433-3 PERMANENT FUND DIVIDEND

Permanent Fund Dividend ( PFD ) payments are not counted as either income or resources for the APA program. However, the SSI program does consider PFD payments as countable income and resources when determining eligibility and benefit amounts. The Medicaid program also considers PFD payments as countable income in very limited situations, but does not count retained PFD payments as a resource.

433-3 A. HOLD HARLMESS FOR SSI APPLICANTS AND RECIPIENTS

The SSI program is not administered by the State of Alaska. However, state law provides for replacement of SSI benefits an individual loses because of receiving or keeping PFD money. The policy below describes the different procedures for SSI applicants and ongoing recipients of SSI benefits.

1. Applications

When SSA opens an applicant's SSI case, the individual's PFD may be counted as income or resources, resulting in ineligibility for SSI.

If SSI benefits are denied or reduced due to PFD income or resources, the caseworker must request a field warrant from System Support to replace the lost benefits. Provide the following information when you are requesting a warrant to replace lost SSI benefits:

Clients name and case number;

Benefit month(s) and amount(s) being requested; and

An explanation that the warrant is being requested to replace SSI benefits lost because of receipt or retention of PFD money during the SSI application period.

Lost benefits may exist back to the date of the SSI application, so it is important to remember the PFD hold harmless period cannot exceed four months for each PFD distribution year.

We may also pay these special retroactive hold harmless benefits if SSA denies SSI to a child under age 18 due to the receipt of PFD .

2. Ongoing Cases

For ongoing SSI cases, SSA will continue paying SSI benefits, declaring overpayments when PFD income or resources cause ineligibility.

If a PFD caused SSI overpayment exists, the PFD Hold Harmless Program will repay the client's overpayment to SSI .

SSA will notify the client of the SSI overpayment due to PFD income, but will not require repayment since the State of Alaska has already repaid the overpayment in full.

No action is required by the caseworker. Reconciliation is accomplished through a buy-out agreement between the state and SSA . The Director's Office is responsible for transferring replacement funds to SSA .

433-3 PERMANENT FUND DIVIDEND

Official source

433-3 PERMANENT FUND DIVIDEND

433-3 A. HOLD HARLMESS FOR SSI APPLICANTS AND RECIPIENTS

1. Applications

When SSA opens an applicant's SSI case, the individual's PFD may be counted as income or resources, resulting in ineligibility for SSI.

Clients name and case number;

Benefit month(s) and amount(s) being requested; and

An explanation that the warrant is being requested to replace SSI benefits lost because of receipt or retention of PFD money during the SSI application period.

Lost benefits may exist back to the date of the SSI application, so it is important to remember the PFD hold harmless period cannot exceed four months for each PFD distribution year.

We may also pay these special retroactive hold harmless benefits if SSA denies SSI to a child under age 18 due to the receipt of PFD .

2. Ongoing Cases

For ongoing SSI cases, SSA will continue paying SSI benefits, declaring overpayments when PFD income or resources cause ineligibility.

If a PFD caused SSI overpayment exists, the PFD Hold Harmless Program will repay the client's overpayment to SSI .

SSA will notify the client of the SSI overpayment due to PFD income, but will not require repayment since the State of Alaska has already repaid the overpayment in full.