STATE OF ALASKA

Department of Health and Social Services

Division of Public Assistance

TRANSMITTAL NUMBER: MC #31

MANUAL: Alaska Temporary Assistance Program

DATE: April 1, 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 exempting any deposits or funds held in Individual Indian Money accounts as income and resources.
• Clarifying when a new CSSD 1603aChild Support Information Form is required.
• New policy excluding federal income tax returns as income in the month of receipt and as a resource for 12 months from the date of receipt.
• Update the Self-Employment Annualization Standards.
• New policy clarifying new members entering a recipient household are considered recipients for purposes of the earned income 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 717-4 A      What is Non Cooperation

• Removes "within 10 days" from the first bullet as the section does not differentiate between applicant, recipient, etc.

MS 717-4 C      Failure to Complete a Child Support Form

• Clarifies that a new CSSD 1603aChild Support Information Form is required if a case has closed and it has been more than 30 days since the application date.
• Adds that a CSSD 1603aChild Support Information Form is required if it has been more than 30 days since the last day of a recertification period.

MS 722      Job Refusal of Job Quit

• Removes "reduce or" in the third sentence of this section.

MS 739      Work: Supportive Service Payments

• Clarifies that supportive services can be used for people who need barrier removal before they can start job search or employment.
• Adds example to section.

MS 752-4      Cash on Hand and Other Countable Resources

• Adds a note that under the new Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 federal tax returns received after December 31, 2009 are exempt as both income and resources for ATAPAlaska Temporary Assistance Program.

MS 753-6      Other Exclusions

• Adds a new policy that requires federal income tax returns to be excluded as a resource for 12 months from the date of receipt.

MS 754-2      Non-Recurring Lump Sum

• Removes income tax refunds as a type of non-recurring lump sum payment.

MS 754-3      Conversion of a Resource

• Removes income tax refunds from the examples of refunds or reimbursements that appear to produce countable income.

MS 754-9      Land, Stock, and Payments Made to Native Americans

• Adds new policy that excludes any funds deposited or held in an Individual Indian Money (IIM) account as a resource.

MS 757-19      Non-Recurring Lump Sum Payments

• Removes income tax refunds as a type of non-recurring lump sum payment.

MS 758-5 C      Payments to Native Americans

• Adds a new policy that excludes any funds deposited or held in an Individual Indian Money (IIM) account as income.

MS 759-6 E      Budgeting Self-Employment Income

• Updates the Self-Employment Annualization Standards.

MS 760-2 B      Earned Income Disregard

• Clarifies that new members entering a recipient household are considered recipients for purposes of the earned income deduction and may receive the monthly earned income deduction ($150 + 33%) that applies to recipients. Currently, new members entering a recipient household can only receive a $90 earned income deduction. With this change, the new member may receive the higher earned income deduction as long as the "household" has an on-going TATemporary Assistance case.
• Adds example.

MS 770-3 A (1)      Definitions

• Adds a note that a minor parent that turns 18 can choose to be the recipient of the benefits directly or use a payee if they're still in high school.

MS 790-8 D      Late Submission of Review Form

• Clarifies that a new CSSD 1603aChild Support Information Form is required if it has been more than 30 days since the last day of a recertification period.