STATE OF ALASKA

Department of Health and Social Services

Division of Public Assistance 

TRANSMITTAL NUMBER:   2019-01

MANUAL:   Alaska Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

DATE:   April 1, 2019

We revised the self-employment annualization table based on changes in the Federal Poverty Guidelines effective April 1, 2019. This update also adds information indicating that California will no longer provide additional cash for food as part of their SSI state supplement as of June 1, 2019. 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 & Program Development team at dpapolicy@alaska.gov.

OVERVIEW OF CHANGES

MS 601-1(C)       SSI RECIPIENTS FROM CALIFORNIA

• Added information indicating California residents will no longer be receiving additional cash for food as part of their SSI state supplement effective June 1, 2019

MS 602-1(A)       HOUSEHOLDS

• Clarified that if regularly employed household members are in the home for at least part of the calendar month, then household member would be included in SNAP household

MS 602-1(L)       ABLE-BODIED ADULTS WITHOUT DEPENDENTS

• Updated ABAWD exemption effective dates to January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2019

MS 602-3(B)       UNEARNED INCOME

• Clarified that income diverted to an ex-spouse under the Uniformed Services Former Spouse Protection Act is excluded from the SNAP benefit calculation of the military retiree

MS 602-4(E)       SHELTER DEDUCTION

• Revised the homeless shelter deduction from $143 to $147 effective April 1, 2019

MS 604-1(B)       NOTICES OF EXPIRATION OF CERTIFICATION PERIOD

• Revised the notice title from Food Stamps to SNAP for the X004 and F801

MS 605-1(B)       STUDENTS

• Clarified that for 2 parent households, it must be determined which parent provides care for a child under the age of 6 to be considered an eligible student
• Clarified student eligibility due to performing self-employment for 20 hours per week and receiving weekly earnings at least equal to the federal minimum wage.  Use self-employment earnings prior to allowable self-employment deductions.

MS 605-2(D)       INCOME FROM SELF-EMPLOYMENT

• Updated Self-Employment Annualization Standards due to FPLFederal Poverty Level change effective 4/1/19

ADDENDUM 5       LIST OF INCOME AND RESOURCES EXCLUDED BY OTHER FEDERAL LAWS

• Removed #18 which was referencing P.L. 100-241 (Section 15) as ANCSA dividends are exempt income and have been for years

ADDENDUM 10       ALASKA PERMANENT FUND DIVIDEND EIS NOTICES FOR PFD HOLD HARMLESS

• Revised the notice titles from Food Stamps to SNAP for the F107, F117, F190, F192, and F193