STATE OF ALASKA
Department of Health and Social Services
Division of Public Assistance
TRANSMITTAL NUMBER: 2010-03
MANUAL: Alaska Food Stamp Program
DATE: October 1, 2010
We are making several changes to incorporate new policy, clarify existing policy, and align policies within our program policy manuals. This includes:
To the extent possible, we are aligning policies in the U.S. United States Citizenship and Alien Status chapter with those in our other program manuals.
Any amount of Flexible Health Benefits that the employer does not pay directly to the employee is exempt income.
New policy allows a 50% deduction from self employment income for self-employment expenses. The household can choose to use actual expenses if they believe they are higher than 50%.
Other changes are either technical in nature or clarifications that are the result of policy questions or suggestions from the field.
Highlights of these and other 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 601-1 C SSI Recipients From California
Adds a new section explaining the SSI/SSP program. In California SSI recipients receive additional cash from SSI in place of Food Stamps. They are not eligible for FS in any month they receive SSI/SSP.
MS 601-3 E Scheduling Interviews
Removes the requirement to send a written notice to the applicant informing them of their interview date and time.
Includes three options for informing the applicant of their appointment date and time as well as documentation requirements for each option.
MS 602-1 D U.S. Citizenship and Eligible Alien Status
Aligns policies in the U.S. Citizenship and Alien Status chapter with those in our other program manuals.
MS 602-2 F Conversion or Sale of a Resource
Adds a new section clarifying how to address conversion of resource issues.
MS 602-3 A Earned Income
Clarifies that only the contribution amount that goes directly to the employee (benefit contribution excess) is countable income. Any amount that the employer pays for mandatory health insurance benefits is not counted as income to the employee.
Renumbers remaining sub-sections
MS 602-4 D Medical Deductions
Removes mileage rate table and adds a link to the IRS Internal Revenue Service website for current mileage rates.
MS 605-1 B Students
Removes mileage rate table and adds a link to the IRS Internal Revenue Service website for current mileage rates.
MS 605-2 D Income from Self-employment
Removes mileage rate table and adds a link to the IRS Internal Revenue Service website for current mileage rates.
Adds new policy that allows a 50% deduction from self-employment income for self-employment expenses. The household can choose to use actual expenses if they believe they are higher than 50%.
Addendum 4 Standards and Maximum Allotments