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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 25, 2003

Applications for Alaska Senior Assistance Program available

Program responds to Seniors in need

Printer Friendly Copy (PDF, 27kb)

Applications for the Alaska Senior Assistance Program are now available at senior centers, libraries, on-line at and from offices of the Division of Public Assistance. Applications will also be available in the August issue of the Senior Voice published by the Anchorage-based Older Persons Action Group (OPAG) and distributed statewide.

The Alaska Senior Assistance Program (AKSAP) was created by the Governor to help low income seniors transition from receiving the Alaska Longevity Bonus (ALB). While the ALB was a thank you to people who helped carve the state from the frontier, the monthly check was not an entitlement in the sense of a reward for service to state or country like a military pension. The State voluntarily undertook to make a gift to those seniors.

"The State of Alaska is in a budget crisis and cannot afford to continue to be so generous," said Tony Lombardo, Director of the Division of Public Assistance. "Instead of freely passing out a bonus to seniors, may of whom are not persons in need of State aid, we are now attempting to provide some measure of help to our seniors who are in financial need. That's what the Alaska Senior Assistance Program is all about."

To be eligible for the program, a senior must be age 65 or older. Individuals may have an annual income of up to $15,134 and liquid assets of up to $4,000. If living with a spouse, applicants may have a combined annual income of up to $20,439 and assets of up to $6,000. Permanent Fund Dividend income will not be counted.

Seniors who meet the eligibility criteria need apply only once by mail. The two-page application asks for information about income and assets, and requires a signature to confirm the truthfulness of the statement given. No additional proof of income or assets will be required. To combat fraud, the Division of Public Assistance will perform a secondary eligibility determination on a random sample of applications.

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For more information, please contact

Sherry Hill, Special Assistant to the Commissioner for Communications
(907) 465-1611

Or

Ross Soboleff
Public Information Officer III
(907) 465-1611