Security Administration before Interim Assistance is approved. |
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Section 426-2C, Interim Blindness or Disability Determination |
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States that Interim Assistance may be approved upon receipt of a properly completed AD #2 form, Preliminary Examination for Interim Assistance. |
A secondary review process is now required for certain APA applicants before Interim Assistance is approved. The AD #2 form has been revised to accommodate this review process. A copy of the revised AD #2 form and a flow chart of the IA screening process is attached. |
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Section 432-2A, One Automobile |
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States that the National Market Reports Blue Book may be used to determine the value of a vehicle. |
States that vehicle values may now be determined through NADA Appraisal Guides website at www.NADAguides.com. |
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Section 440-4, Estimating Income |
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Describes policies for estimating income. |
This section is rewritten to better describe policies for estimating income. The revision also combines policy on irregular and sporadic income into a single subsection and adds new policy on estimating application month income and income verification. |
Manual Change Filing Instructions
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Remove Old Pages |
Insert New Pages |
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Chapter Contents (Chapter 421) |
Chapter Contents (Chapter 421) |
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D-1 through D-10 |
D-1 through D-10 |
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F-5 through F6 |
F-5 through F-6 |
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Chapter Contents (Chapter 426) |
Chapter Contents (Chapter 426) |
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I-1 through I-18 |
I-1 through I-20 |
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K-9 through K-10 |
K-9 through K-10 |
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Chapter Contents (Chapter 432) |
Chapter Contents (Chapter 432) |
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L-5 through L-20 |
L-5 through L-20 |
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Chapter Contents (Chapter 440) |
Chapter Contents (Chapter 440) |
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N-11 through N-18 |
N-11 through N-20 |
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BB-1 through BB-12 (Old Index) |
BB-1 through BB-14 (New Index) |