Alaska Temporary Assistance Program

Overview

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).

Who qualifies?

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

How to sign up

You can apply online by using the Alaska Connect Portal. 

You can also download the application for service. 

How to use

Work requirements

The goal of the Temporary Assistance program is to move Alaskans into jobs so they can support their families. To do this, the program uses the "Work First" approach. This approach believes that the best way to succeed is to get a job, then develop more skills and work habits to be able to get a better job -- which will make it possible to no longer need help like ATAP. 

ATAP participants are required to look for paid jobs. People who cannot find paid employment right away take part in other activities that can lead directly to employment and increase the family’s self-sufficiency. Such activities include community work experience, job skills and life skills training, adult basic education, and Graduate Equivalency Degree (GED) preparation.

Support services

Families who are moving to work need a variety of services to help them find and keep a job and succeed at getting off ATAP. Available services include help with transportation costs, including car repairs and driver’s license. They also include help with interview clothing and personal grooming, and special tools, clothing, and equipment needed for employment. On-the-Job Training and wage supplementation programs are also available.

Child care

Safe, affordable child care is a must if families are to move into jobs. For many families, the cost of child care can be a big burden. ATAP provides help with child care costs so that the adults in the family can work or take part in activities that will move them toward supporting themselves.

Restrictions and limitations

• Help is limited to 60 months
• Help is limited for second parents
• Benefits are reduced for two-parent families during July, August, and September when there are better opportunities for employment
• EBT card purchases and withdrawals are not allowed at bars, liquor stores, gambling, or adult entertainment establishments

Resources