1012               REFUSED CASH

Each family has a 60-month lifetime limit of ATAP Alaska Temporary Assistance Program benefits.  A month for which the family refuses the cash benefit does not count as a month of assistance for purposes of the 60-month limit.  Encourage families to use every one of these months to their best advantage; and only when they most need them.  If they are eligible for a small benefit, but have enough income to meet their current needs, it makes sense for many families to choose to refuse cash to preserve months for the future, when they may not have as much income.

1012-1           TIME LIMITS FOR REFUSING CASH

There is no minimum or maximum time limit for refusing cash.  The family can determine the appropriate timeframe to refuse cash based on their circumstances.  The client cannot be required to close their ATAP Alaska Temporary Assistance Program case as long as they remain eligible for a benefit.  However, the case manager may coach a client to consider closing their ATAP Alaska Temporary Assistance Program case after a few months of refusing cash demonstrates the family's ability to meet their needs on the existing income.

1012-2           MONETARY LIMITS FOR REFUSING

There is no monetary limit to the amount of cash that may be refused.  Case managers may consider supplementing the family's needs with supportive services funds.  All supportive services must be in alignment with requirements (WSPM 1004).

1012-3           ADDITIONAL RESOURCES WHILE REFUSING CASH

While in refused cash status, the household still remains eligible for the following resources:

• The full amount of Child Support paid by the absent parent(s), (ATAP MS 717-7);

• PASS 1 Childcare;

• Supportive Services (WSPM 1004).

1012-4            REFUSING CASH DURING A JOB START

The Job Start program allows a client to receive a paycheck rather than an ATAP benefit.  DPA subsidizes the client's wages by providing their monthly ATAP benefit to the employer.  The Job Start program allows the client to gain valuable work experience while not using any countable months toward their 60-month lifetime limit during the job start placement.

Work Service Case managers will submit a CANO describing the terms of the Job Start (i.e., employer, start date, end date, hourly wage, etc.) following CANO guidelines in (Administrative Manual section 109-10) and make the request to place the client in "refused cash" status.

The Eligibility Technician places a case in refused cash status when a client begins a Job Start placement and ends refused cash status when the Job Start placement ends (WSPM 1005-5 and ATAP MS 759-7-B).