STATE OF ALASKA
Department of Health
Division of Public Assistance
TRANSMITTAL NUMBER: MC #69
MANUAL: Adult Public Assistance
DATE: December 1, 2023
This year Social Security announced a 3.2% Cost of Living Allowance (COLACost of Living Allowance) increase effective January 2024. We have incorporated the 2024 standards into the examples and Addendum 1. 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
433-1 TRANSFER OF RESOURCES
- Updated all examples within the chapter to reflect the new 2024 standards.
433-2(A) ELIGIBILITY FOR CONDITIONAL BENEFITS
- Updated the SSISupplemental Security Income payment standard to the new 2024 amount in order accurately calculate if an applicant is eligible for conditional benefits.
433-4 ABLEAchieving a Better Life Experience ACCOUNTS
- Updated 2024 Max Allowable contribution for certain ABLEAchieving a Better Life Experience account holders.
452-1 PAYMENT CALCULATIONS
- Updated all examples within the section to reflect the new 2024 standards.
452-5 COMPUTATION OF BENEFITS
- Updated Assisted Living Home example to reflect the new 2024 standards.
452-10(B) TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE TO APAAdult Public Assistance CONVERSIONS
- Updated examples to reflect the new 2024 standards.
452-12 RETROACTIVE APAAdult Public Assistance BENEFIT CALCULATIONS
- Updated example to reflect the new 2024 standards.
- Removed outdated information from this manual section as retroactive APA payments can only be made to IA recipients when they are approved for SSA or SSI and their case is converted to APA.
460-5 INCOME ALLOCATIONS
- Updated all examples within the chapter to reflect the new 2024 standards.
480-1 REVIEWS
- Clarified that when an application or review is received for other DPA programs, it should not be used to to establish a new certification period for APAAdult Public Assistance benefits.
- Added examples.
ADDENDUM 1
- Updated the program standards based on the 2024 COLACost of Living Allowance standards.