STATE OF ALASKA

Department of Health and Social Services

Division of Public Assistance

TRANSMITTAL NUMBER:   MC #54

MANUAL:  Alaska Temporary Assistance Program

DATE:  December 1, 2016

This year Social Security announced a 0.3% COLACost of Living Allowance increase effective January 1, 2017.  We have updated the Alaska Temporary Assistance income eligibility and shelter allowance standards to reflect the annual COLA adjustments in Social Security benefits.  The new standards are effective beginning with the benefit month of January 2017.  The Eligibility Information System will automatically apply these new standards when determining eligibility and benefit amounts beginning January 2017.  Clarification has been added regarding the eligibility of half-siblings to align with the Alaska administrative code. A link to the new MAGIModified Adjusted Gross Income Medicaid manual has been added in the Transitional Medicaid section.  ABLEAchieving a Better Life Experience account information has been clarified and aligns with the other Public Assistance programs.  The city name of Barrow has been updated to its new official name, Utqiagvik.

Highlights of these policy revisions are described below.  If you have any questions please contact the Policy and Program Development Team at: dpapolicy@alaska.gov.

OVERVIEW OF CHANGES

MS 711-2  Mandatory Filing Unit

• Updated the note to include half-siblings in the ATAPAlaska Temporary Assistance Program assistance unit which aligns with the Alaska Administrative Code.

MS 711-4  Who May Not Be Included in the Assistance Unit

• Updated the note to include half-siblings in the ATAP assistance unit which aligns with the Alaska Administrative Code.

MS 719-2  Employability Assessment

• Aligned TA MS 719-2 with the Alaska State TANFTemporary Assistance to Needy Families (Federal) Plan which states an Employability Assessment needs to be completed within 30 calendar days.

MS 740-3 B.  Transitional Medicaid

• Added the link to the new MAGIModified Adjusted Gross Income Medicaid Manual.

MS 753-6  Other Exclusions

• Added ABLEAchieving a Better Life Experience account information and verbiage to parallel the APAAdult Public Assistance, FSFood Stamp, and MAGIModified Adjusted Gross Income manuals.

MS 770-4  Diversion

• Retitled “Reserved” for future legislation/regulation changes.

• The Diversion program has been obsolete since 2011, as such, this program has been removed from the Alaska TANF state plan. This program may be reinstated in the future, pending modifications in Alaska's legislation/regulation.

MS 780-1 G.  Ratable Reduction

• Updated the ratable reduction to reflect the 2017 0.3% Social Security COLACost of Living Allowance increase.

MS 780-3  Calculating The Payment Amount

• Updated the standards to reflect the 2017 0.3% Social Security COLACost of Living Allowance increase, along with examples A, B and C to reflect the updated need standards.

MS 780-19 H.  Verification Of Shelter Costs

• Updated the link to the Alaska Annual Rental Market Survey located in the note.

Addendum 2  Temporary Assistance Income and Payment Standards

• Updates the income eligibility standards and maximum shelter allowances for 2017.

Addendum 3  Criteria For AK Native Village Time Limit Exemption

• Updated the city of Barrow to the new official city name; Utqiagvik.