Title 47, Welfare, Social Services, and Institutions

Assistance grants under AS 47.25.120 — 47.25.300 shall be reviewed by the department as frequently as it considers necessary, and the amount of assistance may be changed or entirely withdrawn if the review of the circumstances warrants this action.

If the department finds that the cost of medical assistance for all persons eligible under AS 47.25.120 — 47.25.300 will exceed the amount allocated in the state budget for that assistance for the fiscal year, the department shall eliminate coverage for medical services in the fo…

Assistance granted under AS 47.25.120 — 47.25.300 is inalienable by assignment or transfer and is exempt from garnishment, levy, or execution as provided in AS 09.38 (exemptions).

The total amount paid in assistance to a recipient constitutes a claim against the recipient and the recipient's estate. On the death of a person receiving assistance, the total amount paid as assistance shall be allowed by the court having jurisdiction over the estate.

Every needy person shall be supported while living and upon dying, shall be given a decent burial by the spouse, children, parents, grandparents, grandchildren, or siblings of the needy person, if they, or any of them, have the ability to do so, in the order named. Every designat…

If, during the continuance of an allowance, the department ascertains that a person liable for the support of the recipient of assistance is able to provide the necessary care and support of the recipient, and the person liable for the care and support of the recipient fails or r…

When a needy person is not entitled to assistance under AS 47.25.120 — 47.25.300 and has no relatives in the state liable for support under AS 47.25.230 and 47.25.240, the needy person may receive temporary assistance in the form and amount which the department considers necessar…

When a needy person is not entitled to assistance under AS 47.25.120 — 47.25.300, the needy person may receive assistance in the form and amount that the department considers necessary.

[Repealed or reserved.]

If the department finds that a general relief allowance has been improperly granted, it shall investigate, and if it appears from the investigation that the assistance was improperly granted, the department may cancel the allowance and notify the recipient of the cancellation. Th…

(a) Disbursements issued to a general relief assistance recipient after the date of death of the recipient shall be canceled. (b) General relief assistance disbursements made before the death of the recipient but not collected by the recipient before death shall be canceled, unle…

The department may enter into agreements, arrangements, or contracts with any federal agency, department, or official under which funds made available to the federal agency, department, or official may be transferred to the department and spent in accordance with AS 47.25.120 — 4…

[Repealed or reserved.]

A person who violates a provision of AS 47.25.120 — 47.25.300 is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction is punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by both.

In AS 47.25.120 — 47.25.300, (1) “assistance” means financial assistance to or on behalf of a needy person, including subsistence (food, shelter, fuel, clothing, and utilities) and transportation, medical needs (including, but not limited to, hospitalization, nursing, and convale…

[Repealed or reserved.]

Article 3. Adult Public Assistance.

(a) Financial assistance shall be given under AS 47.25.430 — 47.25.615, so far as practicable under appropriations made by law, to every aged, blind, or disabled needy resident who has not made a voluntary assignment or transfer of property to qualify for assistance. In this subs…

Notwithstanding the provisions of AS 47.25.430 — 47.25.615, if the applicable provisions of 42 U.S.C. 301 — 1397f (Social Security Act), as amended, permit, in determining the need of an applicant for, or a recipient of, an assistance grant under AS 47.25.430 — 47.25.615, the dep…

A person requesting assistance shall apply for it, either personally or through another, in a format and manner prescribed in regulations adopted by the department. Regulations adopted under this section must establish an electronic application for assistance and allow an applica…

Upon application, the department shall investigate promptly and record the circumstances of each applicant to determine the facts supporting the application and other information required by the department.

(a) The department shall pay at least $280 a month to a person eligible for assistance under this chapter while the eligibility of the person for benefits under 42 U.S.C. 1381 — 1385 (Title XVI, Social Security Act, Supplemental Security Income Program) is being determined. Payme…

(a) Upon completion of the investigation, the department shall promptly decide whether the applicant is eligible for and should receive adult public assistance, the amount of it, the manner of paying it, and the date on which it starts. The department may make additional investig…

If a person receiving assistance is incapable of self-care or care of the funds granted under AS 47.25.430 — 47.25.615, the department may direct the payment of the funds to the recipient's legally appointed guardian or to another person as designated by the department for the re…

[Repealed or reserved.]

If a recipient is convicted of a crime or offense, and punished by imprisonment, payment may not be made during the period of imprisonment, and the department may, in its discretion, declare the assistance forfeited.

(a) If the department has reasonable grounds for believing that assistance was improperly granted, it shall investigate and document the grounds in the case file, and, if it appears as a result of the investigation that assistance was improperly granted, it may, after providing a…

[Repealed or reserved.]

(a) Disbursements issued to a recipient of assistance under AS 47.25.430 — 47.25.615 after the date of death of the recipient shall be canceled. (b) Assistance disbursements issued before the death of the recipient but not collected before death shall be canceled, unless claimed …

(a) A person receiving assistance who leaves the state may not receive assistance during the absence. (b) This section does not apply to a recipient who temporarily leaves the state for (1) medical treatment; (2) a vacation, business trip, or other absence of less than 30 days un…

The department shall make reports in detail that are required of it by the governor or by the federal government or a federal agency.

[Repealed or reserved.]

Assistance granted under AS 47.25.430 — 47.25.615 is inalienable by an assignment or transfer and is exempt from garnishment, levy, or execution as provided in AS 09.38 (exemptions).

[Repealed or reserved.]

If a recipient's property is taken for urban renewal or other public purposes and the recipient expresses an intent to purchase a personal dwelling, the proceeds that are paid the recipient as a result of the taking shall be paid by the taking authority into an escrow account und…

If during the continuance of assistance the department finds that a person liable for the support of the recipient of assistance is able to provide the necessary care and support of the recipient and the person liable for the care and support of the recipient fails or refuses to …

(a) It is the policy of the state and the purpose of AS 47.25.430 — 47.25.615 to cooperate and coordinate with the United States government and its agencies in providing for and administering the laws of the federal and state governments having for their purpose adult public assi…

The department may enter into contracts or arrangements with any federal agency, department, or official under which funds made available to the federal agency, department, or official may be transferred to the department and spent in accordance with AS 47.25.430 — 47.25.615.

[Repealed or reserved.]

A person who violates a provision of AS 47.25.430 — 47.25.615 is guilty of a class B misdemeanor.

In AS 47.25.430 — 47.25.615, (1) “aged” means 65 or more years of age; (2) “assistance” means money payments to or medical care on behalf of, or any type of remedial care recognized by the department on behalf of, needy aged, blind, or disabled persons who are 18 or more years of…

Article 4. Alaska Affordable Heating Program.

(a) The Alaska affordable heating program is established in the Department of Health to provide expanded eligibility for Alaska residents for home heating assistance, to the extent funds are available in the Alaska affordable heating fund. (b) The Alaska affordable heating progra…

The Department of Health shall (1) administer the Alaska affordable heating program provided under AS 47.25.621; (2) adopt regulations under AS 44.62 (Administrative Procedure Act) to carry out the purpose of the program; (3) coordinate payments among other heating assistance pro…

(a) An individual is eligible for home heating assistance payments under the Alaska affordable heating program if the individual (1) is a resident of the state; (2) is physically present and resides in a home in the state when the home heating costs are incurred; (3) for assistan…