MEMORANDUM
DATE: September 1, 1999
TO: Temporary Assistance Manual Holders
FROM: Policy and Program Development Team
SUBJECT: Alaska Temporary Assistance Program Manual, 2nd Edition
We are pleased to present you with the 2nd edition of the Temporary Assistance manual. Several changes have been made in this edition of the manual to make it clearer and more usable.
The most noticeable change is that the chapter and page numbering systems have been made consistent with other Division policy manuals. The chapters are now numbered in the 700 series, and the page numbers are in the letter-number format.
Additionally, there has been a major reorganization of information regarding penalties. All information about penalties, including information about good cause reasons, has been consolidated in a single chapter. This change has affected seven chapters as follows:
Chapter IV-7 (new Chapter 717) Child Support
Sections IV-7.5 (Good Cause) and IV-7.6 (Non-Cooperation Penalty Provisions) have been removed from this chapter. This material is now located in ATAP MS 723-2.
Chapter IV-12 (new Chapter 722) Job Refusal or Job Quit
Sections IV-12.4 through IV-12.7 (Penalty Period through Good Cause) have been removed from this chapter. This material is now located in ATAP MS 723-5.
Chapter IV-13 (new Chapter 723) Penalties
This chapter now contains general penalty provisions and specific information about each type of ATAP penalty.
Chapter V-8 (new chapter 737) Attendance and Performance
This chapter now contains information about non-compliance with work activities that was previously Section V-9.1 (Conciliation). The policy in this chapter has been reorganized and expanded.
Chapter V-9 (New chapter 738) Non-Compliance
This chapter has been reserved in the second edition of the Temporary Assistance manual. Section V-9.1 (Conciliation) is now located in ATAP MS 737-3. Sections V-9.2 (Good Cause Reasons), V-9.3 (Mandatory Penalty Periods) and V-9.4 (Lifting a Penalty) are now located in ATAP MS 723-4.
Chapter VII-1 (new chapter 770) Special Types of Case Processing
Section VII-1.3 H (School Attendance Good Cause Determination) has been removed from this chapter. This information is now located in ATAP MS 723-3.
Chapter XII-1 (new chapter 792) Incorrect Payments
Section XII-1.3 E (Disqualification Penalties) and Sections XII-1.3 G through XII-1.3 J (Disqualification Notice Requirements through Other Factors) have been removed from this chapter. This information is now located in ATAP MS 723-1 and 723-6.
The new edition also contains a number of policy clarifications, which are detailed in the chart below.
We welcome your comments on the new edition of the manual and any suggestions you have for further policy clarification. Please send your comments, suggestions, and any questions you have to the Policy and Program Development Team at HPAPOLY or call us at 465-3347.
OLD POLICY
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NEW POLICY
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Section IV-1.1 The Assistance Unit |
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States a stepparent may not be included in the assistance unit unless he or she is the natural or adoptive parent of at least one child in the filing unit.
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Adds language to clarify that a stepparent may be included in the assistance unit if the natural parent is absent or is excluded due to receipt of SSI / APA .
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Section IV-1.7 B Allowable Absences |
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Lists allowable absences lasting more than one month.
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Adds policy that planned temporary absences due to employment are allowable.
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Section V-1.2 Work Activity Exemptions |
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Lists an exemption from work activities participation if a caretaker relative has a child under the age of 12 months
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Clarifies that this exemption only applies to single parent households and is not available to two-parent households unless one or both parents are unable to perform gainful activity.
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Section V-2.6 Labor Market Information |
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Lists sources for obtaining Labor Market Information
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Adds DPA employment counselors as a source of Labor Market Information.
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Chapter V-7 Community Service Work and Job Sampling |
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Discusses Community Service Work and Job Sampling
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Changes all references from Community Service Work to Community Work Experience.
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Section V-7.7 Community Service Work Placement |
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Specifies distribution of the Community Service Work Placement Agreement
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Updates distribution instructions for this agreement.
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Section V-7.12 Job Sampling Placement |
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Specifies distribution of the Job Sampling Placement Agreement
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Updates distribution instructions for this agreement.
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Section V-11.1 Post Temporary Assistance Employment Services |
ATAP MS 740-1 1 Post Temporary Assistance Employment Services |
States that a family becomes eligible for PASS II child care assistance when the family becomes ineligible for Temporary Assistance due to earned income.
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Clarifies that a family qualifies for PASS II child care if the case closes due to employment; earned income does not have to cause ineligibility.
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Section VII-1.2 C Pregnant Woman Coverage |
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States that pregnant women in 3rd trimester cases must prepare an FSSP and may be required to participate in work activities.
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Clarifies that the pregnant woman or the unborn child’s father may be required to prepare a Family Self-Sufficiency Plan and participate in work activities unless exempt.
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