STATE OF ALASKA
Department of Health and Social Services
Division of Public Assistance
TRANSMITTAL NUMBER: MC #70
MANUAL: Alaska Temporary Assistance Program
DATE: December 1, 2021
Social Security announced a 5.9% COLACost of Living Allowance increase effective January 1, 2022. We have updated the Alaska Temporary Assistance Program (ATAP) 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 2022. The Eligibility Information System (EIS) will automatically apply these new standards when determining eligibility and benefit amounts beginning January 2022.
Highlights of all the 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 705 APPLICATION PROCESS
- Clarified that telephonic applications and telephonically recorded application signatures are accepted through the Virtual Call Center (VCC).
- Revised note to clarify that for paper applications, the signature must either be telephonically recorded by a caseworker through the VCCVirtual Call Center or a "wet" signature. Also clarified that a wet signature is still required for Appendix D: Child Support Information form (GEN 53).
MS 753-6 OTHER EXCLUSIONS
- Added a Health Savings Account (HSA) as an exempt resource if the trustee has set restrictions on the HSAHealth Savings Account so that funds can only be used for qualified medical expenses and nothing else.
MS 780-1 G RATABLE REDUCTION
- Updated the ratable reduction to reflect the 2022 Social Security COLACost of Living Allowance increase.
MS 780-3 CALCULATING THE PAYMENT AMOUNT
- Updated the standards to reflect the 2022 Social Security COLACost of Living Allowance increase, along with examples A, B, and C to reflect the updated need standards.
MS 780-19 A SHELTER COSTS ALLOWED
- Added an exception allowing expenses covered by HAPHeating Assistance Program as a deduction.
- Added a note requiring caseworkers to review ECOSEnergy Community Online System before allowing energy related deductions.
MS 780-19 B SHELTER AND UTILITY COSTS NOT ALLOWED
- Clarified pet charges added to rent are not an allowable shelter expense deductions.
ADDENDUM 2 ATAPAlaska Temporary Assistance Program INCOME AND PAYMENT STANDARDS
- Updated the monetary amount referenced when determining deemed income of the stepparents to the current pregnant woman need standard.
- Updated the income eligibility standards and maximum shelter allowances for 2022.