STATE OF ALASKA

Department of Health

Division of Public Assistance 

 

TRANSMITTAL NUMBER:   2023-02

 

MANUAL:   Alaska Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

 

DATE:   September 1, 2023

 

This update includes yearly changes to the income and utility standards that take effect October 1, 2023. 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 601-4(A)           Verification Requirements for Initial Applications

 

• Clarified IPV information is now checked in IEVSInstant Eligibility Verification System, not eDRSElectronic Disqualified Recipient System

 

MS 602-1(A)(5)       Excluded Household Members

 

• Removed mention of HowWeGuide.  The Division no longer uses this guide
• Clarified an individual is potentially ineligible for SNAPSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program if they are convicted of a drug related felony that occurred on or before 2/7/14.  We need to first look at the date the crime occurred. 

 

MS 602-1(L)       Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents

 

• Updated ABAWDAble-bodied Adult Without Dependents time limits based on the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023
• Updated ABAWD exceptions based on the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023
• Updated ABAWD 36-month period to match current 36-month period
• Updated note that explains Alaska is ABAWD exempt through October 31, 2023

 

MS 602-2(B)(4)       Exempt Resources

 

• Clarified retirement accounts that are excluded from resources regardless of employment status

 

MS 602-4       Deductions

 

• Updated the FFY 2024 homeless shelter deduction released by FNSFood and Nutrition Service

 

MS 604-1(A)      Certification Period

 

• Amended section "When Assigning a 24-month Certification Period" to align with Interim Report requirements at mid-certification
• Added information regarding the division's change to authorize 12 and 24 month certification periods with the requirement to submit an interim report at the mid-point of the certification period
• Removed bullet "to align with other programs" for circumstances where the caseworker can provide a shorter certification period.  Statement does not align with federal SNAP certification length regulations

 

MS 604-2       Interim Report 

 

• Added information regarding the division's change to authorize 12 and 24 month certification periods with the requirement to submit an interim report at the mid-point of the certification period

 

MS 605-7(A)(2)       Verification of PFD Income

 

• Clarified note section to reflect we should be using IEVS and not INMEInquiry Menu 9 to verify PFDPermanent Fund Dividend information

 

MS 606-3       Replacing SNAP benefits

 

• Clarified SNAP benefits that are lost due to a household misfortune are limited to household misfortunes such as a fire, flood, loss of electricity, equipment malfunction, or other disaster

 

607-3       Claims

 

• Added information regarding the requirement to establish claims before the last day of the quarter following the quarter in which the overpayment or trafficking incident was discovered

 

Addendum 4      Program Standards and Maximum Allotments

 

• Updated the FFY 2024 maximum allotments and utility standards released by FNS