STATE OF ALASKA

Department of Health and Social Services

Division of Public Assistance

TRANSMITTAL NUMBER:   MC #60

MANUAL:  Adult Public Assistance

DATE: December 1, 2020

This year Social Security announced a 1.3% Cost of Living Allowance (COLACost of Living Allowance) increase effective January 2021. We have incorporated the 2021 standards into the examples and Addendum 1.  These standards become effective with the benefit month of January 2021. The COLACost of Living Allowance adjustment also causes:

• An increase in the income limit for Substantial Gainful Activity; and
• An increase in the student earned income exclusion.

We also made several changes to incorporate new policy, clarify existing policy, and align policies within our program policy manuals. Other changes are either technical in nature or clarifications that are the result of policy questions or suggestions from the field.  

Highlights of these policy revision are described below.  If you have any questions, contact the Policy and Program Development Team at dpapolicy@alaska.gov.

OVERVIEW OF CHANGES

410-2(E)     Who Can Sign the Application Form

• Clarified that both spouses have to sign a couple case application or review form.

410-3(A)     When an Interview is Required

• Clarified that an SSISupplemental Security Income only APAAdult Public Assistance/MEMedicaid case who doesn't receive a GEN 72Eligibility Review Form does not have to do a review interview.

410-4           Verification

• Added IEVS to interfaces that must be checked

• Changed Child Support interface NSTAR to WINSTAR

432-4L          Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANSCA)

• Added a note that a dividend direct deposited to a trust is still countable income for SSI purposes.  This income cannot be legally assigned to a trust.

433-1      Transfer of Resources

• Updated all examples within the chapter to reflect the new 2021 standards.

433-2A     Eligibility for Conditional Benefits

• Updated the SSISupplemental Security Income payment standard to the new 2021 amount in order to accurately calculate if an applicant is eligible for conditional benefits.

440-2     When Income is Counted

• Clarified that for public assistance benefits, we consider the month of intended use to be the month of normal receipt.

452-1      Payment Calculations

• Updated all examples within the section to reflect the new 2021 standards.

452-5     Computation of Benefits

• Updated Assisted Living Home example to reflect the new 2021 standards.

452-10B    Temporary Assistance to APAAdult Public Assistance conversions

• Revised examples to reflect the new 2021 standards.

452-12      Retroactive APAAdult Public Assistance Benefit Calculations

• Revised example to reflect the new 2021 standards.

460-5     Income Allocations

• Updated all examples within the chapter to reflect the new 2021 standards.

480-1D     Interview Requirements

•      Clarified that an SSISupplemental Security Income only APA/ME recipient who doesn't receive a GEN 72Eligibility Review Form does not have to do a review interview.

Addendum 1

• Updated the program standards based on the 2021 COLACost of Living Allowance change.