Memo MC #20

STATE OF ALASKA

Department of Health and Social Services

Division of Public Assistance

TRANSMITTAL NUMBER: MC #20

MANUAL: Adult Public Assistance

DATE: December 1, 2008

Each year the Adult Public Assistance need and maximum payment standards are adjusted by the same percentage as the COLA increase in Social Security benefits. This year the COLA increase is 5.8%. We have incorporated the 2009 standards into the examples and Addendum 1. These standards become effective with the benefit month of January 2009. The COLA adjustment also causes:

An increase in the income limit for Substantial Gainful Activity; and

An increase in the student earned income exclusion.

We made some language changes to the interview section of the Application Process chapter in conjunction with the other program manuals. We aligned policy about Native Restricted Lands with other programs to the extent possible. We also clarified several policy issues requested by field staff.

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 410-3E Conducting Interviews

Revises language that incorrectly implied an applicant had to come into a DPA Office for an interview.

MS 410-3F Changes Reported During the Interview

Revises language that incorrectly implied an applicant had to come into a DPA Office for an interview.

MS 425-2A Temporary Disability or Blindness Decisions

Clarifies that chiropractors and osteopaths are considered to be proper medical providers for a temporary disability decision; however psychologists are not.

MS 426-2C Interim Blindness or Disability Determination

Adds a cross reference in subsection 3. to new subsection 4.

Adds a new subsection 4. that provides instructions on how to complete the Authorization for Release of Protected Health Information (Gen 150) form.

MS 432-1E Native Restricted Land

Revises the section to clarify policy and describe what is meant by "Native Restricted Deed."

Clarifies that any house or related structure that is permanently attached to excluded ANCSA land is also excluded from resources.

Changes the ”Verification" note to more clearly describe the requirement to verify Native Restricted Deed status.

MS 432-4L Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act ( ANCSA ) Assets

Clarifies that any house or related structure that is permanently attached to excluded ANCSA land is also excluded from resources.

MS 433-1 Transfer of Resources

Updates examples to reflect the 2009 need and maximum payment standards.

MS 442-4 The Order In Which Income Exclusions Are Applied

Clarifies the IRWE section to inform Eligibility Technicians that they have to manually deduct an IRWE from the adjusted gross earned income on the APAS screen in order to have the payment amount figured correctly.

MS 452 Payments

Updates examples to reflect the 2009 need and maximum payment standards.

MS 460-5 Income Allocations

Updates examples and standards to reflect the 2009 need and maximum payment standards.

Addendum 1 Program Standards

Updates program standards to reflect the COLA changes for 2009.