STATE OF ALASKA
Department of Health and Social Services
Division of Public Assistance
TRANSMITTAL NUMBER: 2017-01
MANUAL: Alaska SNAP
DATE: April 3, 2017
We renamed this manual to reflect the federal name change from The Food Stamp Program to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program with the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008. We have made changes to the self-employment annualization table based on changes in the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) for Alaska. We also updated the effective dates of Alaska's statewide waiver from the ABAWD work requirements and time limits. Other changes are either technical in nature or clarifications that are the results 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 via email at: dpapolicy@alaska.gov.
OVERVIEW OF CHANGES
MS 601- 4 A. VERIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR INITIAL APPLICATIONS
Added information about secondary verification when eDRS shows an IPV.
Removed recertification from eDRS section of table a. Interfaces that must be checked
MS 602-1 G.(2)(i) DETERMINING WORK REQUIREMENTS AND EXEMPTIONS
Removed language regarding TANF recipients being disqualified from SNAP when they are under a TANF work penalty
MS 602-1 G.(3)(a) DETERMINING WORK REQUIREMENTS AND EXEMPTIONS
Added the Tribal TANF programs of: Maniilaq, BBNA KANA to the list of tribal organizations that provide TANF benefits and may impose penalties.
Removed work requirement wording from the reason that TANF may be reduced.
MS 602-1 L. ABLE-BODIED ADULTS WITHOUT DEPENDENTS
Updated effective dates of ABAWD waiver
MS 602-2 B. EXEMPT RESOURCES
Added list of Retirement accounts that are excluded from resources by the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008.
Fixed ABLE expandable term
MS 602-2 E. TRANSFER OF RESOURCES
Corrected the calculation in example in number #2.
MS 602-4 E. DEDUCTIONS
Updated with information for reviewing heating assistance awards (both State and Native Organizations) prior to making an eligibility determination.
Add link to LIHEAP award list on DPAweb.
MS 604-2 E.(2)(a) VERIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: RECERTIFICATION
Removed recertification from eDRS section of table a. Interfaces that must be checked
MS 605-2 D. INCOME FROM SELF-EMPLOYMENT
Updated self-employment annualization standards with release of Federal Poverty Guidelines for Alaska, effective April 1, 2017.
ADDENDUM 2 ABAWD WORK REQUIREMENT EXEMPT & NON-EXEMPT
Updated effective dates of the statewide ABAWD waiver.