STATE OF ALASKA

Department of Health and Social Services

Division of Public Assistance

TRANSMITTAL NUMBER: MC #46

MANUAL: Alaska Temporary Assistance Program

DATE: January 2, 2015

This year Social Security announced a COLACost of Living Allowance increase effective January 1, 2015. We have updated the Alaska Temporary Assistance income eligibility and shelter allowance standards to reflect the annual COLACost of Living Allowance adjustments in Social Security benefits. The new standards are effective beginning with the benefit month of January 2015. The ATAPAlaska Temporary Assistance Program manual was also updated to reflect recent changes in federal legislation in response to the Cobell v. Salazar class-action lawsuit and same-sex marriage court decisions.

Highlights of these 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 701-1 D      Months that Do Not Count Towards the 60-Month Time Limit

• Adds a bullet stating that months used as a minor teen parent do not count towards the client's 60-month lifetime limit.

MS 712-3      Parental Relationship

• Adds a definition of a stepparent.
• Adds a note regarding same-sex married couples.

MS 723-1 B      Good Cause for Not Cooperating with CSSDChild Support Services Division

• Adds the cssdgoodcause@alaska.gov email address for notifying the CSSDChild Support Services Division of a good cause decision.
• Removed language that stated a good cause notice should be mailed to the CSSDChild Support Services Division.

MS 753-6      Other Exclusions

• Adds a bullet to exempt retained settlement payments from the Cobell v. Salazar class-action lawsuit for up to one year from receipt.

MS 757-15      Restitution Payments

• Adds income received from the settlement of the Cobell v. Salazar class-action lawsuit as an exempt restitution payment.

MS 780-1 G      Ratable Reduction

• Updates the percentage of need payable and ratable reduction amounts for 2015.

MS 780-3      Calculating the Payment Amount

• Updates the examples of payment calculations to reflect the 2014 cost of living adjustment.

Addendum 2      Temporary Assistance Income and Payment Standards

• Updates the income eligibility standards and maximum shelter allowances for 2015.