STATE OF ALASKA
Department of Health and Social Services
Division of Public Assistance
TRANSMITTAL NUMBER: MC #42
MANUAL: Alaska Temporary Assistance Program
DATE: December 2, 2013
This year Social Security announced a COLA increase effective January 1, 2014. We have updated the Alaska Temporary Assistance income eligibility and shelter allowance standards to reflect the annual Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) adjustments in Social Security benefits. The new standards are effective beginning with the benefit month of January 2014. The federal government passed legislation that limits where TANF funds can be directly spent or accessed, the State of Alaska has removed access of ATAP benefits from ATMs or point-of-sale devices at applicable business establishments.
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
716, 721, 733, 735, 736, 738, 761- RESERVED
Removed seven chapters from the Manual that were titled “Reserved” and had no content.
These sections were removed because they were superfluous
MS 750 Financial Need
Updates section with the appropriate cross reference section of 710-4 rather than 755-8 (this section is not currently being used).
MS 755-4 A. Unemployment Insurance Benefits
Updated the hyperlink to the Administrative Procedures Manual with the correct section of 123 for DOL Data Inquiry Screens, the link was previously going to section 122 for Electronic Benefit Transfer, which is not relevant for this ATAP manual section.
MS 780-1 G. Ratable Reduction
Updates the percentage of need payable and ratable reduction amounts for 2014.
MS 780-3 Calculating the Payment Amount
Updates the examples of payment calculations to reflect the 2014 cost of living adjustment.
MS 780-12 Restricted Payments
Removes the previous language that said ATAP payments cannot be restricted or conditional and replaces with language that complies with PL 112-96, restricting TANF funds from being used directly from EBT cards (via point-of-sale devices or ATMs) at liquor stores, bars, gambling establishments and adult entertainment establishments.
Changed the title of the chapter subsection from, "Unrestricted Payments" to "Restricted Payments."
Addendum 2 Temporary Assistance Income and Payment Standards
Updates the income eligibility standards and maximum shelter allowances for 2014.