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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Ops Memo 2014-52: Implementation of the Revised Heat and Eat Program

DTA
From MLRI:   Operations Memo 2014-52 introduces DTA and DHCD's implemtenation of the revised "Heat and Eat" policy to meet the requirements of the 2014 Farm Bill. In March of 2014, Governor Patrick announced that Massachuestts would join other states in electing the…

BOSTON MUNICIPAL COURT STANDING ORDER 1:09

BMC
The BMC has revised standing order 1-09, which permits a judge in one division of the Boston Municipal Court to also seal cases from the other seven BMC courthouses at the same time if there are at least three charges that need to be sealed.   The order is revised to say that a court can hold a…

Hotline 9/14: Young Parent Program, clothing allowance, and car asset rule

DTA
From the Hotline If you have any questions on this column or other policy and procedural material, please have your Hotline designee call the Policy Hotline at 617-348-8478. Q. 1. When an ESP client participates in a Young Parent Program (YPP) activity and the hours of participation have been…

Do you need help because of a disability?

Office of Civil Rights
This OCR flier in English and 8 other languages discusses the ADA accommodation obligations of DTA for clients seeking DTA services.  English OCR-1 Spanish OCR-1 Chinese OCR-1 Laotian OCR-1 Khmer OCR-1 Haitian Creole OCR-1 Portuguese OCR-1 Russian…

FYI September 2014: Fuel Assistance, Clothing Allowance and TAFDC Teen Parents

DTA
FYIsFuel Assistance 2014-2015 The Fuel Assistance Program begins accepting applications for fuel assistance on November 1, 2014. TAOs will receive a supply of Fuel Assistance brochures in October for clients who are interested in applying for fuel assistance and in knowing how the…

PPER Email 2014-26: 24 Month Clock Fixes

DTA
MIS has completed a number of fixes to the State 24-Month Clock batch job. The jobs were fixed to set the clocks correctly prospectively; a recalculation of the clocks retroactively is also taking place. This is going to happen over the weekend of 8/30/14. The result is that some clients will…

Frequently Asked Questions on Medicare and the Marketplace

CMS
In this set of Frequently Asked Questions CMS addresses the interaction between Medicare and new low cost insurance available for purchase through state or federal Marketplaces (also known as Exchanges). In Massachusetts we have a state based Marketplace/Exchange called the Health Insurance…

Ops Memo 2014-58: TAFDC, EAEDC, and SNAP - Back-Scanning of Permanent Verification and Indexing of All Documents by Household Member

DTA
DTA Overview In a continued effort to improve business processes, strengthen program integrity and improve client outcomes, DTA now scans and stores client documents digitally using Electronic Document Management (EDM) and DTA myWorkspace (MWS).  To make permanent documents…

PPER Email 2014-27: ESP-7 Basic Job Search Activity Log

DTA
Operations Memo 2014-55 - ESP/Work Program Requirement: BEACON Changes introduced DTA staff to the revised Participation and Attendance (ESP-7) form. One of the revisions was the addition of the Basic Job Search Activity Log used by Employment Ready clients to track activities, employment contacts,…

Hotline 8/14: Verification of medical expenses and Massachusetts residency

DTA
Q. 1. On January 30, 2014, a Verification Checklist (VC-1) requesting proofs of my client’s medical expenses was issued with a due date of February 9, 2014. On the VC-1, I listed the request for medical expenses under “Other” in the “Other Information” block…

Public Housing Notice 2014-15: Revised Income Limits for Admission and FMRs for Continued Occupancy

DHCD
Attached please find the 2014 revised income limits for admission to state-aided public housing and for participation in the AHVP which are effective August 9, 2014. Pursuant to 760 CMR 5.06 these income limits are set at two year intervals and are the "Low Income Limits" set by…

DESE Technical Assistance Advisory 2014-5 Charter Schools and Students with Disabilitities

Mass Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)
Charter School Responsibilities for Students with Disabilities Who May Need an Out-of-District Program - 603 CMR 28.10(6) All Massachusetts public charter schools are required to accept, enroll, and serve students with disabilities and to provide a free and appropriate public education to those…

Confidentiality Toolkit - sharing data between government agencies

Administration for Children and Families (ACF)
From the preface: "We’re very pleased to be issuing the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Confidentiality Toolkit, a product of ACF’s Interoperability Initiative.  For decades, human services agencies have been seeking to identify ways to promote…

Ops Memo 2014-54: TAFDC, EAEDC and SSP: Centralization of the Funeral and Final Disposition Benefit

DTA
Overview The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) is the state agency responsible for paying funeral and final disposition expenses for:  any person who was without sufficient resources or financially responsible relatives to pay for funeral and final disposition…

Ops Memo 2014-53: SNAP: Notices to Households Approved on Day-30

DTA
Overview: Currently when a SNAP case is approved on day-30, the benefit is issued and an initial EBC approval notice is generated with a brief certification period. On the next day, BEACON extends the household’s certification period to the usual 12 or 24 months, but the…

Ops Memo 2014-56: TAFDC and EAEDC-Welfare Reform: Work Related Expense Change

DTA
Overview: As part of the recent welfare reform legislation, the work related expense (WRE) used in the benefit calculation for working TAFDC and EAEDC clients has changed effective with September’s grants.  Purpose of Memo: This Operations Memo provides staff with…

Ops Memo 2014-50: TAFDC- Clothing Allowance, September 2014

DTA
Overview: The Department will issue a nonrecurring clothing allowance of $150 pereligible TAFDC client under the age of 19 for September 2014. Purpose of Memo: This Operations Memo advises DTA staff about: who is eligible; payment amounts; payment dates; and notices.

Ops Memo 2014-49A: TAFDC and EAEDC – Self-Declarations and a Revised Form

DTA
Overview:  As part of the recent welfare reform legislation, it is now required that all self-declarations be signed under penalties of perjury. Attached is a form (Attachment A) that may be used for this purpose. Purpose of Memo:  This Operations Memo provides staff with a…

Ops Memo 2014-48: TAFDC– Automating the Learnfare Process: Changes

DTA
Overview: The TAFDC Learnfare requirement mandates that any child of a nondisabled grantee who is age six (or in first grade, whichever occurs later) through age 15 must attend school regularly. Verification of attendance must be obtained for any child who is subject to the Learnfare…

Multilingual Small Claims Forms, Instructions and Videos

MA Trial Court
The MA Trial Court’s Access to Justice Initiative received a Technical Assistance Grant through the State Justice Institute to translate small claims forms and instructional materials into the seven most commonly spoken non-English languages in the Commonwealth: Spanish, Russian, Portuguese,…

Small Claims Court Rules and Procedures (including October 2009 and August 2010 Updates)

MLRI
New Small Claims Court Rules went into effect in October 2009.  According to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, these "amendments address many of the issues identified by the Working Group in collection cases, and four in particular: increased certainty of service, insufficiently detailed…

Mass. Department of Children and Families

Dept. of Children and Families (previously DSS) website.

Ops Memo 2014-51: TAFDC: Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants (MORI) Referrals for Spanish-Speaking Refugee and Immigrant Clients in Certain TAOs

DTA
Overview:  DTA currently funds Employment Ready job search/job readiness services and English for Employment education and training for TAFDC-eligible refugees and immigrants through the Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants (MORI). MORI contracts with vendors in certain…

PPER Email 2014: H-EAT- Related Changes Effective with August 2014 BEACON Build

DTA
In preparation for the implementation of the revised H-EAT Program, this email explains changes effective with BEACON Build 46.4, scheduled for August 25, 2014. The changes include: 1. Two new housing types will be added to the Address page and to the paper SNAP application, recertification and…

Funeral/Burial- Application for Payment of Expenses F & FD-1

DTA
Form to apply for funeral expenses from DTA. English F & FD-1 Spanish F & FD-1(S) Click the "Go to Website" link below for the forms included in DTA's Online Guide.

Ops Memo 2014-49: OBSOLETE TAFDC and EAEDC – Self-Declarations and a New Form

DTA
Obsoleted by Ops Memo 2014-49A Overview:  As part of the recent welfare reform legislation, it is now required that all self-declarations be signed under penalties of perjury. Attached is a form (Attachment A) that may be used for this purpose.  Purpose of Memo: This…

PPER Email 2014-22: Same-Sex Marriages and Household Composition for SNAP

DTA
USDA/FNS provided guidance on the status of same-sex married couples, in response to a June 2013 Supreme Court decision. Effective July 28, 2014, same-sex spouses residing in the same household must be considered to be purchasing and preparing meals together

PPER Email 2014-19: End of Year ESP Referrals

DTA
TAO staff is advised that Employment Services Program (ESP) referrals for our clients can and should continue to be made to the Competitive Integrated Employment Services (CIES), Massachusetts Office of Refugees and Immigrants (MORI) and the Young Parent’s Program (YPP) through the end of this…

EEOC Enforcement Guidance on Pregnancy Discrimination and Related Issues

EEOC
In July 2014, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued updated guidance on pregnancy discrimination.  Download the guidance from EEOC's website, https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/pregnancy_guidance.cfm EEOC has also issued Questions and Answers about this…

Ops Memo 2014-46: TAFDC – Welfare Reform: Raising the Fair Market Value Exemption

DTA
Overview As part of the new welfare reform legislation, the Fair Market Value (FMV) exemption for vehicles (see 106 CMR 204.120(G)(1)) is being raised from $10,000 to $15,000. There is no comparison of the Fair Market Value to the Equity Value as the first car does not have Equity Value attributed…

Ops Memo 2014-45: TAFDC – Learnfare Probation and Sanction Suspensions During July and August

DTA
Overview The TAFDC Learnfare requirement mandated that any child of a nondisabled grantee who is age six (or in first grade, whichever occurs later) through age 13 must attend school regularly. Verification of attendance must be obtained for any child who is subject to the Learnfare requirement. To…

Ops Memo 2014-44 A: TAFDC – Updated Orientation PowerPoint Presentation and TAFDC Orientations

DTA
Overview A key component of the TAFDC program is engaging clients in work-related activities to move families with dependent children to selfsufficiency. The Department is committed to connecting applicants and clients (hereafter referred to as clients) with the resources and supports necessary…

Massachusetts Office of HIV/AIDS

Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Centralized Waiting List (Massachusetts)

Massachusetts Centralized Section 8 Waiting List
Eighty-one (81) Massachusetts housing authorities utilize this one computerized list; all applicant information entered onto this list can be accessed and updated by any and all participating housing authorities. The site also includes information about how to apply to the Centralized…

RAFT Fiscal Year 2015 Administrative Plan

DHCD
This Administrative Plan will govern the provision of RAFT (Residential Assistance for Families in Transition) assistance and will be incorporated into the contracts between DHCD and the RAFT Administering Agencies.

DHCD EA Monthly Report, Statewide Summary

DHCD
DHCD statistics about Emergency Assistance and shelter placements.  Includes data about EA applications and placements, EA shelter/motel placements, reason for placements, EA caseload, EA exits, RAFT, and expenditures. DHCD posts recent monthly reports, and quarterly reports going back…

Ops Memo 2014-33A: Electronic Document Management (EDM) Release 2.0 – Clarifications

DTA
Overview Operations Memo 2014-33: Electronic Document Management (EDM) Release 2.0, issued April 24, 2014, advised staff about: changes to document processing at the TAO and by fax and mail; changes to DTA myWorkspace (MWS); and the creation of a fax cover sheet for client…

Ops Memo 2014-41: Implementation of eNotification

DTA
Overview Effective with BEACON Build 46.3, scheduled for June 16, 2014, the Department will implement an optional eNotification initiative. eNotification is a faster and cost effective way for the  Department to communicate with clients by informing them by email when notices and forms are…

Ops Memo 2014-43: BEACON Customer Concern Tracking System

DTA
DTA Overview The US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) requires States to maintain records and the dispositions of complaints received from potential applicants, applicants, clients and other concerned individuals or groups. The data collected will be used…

Ops Memo 2014-28: Changes to Photo EBT Card Procedures

DTA
Overview Chapter 65 of the Acts of 2013 requires that certain EBT cardholders be issued EBT cards with photographic images. Operations Memo 2013-55 advised DTA staff about this change as well as about a mailing made to all clients impacted by this change. Operations Memo 2013-57A outlined the…

Ops Memo 2014-29: Changes to Photo EBT Card Issuance

DTA
Overview Chapter 65 of the Acts of 2013 requires that certain EBT cardholders be issued EBT cards with photographic images. The Department has begun implementation of this law. Operations Memo 2013-55 and 2014-18 advised DTA staff about this law, a mailing to all clients impacted by this change and…

Ops Memo 2014-36: Program Integrity (PI) Checklist BEACON Integration – Phase 2, and Other Enhancements to Processing External Agency Matches

DTA
Overview Operations Memo 2014-23: Program Integrity Checklist Overview introduced the Program Integrity (PI) Checklist project, and Operations Memos 2014-21: New York State Match along with 2014- 24: Enhancements to External Agency Match Processing introduced initial systems changes in support of…

PS 10-1: DES Guidelines for Out of Office Use of Personally-Identifiable Information (PII)

DES

Ops Memo 2014-30: SNAP: Fault Determination, Proration and Reinstatement for Delayed Applications, Recertifications and Case Maintenance Activities

DTA
Overview This Operations Memo updates Department procedures related to the delayed processing of applications, recertifications and case maintenance activities. When a case is denied or closed and the client returns to the agency seeking benefits within 30 days of the denial or closing, the…

Ops Memo 2014-39: External Agency Data: Registry of Motor Vehicles - New BEACON Functionality

Overview In an ongoing effort to enhance program integrity, DTA continues to expand real time online data matches provided by external sources. In July 2013, DTA obtained expanded access to the MassDOT Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) database. This access provides information on state issued…

Ops Memo 2014-40: Registry of Motor Vehicles – Asset Verification and Processing

DTA
Overview Operations Memo 2014-15 introduced the expansion of access for Department employees with the MassDOT Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) database. This access allows staff to view the image of applicants and clients (hereafter referred to as clients) when available, as well as the title…

Ops Memo 2014-42: SNAP: Collecting New Utility Information

DTA
Overview Section 4006 of the Agricultural Act of 2014, also known as the Farm Bill, included new rules for States regarding Heat and Eat (H-EAT) programs. To comply with requirements in the bill, the Department developed new utility statements that require “yes” or “no”…

Education resources for children in foster care

US Department of Education
The US Department of Education released new guidance whose goal is to support the education needs of children in foster care. New Guidance on Uninterrupted Scholars Act Press Release Students in Foster Care (new Department of Education page with resources) Joint letter with US Department…

Hotline 6/14: When college students come home for the summer - SNAP

DTA
Q. 1. My SNAP client had been living alone. At her recent recertification interview, she reported that her 19-year-old daughter, who is a full-time student during the school year, has just moved back home. This daughter was unemployed while at school and is currently still unemployed. Also, the…

EPSDT-A Guide for States: Coverage in the Medicaid Benefit for Children & Adolescents

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has just published a Guide to the Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment benefits for children and youth under age 21 in Medicaid. The 38 page EPSDT Guide was written in collaboration with the National Health Law…