TRANSMITTAL NUMBER:   MC #28

MANUAL:  Alaska Temporary Assistance Program

DATE:  October 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. • To the extent possible, we are aligning policies in the U.S.United States Citizenship and Alien Status chapter with those in our other program manuals.

1. • Any amount of Flexible Health Benefits that the employer does not pay directly to the employee is exempt income.

1. • New policy allows a 50% deduction from self employment income for self-employment expenses.  The household can choose to use actual expenses if they believe they are higher than 50%.

Other changes are either technical in nature or clarifications that are the result of policy questions or suggestions from the field.

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 email dpapolicy@alaska.gov.

OVERVIEW OF CHANGES

MS 705-3  Scheduling Interviews

1. • Includes three options for informing the applicant of their appointment date and time as well as documentation requirements for each option.

MS 711-7  Allowable Absences

1. • Clarifies that a drug and alcohol treatment center is considered “hospitalization” in a public or private institution.

MS 713   U.S. Citizenship and Eligible Alien Status

1. • Aligns policies in the U.S.United States United States Citizenship and Alien Status chapter with those in our other program manuals.

MS 759-2  Flexible Health Benefits

1. • Clarifies that only the contribution amount that goes directly to the employee (benefit contribution excess) is countable income. Any amount that the employer pays for mandatory health insurance benefits is not counted as income to the employee.

MS 759-6  Income from Self-Employment

• Adds new policy that allows a 50% deduction from self-employment income for self-employment expenses.  The household can choose to use actual expenses if they believe they are higher than 50%.

• Removes mileage rate table and adds a link to the IRSInternal Revenue Service website for current mileage rates.

MS 790-8  Periodic Reviews

1. • Clarifies that when a new or review application (GEN 50BApplication for Services or GEN 72Eligibility Review Form) is received from a household, the application must be used to establish a new review / recertification period for all open programs, if the household is eligible.

Addendum 2  Temporary Assistance Income and Payment Standards

1. • Updates the heating and non-heating utility standards for Northern, South Central and Southeast regions.