STATE OF ALASKA

Department of Health and Social Services

Division of Public Assistance

TRANSMITTAL NUMBER:   2008-03

MANUAL:   Alaska Food Stamp Program

DATE:   December 1, 2008

We have updated the Work Requirements chapter to include the new voluntary designation for Employment & Training Programs operated in Juneau and Ketchikan.  Further information on the implementation will be provided to Southeast offices.

We made some language changes to the interview section of the Application Process chapter in conjunction with the other program manuals.  We aligned policy about Native Restricted Lands with the Adult Public Assistance, Family Medicaid, and Alaska Temporary Assistance programs to the extent possible.  We also clarified several policy issues that were requested by field staff.

Highlights of these policy revisions are described below.  If you have any questions please contact the Policy and Program Development Team at 465-3382 or e-mail dpapolicy@alaska.gov.

OVERVIEW OF CHANGES

MS 600-2  Definitions

1. • Adds an introductory paragraph at the beginning of MS 600-2

   • Adds links to defined terms at MS 603 and the Administrative Procedures Manual

MS 601-3E  Conducting Interviews

1. • Revises language that incorrectly implied an applicant had to come into a DPADivision of Public Assistance Office for an interview.

   • Clarifies that the Notice of Missed Interview (F000) is sent by the office and not automatically by EISEligibility Information System .

   • Replaces an interview with another interview in the first bullet to clarify that this interview is not the first interview scheduled.

   • Clarifies the policy that prohibits workers from denying an application for no interview before the 30th day.

MS 601-3F  Changes Reported During the Interview

1. • Revises language that incorrectly implied an applicant had to come into a DPADivision of Public Assistance Office for an interview.

MS 602-1A(1)  Household Concept

1. • Under (b), removes redundant policy regarding proof of separate household status.  This policy is already addressed at (3).

   • Replaces (d) with an Exception to clarify that these elderly households can be considered separate from the other people who live with them even though they do not purchase food and prepare meals separately.

   • Removes sections (e), (f), and (g) regarding residents of institutions.  This policy is already addressed at (6).

MS 602-1F  Work Requirements

1. • Adds introduction paragraph for the Work Requirements chapter

   • Under (2), expands the description of the Employment & Training Program; removes the reference to the six E&T Program areas; and identifies the mandatory E&T Program areas of Anchorage, Fairbanks, Kenai/Soldotna, and the Matanuska-Susitna Valley.

   • Under (2), adds a section addressing the option for exempt individuals to volunteer to participate in the E&T Program and describing the Voluntary E&T Program in the communities of Juneau and Ketchikan

   • Under (3), revises the paragraph to define ABAWDAble-bodied Adult Without Dependents and reference the waiver due to high unemployment

MS 602-1G  Determining Work Requirements and Exemptions

1. • Under (2)(e) Unemployment Insurance Benefits, clarifies policy regarding the exemption for UIBUnemployment Insurance Benefit recipients. This change reflects the policy in the federal regulations at 7 CFRCode of Federal Regulations 273.7(b)(1)(v).

   • Under (2)(f) Employment, adds a Note to clarify that individuals who are employed at least 30 hours a week and receive excluded earned income, such as MASSTMature Alaskans Seeking Skills Training and AmeriCorps, are not subject to work requirements.

   • Under (2)(h) Students, removes post-secondary from description of school and training program.  Federal regulations at 7 CFRCode of Federal Regulations 273.7(b)(1)(viii) state that a student enrolled at least half-time in any school, training program or institution of higher education is exempt from work requirements.  

   • Under (2)(h) Students, adds a Note to clarify that adults age 18 or older attending high school at least half-time are exempt from work requirements.

   • Under (4) and (5)(b), removes references to Juneau and Ketchikan as mandatory E&T Program communities

   • Replaces reference to Kenai Peninsula with Kenai/Soldotna

   • Under (5)(b), clarifies that if no private or public transportation is available, individuals residing more than two and one-half miles from the local DPADivision of Public Assistance office are exempt from participating in the E&T Program.

   • Under (6), moves the paragraph describing disqualifications to the end of the section following the list of requirements

   • Under (6), adds a Note to clarify that individuals who are not required to participate in the E&T Program but chose to volunteer to participate are not disqualified if they do not complete the assigned E&T activity.

MS 602-1H  Caseworker Responsibilities – Work Requirements

1. • Clarifies that caseworkers are expected to give the E&T 4 form to all adults who are not exempt from work requirements.

MS 602-2B(11)  Native Restricted Land

1. • Revises section to align language used in the other program manuals.

   • Clarifies that land classified as Native Restricted Deeds is exempt as a resource because it cannot be transferred or sold without permission from other individuals, the tribe, or the BIABureau of Indian Affairs .

   • Adds a note to clarify that the BIABureau of Indian Affairs keeps records of Native Restricted Deeds.

   • Clarifies that any house or other structure that is permanently attached to the land is exempt even if it is not used as a home.

MS 602-2B(12)  Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act ( ANCSA ) Assets

1. • Revises section to clarify policy and address the various types of assets, including distributions, stock, partnership interests, land, interest in a settlement trust, and cash distributions

   • Clarifies that any house or other structure that is permanently attached to excluded ANCSAAlaska Native Claims Settlement Act land is also excluded from resources.

MS 602-2B(30)  College Savings Plans

1. • Adds 529Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code to clarify that only College Savings Plans under section 529Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code of the Internal Revenue Code can be excluded under this policy.  A personal savings account earmarked for college cannot be excluded.

MS 602-3A(5)  Government Sponsored Training Program Payments

1. • Adds reference to the Compensated Work Therapy payments funded by the Veteran’s Administration; these payments are countable earned income.

MS 602-4D(1)  Allowable Medical Expenses

1. • Under (h) transportation costs, adds instructions for workers to use the IRSInternal Revenue Service business mileage rate to calculate transportation costs when the household uses its own vehicle for medical reasons.

MS 603-2B  Net Income Determination

1. • Under (6), Apply Dependent Care Deduction, removes maximum $175/$200 language

MS 604-2B  Recertification: Application Filing Deadlines

1. • Under (1), adds statement: Register these recertification applications on the Register Recertification (RERE) EISEligibility Information System screen.

MS 604-3H  Removing a Member from the Household

1. • Revises second paragraph to clarify that a full redetermination of eligibility is not done.  Instead, when a household member leaves, the worker simply recalculates the household’s benefits after removing the household member and his/her income.

   • Clarifies that a change might affect eligibility and the decrease may be a case closure.

MS 605-1D  Institutions

1. • Under (1)(d), Group Homes, instructs worker to call the director of the group home to confirm it meets the group home definition.

   • Under (1)(d), Group Homes, adds suggestion to contact the Division of Senior and Disabilities Services to determine if the group home is state-certified.