MEMORANDUM

DATE:             December 1, 2006

TO:                   All Alaska Temporary Assistance Manual Holders

FROM:             Policy & Program Development Team

                          Carolyn Spalding, Acting Chief

SUBJECT:     Alaska Temporary Assistance Manual Change #18

We are pleased to announce our newly aligned education income policy and the consolidation of policies for two-parent Temporary Assistance families.  

• As part of an ongoing effort to align income and resource policies across programs, to the extent possible we are presenting education income policy in the same format and language in the Adult Public Assistance, Alaska Temporary Assistance, Family Medicaid, and Food Stamp program manuals.  For Temporary Assistance, this means countable education assistance will now be prorated over the period of its intended use.  We are also clarifying that education assistance is treated the same way, regardless of whether it is provided to an undergraduate student or a graduate student.  This applies to all applications and reviews processed on or after December 1, 2006.
   

• In an effort to clarify policy, we have consolidated the Alaska Temporary Assistance policies dealing with two-parent families into Chapter 720.  This chapter is now titled ”Two-Parent Temporary Assistance Families” and replaces the former chapter titled ”Physical or Mental Inability to Perform Gainful Activity.”  Policies on incapacity are now incorporated into each chapter where they apply.  

This change also includes the program’s annual Cost of Living Allowance ( COLA ) adjustments. Each year the Temporary Assistance income eligibility standards are adjusted by the same percentage as the COLACost of Living Allowance increase in Social Security benefits.  This year the COLACost of Living Allowance increase is 3.3%.  This manual change incorporates the 2007 standards, which become effective with the benefit month of January 2007.  The change in the income eligibility standards causes:

• An increase in the ratable reduction to 31.61%, paying 68.39% of need,
   

• An increase in the amount of the maximum shelter allowance, and
   

• An increase in the countable income of an SSISupplemental Security Income child who is included in the assistance unit.

The regional heating and non-heating utility standards that went into effect October 1, 2006, and were issued by broadcast on September 1, 2006, are included in this manual change.  As a result of questions and suggestions from field staff, several minor clarifications and technical changes are also included.

Highlights of these policy revisions are described below.  If you have any questions please contact any member of the Policy and Program Development Team at 465-3347 or email dpapolicy@health.state.ak.us.

OVERVIEW OF CHANGES

MS 701-4B, Incapacity

• Changes the subsection title and incorporates policy on how incapacity is determined, instead of referring to Chapter 720.

Chapter 720, Two-Parent Temporary Assistance Families

• Consolidates policies dealing with two-parent Alaska Temporary Assistance families.  The revised chapter now includes information on the maximum payment standard when one parent is incapacitated, the two-parent seasonal benefit reduction, the incapacity determination process, FSSPFamily Self-Sufficiency Plan and work participation requirements, and adding or removing parents from the assistance unit.

MS 730-2, Exemptions from Work Activities

• Clarifies that medical documentation supporting an exemption from work activities for medical reasons may be provided through a doctor’s statement or a TA 10Health Status Report Form form, and that the case manager may need to contact the doctor if more information is needed to develop the FSSPFamily Self-Sufficiency Plan and assign activities.

MS 758-3, Education Assistance

• To the extent possible, this section was revised to present policy in the same format and language as in the Adult Public Assistance, Family Medicaid, and Food Stamp program manuals.  
   

• Clarifies that all countable education assistance will be prorated over the period of its intended use.  This applies to all applications and reviews processed on or after December 1, 2006.
   

• Clarifies that education assistance is treated the same way, regardless of whether it is received by an undergraduate student or a graduate student.  

Chapter 780, Payments

• Updates the ratable reduction percentage and examples of payment calculations to reflect the 2007 cost of living adjustment.  Policies on the two-parent seasonal benefit reduction have been removed from this chapter and incorporated into Chapter 720.

Addendum 2, Temporary Assistance Income Standards

• Updates the income eligibility standards and maximum shelter allowances for 2007.  The regional heating and non-heating utility standards that went into effect October 1, 2006 are also included.

FILING INSTRUCTIONS