STATE OF ALASKA

Department of Health and Social Services

Division of Public Assistance

TRANSMITTAL NUMBER:   2011-01

MANUAL:   Alaska Food Stamp Program

DATE:   January 3, 2011

We are making several changes to incorporate new policy, clarify existing policy, and align policies within our program policy manuals. These changes include:

1. • New policy surrounding shelter expenses and deductions. Shelter expenses only need to be verified if questionable and a new section clarifying questionable situations has been added.  A shelter deduction of $143 is added for a homeless person having some shelter expense.

1. • Revisions to sections referencing the E&T Program as participation is now voluntary, not mandatory. Instructions for caseworkers include how to explain the new policy to clients and how to code EISEligibility Information System.

1. • Examples clarifying use of the Self-Employment Standard Deduction.

1. • Clarification surrounding corrective action and overpayments in expedited service cases.

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 601-3E Scheduling Interviews

1. • Changes wording "from application filing date" to "after application filing date".

MS 601-3F Changes Reported During the Interview

1. • Clarifies the one-day, one-month rule and how it affects the benefit when a new household member is added or moves out before the application is worked.

MS 601-4A Verification Requirements for Initial Applications

1. • Adds new policy stating verification of shelter expenses is only required if the expense is questionable.

   • Adds link to new sub section in section 602-4E clarifying questionable situations.

MS 602-1C Identity

1. • Adds SVESState Verification Exchange System citizenship verification to list of acceptable methods to verify identity.

MS 602-1F Work Requirements

1. • Removes all references to mandatory E&T Program since participation is now voluntary state wide.

MS 602-1G Determining Work Requirements

1. • Removes policy regarding exemptions to the E&T Program since participation is now voluntary.

   • Removes policy regarding E&T Program requirements since participation is now voluntary.

MS 602-1H Caseworker Responsibilities

1. • Adds instructions to explain the E&T Program to clients and how to code them as volunteers.

   • Removes the E&T penalty codes as participation is now voluntary. There are no longer penalties for failure to participate.

MS 602-1K Work Requirements Disqualification Procedures

1. • Removes policy that requires the disqualification of a household member for failure to comply with E&T program requirements.

   • Revises the example to a household member failing to attend the E&T assessment as it is no longer required.

MS 602-1M Good Cause Provisions

1. • Removes E&T from the first paragraph. Good cause is not needed for failure to participate in the E&T program because participation is now voluntary.

MS 602-4E Shelter Deduction 

1. • Adds policy to explain new Homeless Shelter Deduction.

   • Adds new policy to verify shelter expenses only when questionable.

   • Adds a link to the Department of Labor's Alaska Annual Rental Market Survey that shows fair market rent in different areas of Alaska.

   • Adds examples to clarify when verification of shelter expenses should be sought.

MS 604-2E Verification Requirements Recertification

1. • Adds section with new policy stating verification of shelter expenses is only required if the expense is questionable.

MS 604-3E Verification Requirements: Changes Reported During the Certification Period

1. • Adds new policy stating verification of shelter expenses is only required if the expense is questionable.

MS 605- 2D3 Costs of Doing Business

1. • Adds examples to clarify when the self-employment standard deduction should be used.

MS 605-3B Expedited Service

1. • Clarifies when corrective action should be taken when verification is waived for expedite service applications.