STATE OF ALASKA

Department of Health and Social Services

Division of Public Assistance

TRANSMITTAL NUMBER:   2011-05

MANUAL:   Alaska Food Stamp Program

DATE:   September 1, 2011

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

1. • The addition of a new military section.  All military pay issues are now included in one section and are more fully explained.
   • The addition of  Addendum 3 to provide an example of an Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) as well as three tables to define types of Entitlements, Allotments and Deductions that may be found on the LESLeave and Earnings Statement.
   • Clarification of some PFDPermanent Fund Dividend issues including expedite cases during PFDPermanent Fund Dividend season and when to act on FS cases when the PFDPermanent Fund Dividend is discovered when processing an application for other benefits.

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 602-1D  U.S. Citizenship and Eligible Alien Status

1. • Adds a note in subsection 5 clarifying that citizens of the Marshall Islands, Western Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau are considered non-immigrants.

   • Adds a row in the table in subsection 6 for Cuban or Haitian Entrants.

MS 602-3 A  Earned Income

1. • Removes note on military pay.

   • Adds a link to the new Military Pay section at 605-2 E.

MS 602-3 B  Educational Income

1. • Adds that any money that “will not be” used for education expenses is countable unearned income.  Previous policy only indicated money that “is not” used for education expenses is countable unearned income.

   • Removes information regarding military pay from subsection 7.  This information is now located in Military Pay section 605-2 E.

   • Adds a link to the new Military Pay section 605-2 E.   

604-3 A  Changes That Must Be Acted On for Semi-Annual Reporting

1. • Adds that a PFDPermanent Fund Dividend reported by the household on an application for other benefits to the list of changes that must be acted on in subsection 3.

   • Adds that a PFDPermanent Fund Dividend discovered on an interface when approving an add-on application to the list of changes that must be acted on in subsection 3.

   • Adds an example to subsection 4 explaining processing of an application on which a client reports receipt of a PFDPermanent Fund Dividend.

   • Adds an example to subsection 4 explaining how to process an application when receipt of a PFDPermanent Fund Dividend is discovered via an interface.

   • Adds a link to FS MS 605-7B.

604-4 B  Adverse Action Notice

1. • Clarifies the count for 10 days adverse action begins the day after the notice is mailed.

   • Removes note about requesting a Fair Hearing.

   • Adds example to further clarify when the 10 day count begins.

605-2 B  Excluded Members

1. • Revises example to correct budgeting of an excluded member’s countable income.  

605-3 B  Expedited Service

1. • Adds link to 605-7 B for information on processing PFD HHPermanent Fund Dividend Hold Harmelss benefits in expedite situations.

605-2 E  Military Income

1. • Adds a new section to better explain military pay issues.

605-7 B  Case Processing With PFDPermanent Fund Dividend

1. • Adds a bullet to clarify that PFDPermanent Fund Dividend receipt reported on a new  application for other benefits or during an interview must be acted on for FS since it is a change reported by the household.

   • Adds a bullet to clarify that receipt of PFDPermanent Fund Dividend discovered through an interface when processing a new application for other benefits must be acted on for Food Stamps if the application is approved.

   • Adds a note clarifying processing of expedited PFDPermanent Fund Dividend Hold Harmless Benefits.

Addendum 3  The Leave and Earnings Statement

1. • Adds an example of an LESLeave and Earnings Statement received by military personnel.

   • Adds three tables to define Entitlements, Allotments and Deductions that may be listed on the LESLeave and Earnings Statement.

Addendum 4  Program Standards and Maximum Allotments

1. • Updates the standard and shelter deductions.

   • Updates gross and net income limits.

   • Updates the heating and non-heating utility standards.

   • Moves Copper River Census Subarea communities to the Northern utility region to better reflect heating costs in those communities.