STATE OF ALASKA

Department of Health and Social Services

Division of Public Assistance

TRANSMITTAL NUMBER:   MC #39

MANUAL:  Alaska Temporary Assistance Program

DATE:  March 8, 2013

We are making several changes to clarify existing policy as a result of suggestions from the field.  We have also made changes to the self-employment annualization table based on changes in the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) for Alaska.

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

OVERVIEW OF CHANGES

MS 720-2 A  Seasonal Benefit Reduction Policy

• Clarifies that ineligible alien is excluded from the payment calculation, therefore they are not subject to the seasonal reduction.
• Adds a note explaining EIS will no longer reduce the TA allotment with the season reduction amount.

• Clarifies the amount of reduced assistance when a minor parent is not attending school.

MS 723-4 B  FSSP, Work and Child Support Penalties

• Clarifies that the percentage of reduction is based on the need standard, not payment standard.

MS 732-3 C Non-Compliance

• Deletes the "NOTE" which states that individuals are not penalized for lack of participation.

MS 752-8  Joint Bank Accounts

• Updates section to align with Medicaid.

• Removed reference to section "D", as it does not exist.

MS 753-7 Property for Sale

• Clarifies what actively offered for sale means.

• Adds a note to include internet web ads as classified options for selling property.

MS 759-6 E (4) Budgeting Self-Employment Income

• Updates the annualization chart in subsection 4 to reflect new federal poverty guidelines.

MS 770-2 C  Work Activity and Family Self-Sufficiency Plan

• Corrects policy to state an FSSPFamily Self-Sufficiency Plan is voluntary for a father in a 3rd trimester TATemporary Assistance case. This aligns with ATAPAlaska Temporary Assistance Program MSManual Section 719-1.

MS 780-1 G  Ratable Reduction

• Adds a note to explain that the ratable reduction is the same as the max payment deduction that shows on the EISEligibility Information System ATAPAlaska Temporary Assistance Program payment screen (TAPD).

MS 780-3 Calculating the Payment Amount

• Updates #4 to explain that the ratable reduction is the same as the max payment deduction that shows on the EISEligibility Information System ATAPAlaska Temporary Assistance Program payment screen (TAPD)

MS 791-3  Adequate Notice

• Revises item #4 under "only adequate notice is required in the following situation" to use the same language as 7AAC 49.060 to indicate that the recipient needs to indicate in writing that they understand the consequences that the report of change will decrease their benefits  or close their case.

• Adds two examples where adequate notice is needed (before moving out of state & child transferring to another household).