Intro

The Family Guardian Program provides information and assistance to private individuals who are, or are considering becoming, guardian or conservator for a family member or friend. 

a) Please be aware that several state benefit programs and Medicaid have a backlog. If you have received information confirming that the Public Guardian has timely filed all appropriate paperwork, and the case is still reflecting as closed, the responsibility for moving that paperwork forward to renew benefits sits outside of the Public Guardian and we have no control over that agency’s workflow.

b) The Alaska State Ombudsman has notified the public that they can no longer investigate complaints about the Division of Public Assistance that allege a delay in review, processing, or determination of Food Stamp/SNAP or Adult Public Assistance cases. This is because state law and regulation exclude matters subject to a judicial process from ombudsman authority. Kamkoff et al. v. Department of Health, filed January 20, 2023, and recently removed to federal court, is a class action lawsuit that alleges that the Division is not timely processing SNAP cases. Edwards v. Department of Health, filed April 17, 2023, is a class action lawsuit that alleges that the Division is not timely processing Adult Public Assistance cases. They can review complaints about other public assistance programs, including: Medicaid, TANF/ATAP, Senior Benefits, Heating Assistance, WIC, and General Relief and the Public Guardian files complaints accordingly when required.

c) For Family Guardians: People who have been waiting more than 30 days for a determination of their SNAP eligibility can contact Alaska Legal Services for assistance at 1-888-478-2572 or apply online at https://www.alsc-law.org/intake/.