STATE OF ALASKA

Department of Health

Division of Public Assistance

TRANSMITTAL NUMBER:   MC #66

MANUAL:  Adult Public Assistance

DATE: December 1, 2022

This year Social Security announced a 8.7% Cost of Living Allowance (COLACost of Living Allowance) increase effective January 2023. We have incorporated the 2023 standards into the examples and Addendum 1. These standards become effective with the benefit month of January 2023. 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 & Program Development Team at hss.dpa.policy@alaska.gov.

OVERVIEW OF CHANGES

ENTIRE MANUAL

• Changed all references from DHSSDepartment of Health and Social Services (State) to DOHDepartment of Health.

400-4(C)        FAILURE TO PROVIDE NECESSARY VERIFICATION

• Clarified that if a client provides verification before the effective date of the case closure, the verification must be accepted and the case processed accordingly.

410-3(A)         WHEN IS AN INTERVIEW REQUIRED

• Clarified that individuals who only receive APAAdult Public Assistance/MED benefits that also receive any amount of SSISupplemental Security Income are not required to complete an annual interview.  If they stop receiving SSISupplemental Security Income or they are the PI or SP on a SNAPSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Progam case, an annual interview is required for APAAdult Public Assistance/MED.  

410-3(E)       SCHEDULING INTERVIEWS

• Revised verbiage for clarity.
• Removed reference to request for service.

410-4            VERIFICATION

• Clarified IEVSInstant Eligiblity Verification System is used to check Quarterly Wages.

421-5(B)       NON-IMMIGRANTS

• Changed reference to USCISU.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services documentation from paragraph to list format.   

421-6           DOCUMENTATION OF U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND ELIGIBLE ALIEN STATUS

• Removed link to NCOSC website that no longer provides the information needed in this section.  Updated to USCISU.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website.

433-1           TRANSFER OF RESOURCES

• Updated all examples within the chapter to reflect the new 2023 standards.

433-2(A)        ELIGIBILITY FOR CONDITIONAL BENEFITS

• Updated the SSISupplemental Security Income payment standard to the new 2023 amount in order accurately calculate if an applicant is eligible for conditional benefits.

433-4              ABLE ACCOUNTS

• Updated 2023 Max Allowable contribution for certain ABLEAchieving a Better Life Experience account holders.

442-3(A)        INCOME EXCLUSIONS AUTHORIZED BY FEDERAL LAWS

• Clarified that except for wages and salaries, any assistance provided under the Older Americans Act is excluded from income. 

452-1             PAYMENT CALCULATIONS

• Updated all examples within the section to reflect the new 2023 standards.

452-5            COMPUTATION OF BENEFITS

• Updated Assisted Living Home example to reflect the new 2023 standards.

452-10(B)      TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE TO APA CONVERSIONS

• Updated examples to reflect the new 2023 standards.

452-12           RETROACTIVE APA BENEFIT CALCULATIONS

• Updated example to reflect the new 2023 standards.

460-5             INCOME ALLOCATIONS

• Updated all examples within the chapter to reflect the new 2023 standards.

480-1(D)         INTERVIEW REQUIREMENTS

• Revised note to clarify that individuals who only receive APAAdult Public Assistance/MED benefits that also receive any amounts of SSISupplemental Security Income are not required to complete an annual interview.  If they stop receiving SSISupplemental Security Income or they are the PI or SP on a SNAPSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Progam case, an annual interview is required for APAAdult Public Assistance/MED.

ADDENDUM 1

• Updated the program standards based on the 2023 COLA change.

ADDENDUM 3

• Updated the link to Title V of the Older American Act and added MASSTMature Alaskans Seeking Skills Training stipends for clarity.