Govt. Agency /Court Links& Materials

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Links to court or government agency websites. Also, materials issued by the agency or court itself (except for regulations and decisions) as well as rules and procedures governing the court or agency and its operations.

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OLGT 2019-18: TAFDC: Automation of Transportation Payments for ESP Participants

DTA
TAFDC clients who are participating in an ESP activity (including employment), are eligible to receive a monthly transportation payment of $80.     Effective February 25, 2019, updates have been made to the automated transportation payment process.   BEACON will issue the…

OLGT 2019-14: Cross Programs: Homeless Indicator Pop-Up Reminder

DTA
To ensure that previously homeless clients receive the correct SNAP benefit amount, BEACON will issue a pop-up reminder whenever the Homeless Indicator is checked and changes are made to the Address, Shelter Expenses, and/or Standard Utility Allowance page(s).  This reminder will advise staff…

OLGT 2019-09: TAFDC - Enhancement to Disability Tracking Page

DTA
TAFDC applicants or clients claiming a disability must complete a Disability Supplement for a determination by UMASS/DES to request an exemption from certain TAFDC program rules. Currently, if a client has an approved disability exemption period which is set to expire, unless Disability Evaluation…

OLGT 2019-15: TAFDC: Work Requirement participation, Sanction, and the 60-month clock BEACON Edits.

DTA
To assist families in achieving economic stability, the Department offers TAFDC families a variety of Employment Service activities. Grantees can meet work program participation hours through a combination of these activities and/or work. Engaging families in these activities quickly, keeping them…

OLGT 2019-3: SNAP: Senior Assistance Office (SAO) Indicator Enhancement

DTA
In January 2018, the Department established the Senior Assistance Office (SAO) located in the same building as the Holyoke Transitional Assistance Office (TAO). In August 2018, as part of a series of ongoing enhancements, an SAO indicator was included in BEACON with the goal of assisting in the…

OLGT 2019-16: SNAP: Interim Report Warning and Closing Notices

DTA
Currently, a household with an outstanding Interim Report (IR) is sent an IR Warning Notice if the IR process is not initiated in BEACON 19 days after the Department mails the IR to the household.  Because the Warning Notice informs the household that the case will close if the IR is not…

OLGT 2019-11: TAFDC and SNAP: Non-countable Reimbursement Payments

DTA
The Online Guide has been updated to clarify that income received by ESP participants in certain programs is non-countable income for both TAFDC and SNAP.

OLGT 2019-10: Cross Programs: Veterans and Active Duty Military Personnel

DTA
The Department recognizes that veterans, active duty military personnel and their families may often face unforeseen barriers to participation in DTA programs and often have difficulty accessing non-DTA community programs. Accordingly, DTA is increasing its focus on assisting this unique population.…

OLGT 2019-17: SNAP: March Modified Issuance

DTA
The U.S. government operated under a partial shutdown from December 22, 2018 to January 25, 2019. SNAP benefits were not immediately impacted and January 2019 benefits were issued per regular operations.  States were instructed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to process…

Paternity

MLRI
Paternity Basics Establishing Paternity The process of having a man legally declared the father of a child M.G.L c. 209C Child Born Out of Wedlock / Paternity Law A court case related to a child born to parents who have never been married to each other is called a…

Consolidated Report on the Department of Transitional Assistance Program Integrity Division

DTA

Report on the Establishment of a Cashless EBT System

DTA

OLGT 2019-05: TAFDC – Disability Exemptions and Returned Disability Supplements

DTA
Clients who return Disability Supplements to the TAO timely and have their documents marked on BEACON as Received by DES prior to the exemption expiration date will maintain their exemption status.   Some TAFDC clients are having their exemption status changed to nonexempt because the…

OLGT 2019-06: TAFDC and SNAP: The 2019 Federal Poverty Guidelines

DTA
Each year, updates to the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) are published in the Federal Register by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).    Once the FPGs are published, BEACON is programmed to use new eligibility standards when calculating income eligibility for TAFDC teen…

OLGT 2019-05: TAFDC – Disability Exemptions and Returned Disability Supplements

DTA
Clients who return Disability Supplements to the TAO timely and have their documents marked on BEACON as Received by DES prior to the exemption expiration date will maintain their exemption status.   Some TAFDC clients are having their exemption status changed to nonexempt because the…

OLGT 2019-07A: SNAP: Temporary Procedures Due to Federal Government Shutdown

DTA
The U.S. government has been operating under a partial shutdown since December 22, 2018. SNAP benefits were not immediately impacted and January 2019 benefits have been issued per regular operations.  States have been issued some guidance from the United States Department of Agriculture…

PCA Time for Task and PCA Operating Standards

Office of Medicaid
Pursuant to a Jan 2019 record request, we obtained a copy of two subregulatory documents developed by MassHealth regarding Personal Care Attendant (PCA) services. Neither document is new, but both are currently in use at least as of Jan 2019. One is the Time for Task Guidelines, dated 11-16-11,…

OLGT 2019-04: Economic Assistance (EAEDC and TAFDC) – Retroactive Payments Due to Budget Changes

DTA
As part of the budget process this year, the following changes occurred: most ongoing TAFDC clients are eligible to receive a 100% Earned Income Disregard as long as the total household countable income does not exceed 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for up to 12 cyclical…

OLGT 2019-01: Cross Programs: 2019 Social Security COLA for TAFDC, EAEDC and SNAP

DTA
Every year in January, the Social Security Administration (SSA) implements a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for RSDI and SSI recipients.  This year the COLA increase is 2.8%.  This COLA can affect TAFDC, EAEDC and SNAP benefits.  The Online Guide changes advise staff…

OLGT 2019-04: Economic Assistance (EAEDC and TAFDC) – Retroactive Payments Due to Budget Changes

DTA
As part of the budget process this year, the following changes occurred: most ongoing TAFDC clients are eligible to receive a 100% Earned Income Disregard as long as the total household countable income does not exceed 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for up to 12 cyclical…

OLGT 2019-02: Cross Programs: Federal Mileage Rate

DTA
The new federal mileage rate of 58 cents must be used when calculating allowable transportation costs to be used as a medical deduction or a dependent care deduction. The new mileage rate represents an increase when compared to last year.

2019 - DTA "Transitions" Newsletters

DTA
DTA Transitions from 2019 are posted here.

Department of Developmental Services Family Support Manual

MA DDS
Manual that includes information on DDS services including intensive family support, autism waiver, flexible funding and interaction with other agencies.  Includes information on children and adult services. 

Using the Electronic Benefits Transfer Card (EBT-TB)

DTA
Information on DTA's website explaining how to use the Electronic Benefit Transfer card to access SNAP (food stamps) and cash assistance. Also has links to a brochure in English (EBT-BRE-006 and Spanish (BRS-009). Click the "Go to Website" link to download the…

2019 COLA Fact Sheet

SSA

Probate and Family Court forms

A collection of Probate and Family Court forms by subject.

OLGT 2018-83: TAFDC and EAEDC: Update of Case Transfer Pages

DTA
Transfer of a case must occur as soon as possible after an address change has been reported.  Reasons for transferring an EAEDC or TAFDC case include when a client:   indicates a move to a new address that is in another TAO’s catchment area, even if it is not permanent;  is…

OLGT 2018-87: Cross Programs: Customer Concern Procedures Updates

DTA
The US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) requires states to maintain records of customer concerns received from SNAP applicants, clients and other concerned individuals or groups and the disposition of those concerns.  TAFDC and EAEDC program regulations…

OLGT 2018-93: Cross Program: Miscellaneous Updates to the Overpayment and Recovery Pages

DTA
An overpayment is a payment that provides a benefit to which the member(s) of a case is not entitled to receive.  Overpayments result from Department error(s), aid paid pending a fair hearing decision, client error(s), client misrepresentation or withholding of information.   An…

OLGT 2018-85: SNAP: Simplified Reporting - Elderly Disabled Simplified Application Project (EDSAP Reporting)

DTA
Simplified Reporting is a certification type that allows DTA to more efficiently administer SNAP and for clients to receive stable benefits. Massachusetts has been approved to expand Simplified Reporting through the Elderly Disabled Simplified Application Project (EDSAP). Currently clients on…

OLGT 2018-88: Economic Assistance (EAEDC and TAFDC) – Retroactive Payments Due to Budget Changes

DTA
As part of the budget process this year, the following changes occurred: most ongoing TAFDC clients are eligible to receive a 100% Earned Income Disregard as long as the total household countable income does not exceed 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for up to 12 cyclical…

OLGT 2018-91: SNAP: ABAWD Work Program Waived Areas

DTA
Certain clients are exempt from the ABAWD Work Program Requirement because they reside in waived areas.   Effective January 1, 2019, there will be a smaller number of waived areas.  Many cities or towns that were waived in 2018 will no longer be waived in 2019.   If a client calls…

OLGT 2018-82: SNAP: Online Guide Clarifications and Page Updates

DTA
In response to recommendations received during recent SNAP Supervisor Webinars, existing OLG pages have been updated with additional content and procedural guidance.

OLGT 2018-86: Cross Programs – The 2019 Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Massachusetts Earned Income Credit (EIC), Child Tax Credit (CTC) and Child Care Assistance Mailing

DTA
In January, The Department will issue the annual Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Massachusetts Earned Income Credit (EIC), Child Tax Credit (CTC) and child care assistance informational mailing.  The mailing is scheduled to begin January 2, 2019. The mailing will be sent to all active TAFDC…

OLGT 2018-89: Cross Programs: Increase to the Massachusetts Minimum Wage

DTA
Effective January 1, 2019, the Massachusetts minimum wage will increase from $11.00 per hour to $12.00 per hour. Case managers should emphasize to TAFDC clients that: their TAFDC benefits will not be affected by this increase;  if employed, this increase is a good opportunity to increase…

OLGT 2018-92: Cross Program: Document Handling Updates

DTA
Document disposition statuses were expanded in August 2018 to provide clients and staff with meaningful definitions of where documents were in the process. These statuses are available on DTA Connect and are planned for incorporation into the DTA Assistance Line summaries in the future.  In…

Sexual Harassment is Illegal. Fair Housing is Your Right Flyer

Department of Justice
Graphic flyer for posting in English and Spanish informing tenants "Sexual Harassment is Illegal. Fair Housing is Your Right."

OLGT 2018-90: Cross Program: Clarification of Assisting Person Roles and Overview of Applicable Releases and Forms

DTA
An assisting person is an individual or organization designated by the client to help with DTA requirements, A client may be helped by anyone s/he chooses, including a family member, friend, neighbor or an agency staff member. The functions that an assisting person may help with are dependent upon…

Report on Economic Independence Accounts

DTA

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participation Rate Report

DTA

Probate and Family Court Self-Help Center

Probate and Family Court
Massachusetts Family Law Matters in the Courts Information and material published by MA Probate and Family Court.

Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines

Probate & Family Court
Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines 2018 Child Support Guideline effective effective September 15, 2017, as amended June 15, 2018. Link to Child Support Guidelines, reports, forms, instructions, worksheets, and other related resources. Additional Info Press Release: Trial…

DHCD Tenant Selection Review Decision Index No. 44

DHCD
All decisions made between May 22, 2018 and November 30, 2018

OLGT 2018-84: TAFDC: Budget Changes Letter and Re-Applications

DTA
As part of the FY2019 Budget changes, the TAFDC program implemented a 100% Earned Income Disregard, a grant increase for nonexempt clients and raised the asset limit to $5,000.These changes were implemented in November 2018 but were effective retroactively to July 1, 2018. Some TAFDC cases closed…

Office for Civil Rights' (OCR) Case Processing Manual (CPM) Update 11/20/18

US DOE OCR
OCR issued a press release outling key revisions to the Case Processing Manual.  A very important change is eliminating sec 108(t) which was added in March 2018 and has allowed OCR to dismiss many complaints.   Key revisions to the CPM include the following: Requires OCR to…

Annual Department of Transitional Assistance Organizational Report

DTA

OLGT 2018-72: SNAP: Child Support Expenses Clarifications

DTA
For many SNAP households, the inclusion of Child Support Expenses maximizes benefit allotments. The Online Guide has been revised and examples have been added to clarify common questions about entering child support expenses.

OLGT 2018-73: SNAP: SAVE No Longer Required at Interim Report

DTA
The Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program is maintained and operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Verification Division. The SAVE program provides government agencies with a tool to verify the…

OLGT 2018-67: SNAP: New Child Support Income Pages

DTA
Child Support is a way for parents to share the financial responsibility for their child(ren), even when they do not live together. The Department of Revenue is responsible for administering court-ordered child support income in Massachusetts. Support payments are made directly to the household from…

OLGT 2018-77: Cross Programs: Statewide Resource Guide

DTA
Clients often come to DTA because they have a variety of service needs. These needs may be for resources that DTA does not directly provide. In particular, clients who call the Assistance Line may be speaking with someone not familiar with the resources in a client’s particular area.