STATE OF ALASKA

Department of Health and Social Services

Division of Public Assistance

TRANSMITTAL NUMBER:   MC #27

MANUAL:  Alaska Temporary Assistance Program

DATE:  April 1, 2010

We are making several changes to incorporate new policy, clarify existing policy and align policies within our program policy manuals.  This includes:

1. • An Eligibility Review Form (GEN 72Eligibility Review Form) may be used as an initial application form if it is received in the month following a case closure.  The case closure may be for any reason.
   • Interface verification policies are changed to more clearly describe when an interface must be checked.  It is no longer necessary to check all interfaces at each application, recertification, or review.
   • Beginning December 19, 2009, Afghan and Iraqi special immigrants are treated the same as refugees and are not subject to a five-year bar.  
   • A non-transferable Limited Entry Fishing Permit is an exempt resource.
   • Funds held in a dedicated account established to hold a minor's retroactive SSISupplemental Security Income benefits are an exempt resource.
   • Vehicle resource policies have been clarified in the Temporary Assistance, Family Medicaid, and Food Stamp program manuals.  Staff can now accept a client's statement for vehicle value, ownership, and use.  Additional verification will only be necessary if the information is questionable.
   • Income received from the lease of a Limited Entry Fishing Permit is treated as unearned rental income.  

Policy changes to child support assignment owed to the family announced by broadcast in October have been integrated into Temporary Assistance Manual Chapter 717, Child Support Assignment and Cooperation. Other changes are either technical in nature or clarifications that are the result of policy questions or suggestions from the field.

Highlights to policy revisions are described below.  If you have any questions please contact the Policy and Program Development Team at 465-3382 or email dpapolicy@alaska.gov.

OVERVIEW OF CHANGE

MS 705-2  Application Process

1. • Clarifies that the GEN 72Eligibility Review Form, Eligibility Review Form, can be accepted as an initial application in the month following case closure regardless of the reason for closure.

MS 705-4  Verification

1. • Clarifies which interfaces must be checked at every application and review, and which should only be checked if the caseworker receives questionable information.

MS 713-3 Qualified Aliens

1. • Adds Afghan and Iraqi special immigrants to the list of qualified aliens.

MS 713-4  Five Year Bar  

1. • Adds Afghan and Iraqi special immigrants to the list of qualified aliens who are not subject to a five year bar.

MS 713-8 Proof of Qualified Alien Status

1. • Adds information about the type of proof that may be used to verify Afghan and Iraqi special immigrant status.

MS 717  Child Support Assignment and Cooperation

MS 717-2 Assignment Of Rights To Child Support

MS 717-3 How A Caretaker Cooperates With Child Support Services Division

MS 717-4 Failure To Cooperate With CSSDChild Support Services Division

MS 717-5 Case Processing

MS 717-6 Procedures For Exchanging Information

MS 717-7 How CSSDChild Support Services Division Collections Affect The Temporary Assistance Case

1. • Clarifies that CSSDChild Support Services Division will make payment to the family of any child support arrearages for months when Temporary Assistance was not received and that families are entitled to keep these payments. Families who keep these payments are not subject to a Temporary Assistance penalty for non-cooperation with child support.
   • Clarifies that child support the family is entitled to keep may be countable unearned income and must be reported to the division.  Ongoing payments to the family for child support owed to them will be considered in determining the family’s eligibility and benefit amount if they can be prospected.  Payments made on an occasional or sporadic basis, such as arrearages collected through tax return garnishment, cannot be prospected.

MS 752-10 Vehicles

1. • Clarifies that staff can now accept a client's statement for vehicle value, ownership, and use.  Additional verification will only be necessary if the information is questionable.

MS 753-4 Items of Employment

1. • Clarifies that a Limited Entry Fishing Permit that Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission (CFECCommercial Fisheries Entry Commission) has classified as non-transferable has no value.

MS 753-6 Other Exclusions

1. • Clarifies that funds held in a dedicated account are exempt.

MS 758-1 Child Support Income

1. • Clarifies that child support the family is entitled to keep must be reported to the division and may be countable unearned income.
   • Adds an example for prospecting CSSDChild Support Services Division payments of child support paid to the family for months the family did not receive Temporary Assistance.

MS 759-5 Income from Self-Employment

1. • Clarifies that rental income received in a lump sum shall be averaged over months of intended use.
   • Clarifies that income from the lease of a limited entry fishing permit is considered unearned rental income.

MS 780-19  Shelter Allowance

1. • Changes section name from “Shelter Costs” to “Shelter Allowance”
   • Clarifies lease agreements and/or contact with the landlord are acceptable forms of verification of shelter and utility expenses.
   • Clarifies that shelter or utility expenses are allowed if in a non-household member’s name as long as the household can verify they are responsible for the expense.