STATE OF ALASKA

      Department of Health

         Division of Public Assistance

TRANSMITTAL NUMBER:   MC #76

MANUAL:  Alaska Temporary Assistance Program

DATE:  December 1, 2023

Social Security announced a 3.2% COLACost of Living Allowance increase effective January 1, 2024. 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 2024. The Eligibility Information System (EIS) will automatically apply these new standards when determining eligibility and benefit amounts beginning January 2024.

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 718-1         SOCIAL SECURITY ENUMERATION REQUIREMENTS

• Removed reference to Addendum 6 and replaced with reference to new location of the Social Security Enumeration Letter Template.

MS 730-1         CATEGORIES OF COUNTABLE WORK ACTIVITIES

• Updated reference and hyperlink for countable work activities from WSPM 1003 to WSPM 1003-2.

MS 780-1G       RATABLE REDUCTION

• Updated the ratable reduction to reflect the 2024 Social Security COLA increase.

MS 780-3          CALCULATING THE PAYMENT AMOUNT

• Updated the standards to reflect the 2024 Social Security COLA increase, along with examples A, B, and C to reflect the updated need standards.
• Changed reference from "Family Type" to "Household Type" to match the terms used in EISEligibility Information System.
• Updated the references to household type and size codes to match the coding used in EISEligibility Information System.

MS 790-8          PERIODIC REVIEWS

• Removed note directing caseworkers to establish a new certification period for all open programs when a new application or review form is received.
• Updated the example to align with multiple policy manuals for consistency purposes and in an effort to not shorten SNAPSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Medicaid certification periods.
• Changed the interview requirement to align with SNAPSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Addendum 1    EXEMPT ALASKA NATIVE VILLAGES

• Corrected exemption status for Healy Lake, Igiugig, and Iliamna.

Addendum 2    PROGRAM 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 2024.

Addendum 6    SOCIAL SECURITY ENUMERATION REQUEST LETTER TEMPLATE

• Removed Addendum 6 so it is not available to the public.