STATE OF ALASKA

Department of Health

Division of Public Assistance 

TRANSMITTAL NUMBER:   2024-03

MANUAL:   Alaska Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

DATE:   December 2, 2024

This year the Social Security Administration announced a Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) increase effective January 2025, which increased the payee fee that can be excluded as unearned income.

This update includes policy revisions to ABAWDAble-bodied Adult Without Dependents exempt and non-exempt areas as FNSFood and Nutrition Service approved Alaska's waiver to exempt areas of Alaska from ABAWDAble-bodied Adult Without Dependents work requirements due to high unemployment. 

Highlights of these and other policy revisions are described below. If you have any questions, please contact the Policy & Program Development team at hss.dpa.policy@alaska.gov.

OVERVIEW OF CHANGES

MS 601           Application Process

• Added applications submitted online to the acceptable application process 

MS 601-2(A)       What Is An Acceptable Application Form?

• Revised section to align with verbiage used in other DPADivision of Public Assistance manuals 

MS 601-3(A)       When Is An Interview Required?

• Aligned recertification verbiage in 601-3(A) to match recertification procedure in 604-3

MS 601-4       Verification

• Clarified that anytime previously verified information is more than 60 days old, it is considered outdated

MS 602-1(D)(6)(c)       Proof of Qualified Alien Status

• Added reference to the Administration for Children & Families' Shepherd HHS Letter Verification website for verifying interim assistance letters and eligibility letters for the victims of trafficking

MS 602-1(F)       Work Requirements

• Revised list of E&TEmployment and Training Program providers
• Revised ABAWDAble-bodied Adult Without Dependents age limits 18 through 54 and removed note about the age increase that went into effect 10/01/24

MS 602-1(G)(5)       Determining Work Requirements and Exemptions

• Revised ABAWDAble-bodied Adult Without Dependents age limit through the age of 54
• Added link to 602-1(L)(6) after "Individuals that qualify for a discretionary exemption (policy determines this population)

MS 602-1(L)       Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents 

• Removed "is age 18 through 52" and the effective date of the current ABAWDAble-bodied Adult Without Dependents ages in first paragraph and under subsection 6, exemptions
• Updated Discretionary Exemption population and effective dates to align with the new ABAWDAble-bodied Adult Without Dependents waiver effective 11/01/24-10/31/25

MS 602-3(B)(2)       Unearned Income

• Updated payee fees to reflect COLACost of Living Allowance change

MS 604-1       Certification Period

• Added link to the newly created ESAPElderly Simplified Application Project Demonstration sub-section for SNAPSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program households certified for 36 months

MS 604-2       Interim Report

• Added link to the newly created ESAPElderly Simplified Application Project Demonstration sub-section for SNAPSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program households certified for 36 months

MS 604-3       Recertification 

• Added link to the newly created ESAPElderly Simplified Application Project Demonstration sub-section for SNAPSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program households certified for 36 months

MS 604-4(F)       Removing a Member From the Household

• Clarified when opening a new SNAPSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program case for another household member when the PIPrimary Information Person moves out of the home, the household member must sign the Statement of Truth

MS 605-3(D)       Elderly Simplified Application Project

• Created new subsection to outline the Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP) demonstration policy

MS 605-7(G)       PFD at Recertification

• Revised X004 notice name to "SNAPSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Recertification"

Addendum 2       ABAWD Work Requirement Exempt and Non-Exempt Areas

• Updated ABAWDAble-bodied Adult Without Dependents exempt and non-exempt areas to reflect the revised ABAWD waiver, effective 11/01/2024-10/31/2025

Addendum 4       Alaska SNAP Standards and Maximum Allotments 

• Updated to reflect Copper River Census Area should be in the South Central Utility Region

Addendum 9       State & FNS Approved Substance Abuse Programs

• Removed Chanlyut and Cook Inlet Tribal Council as FNSFood and Nutrition Service approved treatment centers. They are no longer utilizing SNAPSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for residents
• Added Mount Juneau Counseling & Recovery as Division of Behavioral Health approved treatment center