STATE OF ALASKA

Department of Health and Social Services

Division of Public Assistance

TRANSMITTAL NUMBER:   MC #23

MANUAL:  Alaska Temporary Assistance Program

DATE:  February 20, 2009

Self-Employment Annualization income standards are based upon the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) for Alaska as set each year by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  We have updated the Self-Employment Annualization Standards chart to reflect these changes which take effect March 1, 2009.

In addition to other technical changes, the section on conducting interviews was revised to correctly describe the date the denial notice is sent for a request for service application.  Verification sections were also updated to add information about the SOLQState Online Query interface and remove obsolete information about the Senior Benefits interface.

In response to questions from field staff this manual change includes information on how Refugee Cash Assistance and one-time Refugee Resettlement payments are treated for the ATAPAlaska Temporary Assistance Program program.

Highlights of these policy revisions are described below.  If you have any questions please contact the Policy and Program Development Team at 465-3347 or e-mail dpapolicy@alaska.gov.

OVERVIEW OF CHANGES

MS 705-3 E   Conducting Interviews

1. • Clarifies the timing of the automatic application denial for no interview when the Temporary Assistance application is registered as a request for service (RA).

MS 705-4 B  Information from Data Systems and EIS Interfaces

1. • Adds information about the State Online Query ( SOLQ ) interface and clarifies that caseworkers need to check Social Security interfaces only when it appears the applicant or recipient could be eligible for Social Security benefits.

   • Adds note to clarify that the SOLQState Online Query interface may be used only to determine eligibility for the Alaska Temporary Assistance, Food Stamp, Medicaid, and Adult Public Assistance programs.

   • Reformats EISEligibility Information System Interface table to clarify that the SDXState Data Exchange , PFDPermanent Fund Dividend , and DOLDepartment of Labor and Workforce Development Wage Match information is accessed through the Interface Inquiry ( ININ ) item on the INME.  

   • Adds SVESState Verification Exchange System and SOLQState Online Query to the EISEligibility Information System Interfaces table.

   • Removes obsolete information about the Senior Benefits program interface.  Since DPA is now administering the program, the interface is no longer available.

MS 754-2   Non-Recurring Lump Sum Payments

1. • Adds refugee resettlement payments to examples and points out that lump sum payments are exempt as income.

MS 757-3   Loans

1. • Removes requirement that written documentation from the lender and borrower be provided.  The bona fide nature of a loan must still be verified, but this may be done through other means, such as collateral contacts with the borrower and lender.

MS 757-19 Non-Recurring Lump Sum Payments

1. • Adds one-time refugee resettlement payments as an example of non-recurring lump sum payments.

MS 758-8 Refugee Cash Assistance Payments

1. • Adds Refugee Cash Assistance Payments as a new section under Unearned Income.

MS 759-6 E  Budgeting Self-Employment Income

1. • Updates the Self-employment Annualization Standards to reflect the poverty guideline changes for 2009.