STATE OF ALASKA

Department of Health and Social Services

Division of Public Assistance

TRANSMITTAL NUMBER: MC #29

MANUAL: Alaska Temporary Assistance Program

DATE: January 3, 2011

We are making several changes to incorporate new policy, clarify existing policy and align policies within our program policy manuals. These changes include:

• New policy surrounding shelter expenses and deductions. Shelter expenses only need to be verified if questionable and a new section clarifying questionable situations has been added. A shelter deduction of $143 is added for a homeless person having some shelter expense.
• Examples clarifying use of the Self-Employment Standard Deduction.

Other changes are either technical in nature or clarifications that are the result of policy questions or suggestions from the field.

Highlights to policy revisions are described below. If you have any questions, please contact the Policy and Program Development Team at 465-3382 or email dpapolicy@alaska.gov.

OVERVIEW OF CHANGES

MS 705-4 A      Verification Requirements

• Updated section with new policy stating verification of shelter expenses is only required if the expense is questionable.
• Adds new policy stating verification of shelter expenses is only required if the expense is questionable.

MS 711-5 C      Minor Parent Considerations

• Adds example to clarify when a minor parent is treated either as a parent or as a dependent child. The example also clarifies circumstances in which the minor parent's child may be treated as a mandatory filing unit member.

MS 713-5      Non-Qualified Aliens

• Clarifies that non-qualified alien parents that are excluded from an assistance unit may volunteer to participate in Family Self-Sufficiency Planning.

MS 719-1      Self-Sufficiency Planning Requirement

• Clarifies that development of an FSSPFamily Self-Sufficiency Plan is voluntary for Minor Parents, ineligible aliens, and the spouse or partner of a woman in her 3rd trimester.
• Clarifies that development of an FSSPFamily Self-Sufficiency Plan is mandatory for a person serving an IPVIntentional Program Violation penalty.

MS 732-4      Families First Resources and Supports

• Adds a new section to clarify that an FSSPFamily Self-Sufficiency Plan for a member of a Families First family can include uncommon activities as long as it was developed by the Families First service team. Includes examples and a link to chapter 739.

MS 739      Supportive Service Payments

• Clarifies that supportive service payments are to be used to support FSSPFamily Self-Sufficiency Plan activities. This includes the FSSPFamily Self-Sufficiency Plan of a clients who are voluntarily participating in work services.
• Adds information that a member of a Families First family can be given supportive services for items or services that support an FSSPFamily Self-Sufficiency Plan developed by the Families First service team.

MS 759-6 B      Cost of Doing Business

• Adds examples to clarify when the self-employment standard deduction should be used.

MS 770-5      Ineligible Aliens

• Clarifies that an ineligible alien who would be a MFUMandatory Filing Unit member must have their resources, and income considered when determining eligibility. If eligibility exists for the entire MFUMandatory Filing Unit then the ineligible alien parent is excluded from the case.
• Clarifies that an ineligible alien parent must be referred to a Work Services case manager and may voluntarily develop, sign and comply with an FSSPFamily Self-Sufficiency Plan.

MS 780-19 G      Homeless Shelter Deduction

• Adds section with new policy stating verification of shelter expenses is only required if the expense is questionable.

MS 780-19 H      Verification of Shelter Costs

• Adds new policy to verify shelter expenses only when questionable.
• Adds a link to the Department of Labor's Alaska Annual Rental Market Survey that shows fair market rent in different areas of Alaska.

MS 780-19 I      When Shelter Costs are Verified

• Clarifies that the family must verify a questionable shelter cost.

MS 780-19 K      Payments and examples

• Adds examples to clarify when verification of shelter expenses should be sought.

MS 790-5 A      Required Verification

• Adds new policy to verify shelter expenses only when questionable.

Addendum 2      ATAPAlaska Temporary Assistance Program Income Standards

• Updates the year for program standards. Because there was no Social Security COLACost of Living Allowance adjustment for 2011, the program standards remain the same as those for 2010.