Transmittal 2022-01 (04/22)
STATE OF ALASKA
Department of Health and Social Services
Division of Public Assistance
TRANSMITTAL NUMBER: 2022-01
MANUAL: Heating Assistance Program
DATE: April 1, 2022
Several sections of the Heating Assistance Program Policy Manual have been revised in order to incorporate new policy, clarify existing policy, and align policies within our division's policy manuals.
If you have questions, please contact the Policy & Program Development Team at hss.dpa.policy@alaska.gov.
OVERVIEW OF CHANGES
MS 3001-4 VERIFICATION
Clarified that SOLQ cannot be used to determine eligibility for HAP Heating Assistance Program .
Clarified that SVES must always be checked at application and recertification, and death match alerts that are generated during the certification period must be processed within 10 days.
MS 3001-5 ACTIONS TAKEN ON THE APPLICATION
Clarified that re-pends (additional requests for information) have a 15 day pend period.
Removed outdated reference in regards to pending the application to verify a wood vendor.
Clarified that verification of identity notated in EIS Eligibility Information System meets the "Proof of ID" requirement.
Clarified that a request to withdraw a HAP Heating Assistance Program application must be made in writing.
MS 3002-1 TYPES OF HOUSEHOLDS
Updated how benefits are paid on behalf of the deceased, from issuing only what is owed on the client's accounts to issuing the full benefit and requesting the vendor return any credit on the account after the client's debt has been paid. This change is due to ECOS' payment limitations.
MS 3003-1 COUNTABLE INCOME
Added "severance pay" to the wages definition, as it is included in the wages definition in Addendum G.
MS 3008-4 METHODS OF PAYMENT
Removed requirement for a caseworker to confirm with policy that there are zero HAP Heating Assistance Program vendors in a client's service area before issuing a direct payment for purchasing wood. This aligns with policy established in the News Flash dated 03/03/2021.