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 2018-35: Cross Programs: Migration of SSA Data into BEACON

DTA
Scheduled for May 14, 2018, the SSA data information currently accessed from the FMCS Application Inquiry Menu of the Mainframe will be migrated onto BEACON. The migration of this data is required to support future enhancements related to calculation of benefits when there are discrepancies between…

OLGT 2018-34: SNAP: Permission to Share Information

DTA
Contracted outreach providers help eligible clients apply for and retain SNAP benefits. The Provider Portal at www.DTAConnect.com is exclusively available to contracted providers. To allow these providers electronic access to case information, the Department developed the new Permission to Share…

DCF Annual Report on Foster Care Review

Department of Children and Families
These reports are required by G.L. c. 18B, Section 6A (see https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleII/Chapter18b/Section6a).  The following information is to be reported annually by the director of the foster care review unit to i) the governor ii) the child advocate and iii)…

An Act to Establish Pay Equity: Overview and Frequently Asked Questions

Office of the Attorney General of Massachusetts
On July 1, 2018, an updated equal pay law will go into effect in Massachusetts, providing more clarity as to what constitutes unlawful wage discrimination and adding protections to ensure greater fairness and equity in the workplace.  This guide provides information on an Act to…

OLGT 2018-30: SNAP - ABAWD Work Program Updates

DTA
Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) are limited to 3 months of eligibility for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits during a 36-month period, unless the client is exempt or meets the ABAWD Work Program (WP) requirement.  

OLGT 2018-31: Cross Programs: SAVE Procedural Clarifications

DTA
Effective May 1, 2018 the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system will no longer process mailed submissions of Form G-845 requesting third level verification of a noncitizen’s immigration status. All third level verification requests must be made electronically through SAVE’s…

OLGT 2018-33: Cross Programs: Central Case Management Office

DTA
DTA is committed to ensuring program integrity and access to benefits for all eligible Commonwealth residents. At times there may be new or current employees of the Department who are eligible, or designated as a payee, for DTA benefits. In an added effort to provide employees with increased…

OLGT 2018-32: TAFDC - DTA/MRC Interagency Initiative (Phase One)

DTA
The Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) and Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) have formed a collaboration to assist TAFDC clients with disabilities in obtaining necessary support services that will lead to sustainable employment.  The goal of this collaboration is to help clients…

OLGT 2018-28: TAFDC: Employment Services Practice Models

DTA
The Department continually explores research-informed approaches to engage clients in opportunities for meaningful employment-related activities. To that end, beginning April 2 and lasting for one year, the Department will road test multiple employment services practice models for Full Engagement…

OLGT 2018-29: Cross Programs: TAFDC, EAEDC and SNAP Certification Alignment

DTA
Due to conflicting TAFDC, EAEDC and SNAP reevaluation criteria, benefit reevaluation end dates can often become misaligned. These misalignments result in combo cases being reevaluated separately, which ultimately creates an increased workload for both the Department and the client. Scheduled for…

Attorney General Advisory: All Tenants Have a Right to Be Free from Harassment and Intimidation

Office of the Attorney General
The Office of the Attorney General of Massachusetts issues this advisory to remind landlords and other housing providers that all tenants have a right to be free from harassment and intimidation.  See full advisory attached below. 

DTA Guidelines for Repayment Amounts for Overpayments

DTA
Attached are DTA’s guidelines (they call it a matrix) for lowering monthly repayment amounts.  This is for people who are not currently receiving benefits and have an overpayment, and who want to lower the monthly repayment amount from the default amount that DTA bills them.  (The…

OLGT 2018-20: Cross Programs – Review of the Waiver of Recertification Interviews for Elderly and/or Disabled Households and Updates to Certification Chapters

DTA
The SNAP interview requirement at recertification may be waived for households where all adult members are elderly and/or federally certified as disabled with no earned income. This may be applied to households with minor children as long as the previous condition is met. The waiver of the…

OLGT 2018-24: Cross Programs: DTA Connect Expansion

DTA
Since implementation in August 2016, DTA Connect has been effective in providing clients access to time-sensitive information quickly.  As the Department strives to offer clients new ways to increase access, DTA Connect is being expanded to make content accessible via a new website at: …

OLGT 2018-27: Cross Programs - MBTA Youth Pass Program and Flyer

DTA
The MBTA Youth Pass Program provides affordable access to public transportation for low-income youth and young adults.  One criteria of eligibility requires residency in a participating city/town.  Periodically, additional cities/towns enroll as city partners of the Youth Pass program. Most…

OLGT 2018-22: Cross Programs: Suspension of the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP)

DTA
Due to its overwhelming success and associated, unanticipated funding demands, HIP will be suspended in April 2018 until further notice.     The last day SNAP households may earn HIP benefits is April 15th, 2018.    HIP retailers and partners have already been informed of the suspension. …

OLGT 2018-26: TAFDC and EAEDC: In-Kind Income

DTA
In-kind income is a benefit received in any form other than money for a specific expense such as free rent, utilities, clothing or food, but not necessarily limited to those.  For TAFDC and EAEDC grant calculations, shelter and food shall be deducted as income in-kind based on pre-determined…

OLGT 2018-21: Cross Programs: Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

DTA
A CSA is a system that allows for direct exchange of goods between a consumer and a farm or group of farms. This supports local economies and gives consumers access to fresh produce.      The Department, in collaboration with Project Bread and a number of local CSA partners, developed a SNAP CSA…

Employment Services Program Report

DTA

Report on Secure Jobs

DTA

Operations Bulletin 2018-2: Student Verification (Issued 3/27/2018)

DTA
The PDF attached - and text quoted below - is DTA's Operations Bulletin 2018-2. This is intended to direct DTA staff on next steps when students report financial aid offces will not fill the DTA EDUC-1 form re financial aid:  "It has come to the Department’s…

UIPP 2018.02: Revision of Reasonable Attempt Policy for Adjudication of Pending Issues

Jennifer Lavin, Director, UI Policy and Performance Department
To provide updated guidance on reasonable attempts to obtain the material facts from the parties to a disputed UI benefit claim.

Pharmacy Facts

Office of Medicaid
Attached is very helpful issue of a publication MassHealth regularly distributes to participating pharmacies. The March 15, 2018 issue makes clear that pharmacies may not charge a MassHealth member more than the allowed co-payment if payment is "available from MassHealth" and that payment…

OLGT 2018-14: TAFDC: Clothing Allowance Supplement

DTA
A $50 clothing allowance supplement has been approved by the Legislature for all TAFDC clients who received a clothing allowance in September, October, November or December 2017. Clients will receive this $50 supplement on March 12, 2018.

OLGT 2018-15: TAFDC and EAEDC – Regulation Changes

DTA
State Letters are being promulgated March 9, 2018 to bring all cash programs under the Transitional Cash Assistance Programs (TCAP) heading. This means that: EAEDC Chapter 106 CMR 320 and TAFDC Chapter 106 CMR 203 are being combined to form the TCAP Chapter 106 CMR 703. EAEDC Chapter 106…

Report on Economic Independence Accounts

DTA

Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Photo Requirement Exemptions

DTA

Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children – Eligible Noncitizen Status Clients

DTA

OLGT 2018-11: USCIS Naturalization and Citizenship Certificate Redesign Pilot

DTA
Beginning January 22, 2018, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) designated four of its field offices and one service center (none in Massachusetts) to participate in a 10-day pilot to issue redesigned naturalization and citizenship certificates to U.S. citizens.  The redesign is…

OLGT 2018-13: Verifying Legally Obligated Child Support

DTA
Legally obligated child support payments are allowed as a deduction for SNAP. If the SNAP household wishes to claim child support expenses it must provide verification of the legal obligation and proof of payment to receive credit for a child support expense

OLGT 2018-07: Assisting Person Roles Clarification

DTA
Clients may authorize a person or agency to assist with applications, case maintenance, recertifications/reevaluations and any other DTA requirements, depending upon the role that is designated. The Assisting Person page in BEACON captures the various roles that a client may designate. Clients may…

OLGT 2018-19: Dates No Longer Needed of Self-Declaration

DTA
Whenever a client applies, is reevaluated, or notifies DTA of a change s/he must provide the necessary proof to be eligible for benefits. These proofs are called verifications. Verifications are the use of documentary evidence, collateral contacts, external databases, or self-declaration to…

OLGT 2018-09: Updates Regarding 2017 Hurricane Evacuees

DTA
The Department continues to serve a number of evacuees as a result of the series of hurricanes that struck the Caribbean in August and September of last year. While some evacuees have sought out family and friends in Massachusetts to stay with, others have received aid through the Federal Emergency…

OLGT 2018-18: Reorganization of Income Chapters in the Online Guide

DTA
To ensure accuracy and consistency, the Online Guide is continually updated with new information, procedural changes, and clarifications to the Online Guide topics, books, chapters and pages. 

OLGT 2018-12: Cash Cases with Potential Earnings

DTA
The Department shares and receives data with a number of agencies and external partners.  As such, the Department of Revenue provides information related to clients who DOR identifies as having potential earnings. Any TAFDC and EAEDC client must report new income or a change in income over $100 a…

OLGT 2018-08: Outreach to Former SNAP Clients

DTA
The Department is committed to supporting residents of Massachusetts by reducing barriers to program access and ensuring that people are informed of their right to apply for benefits. To support this effort, the Department is completing targeted outreach to former SNAP clients to notify them of…

OLGT 2018-17: Federal Mileage Rate

DTA
The new federal mileage rate of 54.5 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.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Participation Rate Programs Report

DTA

Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) Consolidated Report

DTA

Fiscal Year 2018 Report on Standard Budgets of Assistance for Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children

DTA

Report on Agency Paper Reduction Efforts

DTA

Housing Stabilization Notice 2018-01: Implementation of Increase in Federal Poverty Guidelines effective January 13, 2018

DHCD
Effective January 13, 2018, the new Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) issued pursuant to the Federal Register will be used to determine eligibility for Emergency Assistance (EA). The EA eligibility for applicants and recipients is 115 % of the Federal Poverty Guideline. This change has been…

Operations Bulletin 2018-1: In person Client Services

DTA
We are committed to ensuring a confidential and safe space for staff and clients to conduct  in‐person services and interviews. This Operations Bulletin reminds staff that they must offer and provide clients with the option to conduct their conversations in a private space. Clients…

OLGT 2018-01: Cross Programs: 2018 Social Security COLA for TAFDC, EAEDC and SNAP

DTA
Every year the Social Security Administration (SSA) implements a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for RSDI and SSI recipients.  This COLA can affect TAFDC, EAEDC and SNAP benefits.  The Online Guide changes advise staff about: the implementation of the SSA COLA; the notices that…

OLGT 2018-05: Cross Programs: Household Misfortune Procedures

DTA
SNAP policy allows for the replacement of food lost during a household misfortune, such as a fire, flood, loss of electricity, equipment malfunction (refrigerator or freezer) or other disaster.  Replacement is limited to the value of the food lost, not to exceed the total monthly benefit…

OLGT 2018-02: TAFDC and SNAP: The 2018 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…

OLGT 2018-06: TAFDC and EAEDC - Procedures for Applications Begun at a TAO That Is Not Their Catchment Area

DTA
Applicants for TAFDC and EAEDC may apply at a TAO that does not serve the community in which s/he lives.  When this occurs, the individual should complete a Request for Assistance (RFA), be screened for immediate needs, and be informed that the pending case will be immediately transferred to…

OLGT 2018-04: SNAP – Senior Assistance Office (SAO)

DTA
The Department recognizes that historically, seniors are an underserved population.  As such, they can face many barriers to SNAP participation.  To mitigate access issues for this unique population, effective January 22, 2018, the Department will establish a new office in Holyoke with a…

2018 - DTA "Transitions" Newsletters

DTA
DTA Transitions from 2018 are posted here.

Annual Department of Transitional Assistance Organizational Report

DTA
Annual Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance Organizational Report, 2018.