58. How does DTA figure monthly income?

DTA looks at the income you expect to get in the month. If you get the income on a weekly basis, DTA multiplies the weekly amount by 4.333, which is the average number of weeks in a month. If you get the income every two weeks, DTA multiplies the biweekly income by 2.167. (For earned income, use the gross amount before taxes.) 106 C.M.R. § 704.290.

DTA should use the “best estimate” of the income you expect to receive. 106 C.M.R. § 702.920. If your job stopped or you expect to work fewer hours in the coming month, DTA should count the income you expect to receive, not the income you received before.

These rules apply to both earned and unearned income received by the household. However, for earned income, the EAEDC rules allow for certain deductions from gross income and business expenses for self-employment income.

Advocacy Reminder:

DTA will average the income of workers who have a contractual annual salary. 106 C.M.R. § 704.290(A)(4). DTA should not average the income of school employees and others who get their income during only part of the year but do not have an annual contract or are paid on an hourly basis. DTA may average the income of a teacher who is paid during the school year but has annual contract. DTA should not average the income of a school cafeteria worker who is paid during the school year and does not have an annual contact.