June 26, 2003
Contact: Angela Salerno (907) 465-3200
State Announces New Alaska Senior Assistance Program
Needs-based program open to Alaskan seniors age 65 or older begins in September
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Juneau, Alaska ---The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) today released additional details on the new “Alaska Senior Assistance Program” that is based solely on financial need. The new program becomes available to all Alaskan seniors age 65 or older, who meet certain income and asset tests, beginning this September.
"The new program treats all Alaskans over 65 equally and fairly," said Joel Gilbertson, DHSS Commissioner. “All seniors, whether they received the longevity bonus or not, can apply for the program."
Under the current Alaska Longevity Bonus Program, only seniors who turned 65 before 1994 receive the full bonus of $250 monthly. Seniors who turned 65 after 1996 did not receive a longevity bonus, regardless of their financial need.
The Department plans to mail applications to seniors and will publicize
the new program beginning in August of this year. Together, the
Departments of Health and Social Services and Law, are currently
drafting emergency regulations to implement the program changes
this fall.
The new Alaska Senior Assistance Program is designed to provide
a $120 monthly check to senior Alaskans with annual incomes of up
to $15,134, or $20,439 for a couple, who have assets up to $4,000
per person, or $6,000 per couple.
Excluded from the income and asset calculations is the annual Permanent
Fund Dividend check, a home, automobiles, and other real property.
Included in the total assets are cash and financial investments,
such as stocks and bonds that can easily be converted to cash.
Eligibility for couples living together will be based on their combined
assets, regardless of whether one or both are 65 or older.
“We will not need a new bureaucracy to administer the new program,” Gilbertson said. “The application process will be as simple as we can make it. Funding is available from the federal government through the recently enacted tax relief bill that also includes financial assistance to hard-pressed state governments. Once the emergency regulations are drafted we will do everything possible to make all Alaskan seniors aware of the new initiative.”
The new program will be available for 10 months, from September
2003 through June of 2004.
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For more information, please contact
Sherry Hill, Special Assistant to the Commissioner for Communications
(907) 465-1611Or
Ross Soboleff
Public Information Officer III
(907) 465-1611
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