The Alaska Temporary Assistance Program (ATAP) is a jobs-focused program that helps families with basic needs while they work toward supporting themselves. ATAP provides cash assistance and work services to low-income families with children.

This program is provided under a federal block grant called Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

To participate in ATAP, a family must meet certain limits for how much they own of certain items ("countable resources") and how much they make ("countable income").

For example, countable resources do not include your family's home, your household goods or personal property, and most vehicles. Also, when an adult goes to work, a portion of their earnings is not counted ("disregarded") as a benefit of working.

To be on ATAP, a family must meet these limits.

Countable resources of less than $2,000, or less than $3,000 if the family includes a person 60 or older

Countable income of less than the ATAP income limit for their family type and size

Participants must be willing to look for paid employment or to participate in activities that focus on gaining skills and experience that lead directly to employment.

The amount of cash assistance a family receives depends on the family’s size, income, and shelter expenses. Benefits are reduced for families with low shelter costs. For families with two parents who are both able to work, only one parent is included in the household size.

Temporary Assistance Income and Eligibility standards