STATE OF ALASKA

Department of Health

Division of Public Assistance 

TRANSMITTAL NUMBER:   2023-02

MANUAL:   Alaska Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

DATE:   September 4, 2023

We revised the self-employment annualization table based on changes in the Federal Poverty Guidelines effective April 1, 2023.  We also added a new addendum for the Social Security Enumeration Template.  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 hss.dpa.policy@alaska.gov.

OVERVIEW OF CHANGES

MS 600-1(C)           Nondiscrimination

• Updated nondiscrimination statement to align with the current FNSFood and Nutrition Service nondiscrimination statement

MS 601-4(C)       Questionable Information

• Clarified client statement is acceptable verification for race, ethnicity, and gender. 

MS 602-1(A)(5)       Households

• Added information regarding the new Felony Condition Verification Form (GEN 158)

MS 602-1(E)       Social Security Numbers

• Clarified there are some classes of aliens for whom the SSASocial Security Administration will not normally issue an SSNSocial Security Number, even though they are qualified aliens, unless they are required by law to have an SSN as a condition of receiving federally funded benefits.  If this is the case for an applicant who is otherwise eligible for SNAPSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, the caseworker must send a letter to the SSA explaining the need for an SSN for the purpose of qualifying for SNAP

MS 602-1(F)       Work Requirements

• Partners for Progress is no longer contracted with the state as an E&TEmployment and Training Program provider.  Removed Partners for Progress as E&T provider

MS 602-2(B)(4)       Exempt Resources

• Clarified that certain 457 deferred compensation pension plans may be an excluded resource

MS 602-4(E)(6)       Shelter Deduction

• Updated instructions to code the homeless shelter deduction from OEOther Energy Expenses ATActual Amount to HSHomeless Shelter.  This was due to a system fix needed for the homeless shelter deduction to calculate properly in EISEligibility Information System

MS 605-1(D)       Institutions 

• Clarified that residents of FNSFood and Nutrition Service or Division of Behavioral Health approved institutions may receive SNAPSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program while a resident, only if they are participating in a drug or alcohol related treatment program, offered by the institution

MS 605-2(D)(7)       Annualization Determination 

• Updated the Self-Employment Annualization Standards to reflect updated FPLFederal Poverty Level effective April 2023

Addendum 12       Social Security Enumeration Template

• Created a new addendum for the Social Security Enumeration Template