MEMORANDUM
DATE: May 17, 2001
TO: All Temporary Assistance Manual Holders
FROM: Policy & Program Development Team
SUBJECT: Temporary Assistance Manual Change #3
With this manual change we are implementing two new policies that are designed to give our case managers the tools they need to work with clients more effectively.
First, we are expanding the policy on acceptable reasons for an individual to leave a job or reduce their hours of work. We recognize that many of our working customers need a better job to become self-sufficient. The changes we are making will allow case managers to work with their customers to get the vocational training that will lead to a better job, or to find a different job that may not pay as much initially but offers the individual a better chance of becoming self-supporting. This new policy is a tool case managers have told us they need, and one that will help our clients realize the goal of self-sufficiency through employment.
Second, we are removing the caps on most supportive service payments, and adding three new categories of supportive services. Again, this is a change that field staff have told us they need in order to help families meet the real challenges they face.
This manual change also updates the information in the Temporary Assistance manual with the Cost of Living Adjustment ( COLA ) changes that took effect January 1, 2001, and includes other changes that are outlined below.
Please address any questions or comments to the Policy and Program Development Team by email at dpapolicy@health.state.ak.us, or call us at 465-3347.
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OLD POLICY |
NEW POLICY |
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Section 700-4 A: Verification Requirements |
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Lists eligibility factors that must be verified to determine a family's eligibility for Temporary Assistance. |
Reorganizes the list to separate elements such as work related expenses, child support payments, and shelter costs that must only be verified to be included in the calculation of Temporary Assistance benefits. |
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Section 723-1 Amount of Penalty |
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Gives the amount of the reduction in a family’s need standard when an individual is penalized. |
Increases the amount of the need standard reduction effective January 1, 2001. |
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Section 723-5 B: Good Cause for Job Quit or Refusal of Work |
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States policy for excusing an individual from a penalty for refusing or separating from suitable employment. |
Adds policy to excuse an individual from this penalty if:
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Chapter 739: Supportive Services |
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Provided monetary limits on the amount that could be paid for any particular supportive service. |
Removes the monetary limits on all but two supportive services and adds three new supportive services. |
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Section 758-1: Certain Child Support Income |
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Provides policy for counting or disregarding child support received by Temporary Assistance families. |
Simplifies the wording of the policy to make it more understandable and more easily applied. |
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States the 2000 countable income for an SSI child who is included in a Temporary Assistance case. |
Increases the countable income of an SSI child effective January 1, 2001. |
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Sections 775-5 and 775-6 |
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Gives the 2000 185% Income Eligibility and Need standards for Temporary Assistance. |
Increases the 185% Income Eligibility and Need standards effective January 1, 2001. |
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Sections 780-2 and 780-3 |
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Provides information and examples for calculating Temporary Assistance payments for 2000. |
Updates the information and examples to reflect the increased need standards effective January 1, 2001. |
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Section 780-21 D: Shared Shelter Expenses |
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This section was previously titled "Shared Living Situations"; gives policy for determining allowable shelter expenses for Temporary Assistance families who share a residence with individuals who are not included in the Temporary Assistance case. |
Clarifies that the policy applies to shared shelter expenses rather than to the family's living arrangement; allows use of the heating and non-heating utility standards if a family is solely responsible for a shelter expense. |
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Section 790-6 B: Verification of Changes |
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States the verification requirements for changes that are reported on ongoing cases. |
Adds policy that failure to verify deductible expenses does not result in case closure. |
Note:
Additional changes marked on pages RR-9 and RR-10 are changes in language only, and do not represent policy changes.
Filing Instructions
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Discard: |
Insert: |
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Pages A-3 and A-4 |
Pages A-3 and A-4
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Pages Q-3 and Q-4 |
Pages Q-3 and Q-4
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Pages Q-19 through Q-24 |
Pages Q-19 through Q-24
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Chapter Contents and pages AA-1 through AA-8 |
Chapter Contents and pages AA-1 through AA-8
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Pages KK-1 and KK-2 |
Pages KK-1 and KK-2
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Pages OO-1 and OO-2 |
Pages OO-1 and OO-2
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Pages PP-3 through PP-8 |
Pages PP-3 through PP-8
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Pages QQ-5 and QQ-6 |
Pages QQ-5 and QQ-6
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Pages QQ-9 through QQ-12 |
Pages QQ-9 through QQ-12
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Pages QQ-29 and QQ-30 |
Pages QQ-29 and QQ-30
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Pages RR-9 and RR-10 |
Pages RR-9 and RR-10
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