STATE OF ALASKA

Department of Health and Social Services

Division of Public Assistance 

TRANSMITTAL NUMBER:   2021-02

MANUAL:   Alaska Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

DATE:   September 1, 2021

This update includes yearly changes to the income and utility standards that take effect October 1, 2021. 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 601-4(A)           Verification Requirements for Initial Applications

• Clarified regulations do not allow us to pend for verification of expenses unless it affects the household's eligibility or allotment level
• Removed INGENS as INGENS will no longer be accessible to eligibility workers

MS 601-5(D)       Actions Taken on the Application

• Clarified verbal client statement can verify a household is over the SNAPSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program income or resource limit.  We cannot deny the SNAPSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program application solely based on information listed in the SNAPSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program application

MS 602-1(A)       Excluded Household Members

• Added information that indicates when verifying drug felony information, the Felony Verification Form must be used and submitted to the Anchorage Parole Office for completion

MS 602-1(D)       US Citizenship and Eligibile Alien Status

• Clarified information obtained through the Federal Data Services HUB can only be used for Medicaid so we can't use any information found in ARIESAlaska's Resource for Integrated Eligibility Services to process other Public Assistance programs.

MS 602-1(F)       Work Requirements

• Removed Alaska Literacy Program as a SNAPSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program E&TEmployment and Training Program provider.  Alaska Literacy Program notified the Division they will not continue SNAP E&T services effective July 1, 2021

MS 602-1(I)       Voluntary Job Quit and Reduction of Hours

• Clarified if someone quits a job the same day they apply for UIBUnemployment Insurance Benefit, UIB exemption may apply, but only if the individual applies for UIB prior to quitting the job.

MS 602-2       Resources

• Updated the FFYFederal Fiscal Year 2022 SNAP resource limit standards released by FNSFood and Nutrition Service

MS 602-2(A)       Definition and Types of Resources

• Clarified SNAPSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program application should not be denied solely on a household listing resources exceeding the resource limit within the SNAPSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program application.

MS 602-3(B)       Unearned Income

• Clarified Per Capita dividend payments derived from tribally managed gaming revenues are countable as income and a resource

MS 602-3(D)       Exempt Income

• Clarified to exempt income of an individual under age 18 and head of household, or employed and living with parents, verification of student status is required

MS 602-4       Deductions

• Clarified regulations do not allow to pend for verification of expenses unless it affects the household's eligibility or allotment level

MS 602-4(E)       Shelter Deduction

• Removed information about questionable shelter expenses.  All shelter expenses must be verified
• Updated the FFYFederal Fiscal Year 2022 homeless shelter deduction released by FNSFood and Nutrition Service

MS 604-2(E)       Recertification

• Removed "if questionable" as new or previously unreported and or unverified shelter costs are always verified
• Removed INGENS as INGENS will no longer be accessible to eligibility workers

MS 604-3(C)       Verification Requirements: Changes Reported During the Certification Period

• Removed information indicating shelter costs are only needed when questionable.  Verification of shelter costs is required

MS 604-3(E)       Adding a Member to the Household

• Clarified felony status must be verified before someone is added to the SNAP household

Addendum 4       SNAPSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Standards and Maximum Allotments

• Updated the FFYFederal Fiscal Year 2022 maximum allotments and utility standards released by FNSFood and Nutrition Service