STATE OF ALASKA
Department of Health and Social Services
Division of Public Assistance
TRANSMITTAL NUMBER: MC #66
MANUAL: Alaska Temporary Assistance Program
DATE: September 1, 2020
The Alaska Temporary Assistance Program (ATAP) heating and non-heating utility standards change effective October 2020. The Eligibility Information System (EIS) will automatically apply these new standards when determining eligibility and benefit amounts beginning October 2020.
Highlights of all the 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 701-1(A) INFORMING FAMILIES ABOUT THE 60-MONTH TIME LIMIT
Removed reference to obsolete notice W080 "Work, Time Limits, and Assistance."
MS 701-1(B) TO WHOM THE LIMITS APPLY
Clarified the date TANF months became countable toward the 60-month time limit.
MS 705-3(E) SCHEDULING
Revised bullet #1 to clarify that the individual must agree to the date and time of scheduled interview.
MS 710-4 NATIVE FAMILY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND ELIGIBILITY FOR ALASKA TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE
Added a note clarifying that if it is discovered that a family is receiving ATAP when they should be served by a NFAP, the ongoing case should be closed with 10-day notice of adverse action using the W481 and the case manager notified. Overpayments are not processed in this situation.
MS 711-2 MANDATORY FILING UNIT (MFU); WHO MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE ASSISTANCE UNIT
For better understanding of the policy, added explanation that a biological parent will always be considered a natural parent and a caretaker relative AND will always be a mandatory household member if living with a biological child that has been adopted.
MS 711-3 DEFINITIONS
For better understanding of the policy, added explanation that a biological parent will always be considered a natural parent and a caretaker relative AND will always be a mandatory household member if living with a biological child that has been adopted.
MS 712-1 DEFINITION OF A CARETAKER RELATIVE
For better understanding of the policy, added a note explaining that natural parents whose legal and financial relationship has been terminated are still considered a caretaker relative and a mandatory household member.
MS 712-3 CARETAKER RELATIVES
Added blood relation requirement to the "natural parent" definition to differentiate between the "natural" and "adoptive parent" definitions.
MS 756 FINANCIAL NEED; INCOME
Clarified that paycheck advances are counted as income in the month received.
MS 756-3 DEFINITION OF TOTAL GROSS MONTHLY INCOME
For better understanding of the policy, added in-kind income (as described in ATAP MS 758-2) to the definition of total gross monthly income.
MS 759 EARNED INCOME
Clarified that paycheck advances are counted as income in the month received.
MS 770-3(A) DEFINITIONS
Removed duplicative language defining an adult-supervised living arrangement.
MS 780-19(G) HOMELESS SHELTER DEDUCTION
Revised homeless shelter deduction from $152 to $157.
ADDENDUM 1 EXEMPT ALASKA NATIVE VILLAGES
Updated "Exempt Alaska Native Villages" listing based on 2010 census data and a labor market survey conducted by Department of Labor (DOL) in 2020.
ADDENDUM 2 TA INCOME AND PROGRAM STANDARDS
updated the heating and non-heating utility standards for FFY 2021.
ADDENDUM 3 CRITERIA FOR ALASKA NATIVE VILLAGE EXEMPTION FROM THE 60-MONTH TIME LIMIT
Updated "Exempt Alaska Native Villages" listing based on 2010 census data and labor market survey conducted by DOL in 2020.