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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PHN 2020-11: Guidance and Best Practices for Housing Authorities during COVID-19 Emergency

DHCD
The rapidly evolving COVID-19 (coronavirus) situation presents many challenges to Local Housing Authorities (LHAs). DHCD has been working closely with LHAs, Department of Public Health (DPH), Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA), and Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development (EOHED)…

OLGT 2020-30: SNAP: Emergency Allotment to SNAP Households

DTA
As part of the Families First Coronavirus Act of 2020, Massachusetts obtained a waiver from FNS to issue emergency SNAP allotments to certain SNAP households for the months of March and April. This emergency allotment will bring impacted SNAP households up to the maximum benefit level for their…

Health Care Proxies in Massachusetts

Go to the Trial Court Law Library website to access information about health care proxies, including a sample form.

OLGT 2020-27: Cross Programs: Temporary Emergency Operations Due to COVID-19

DTA
On March 10, 2020 a State of Emergency was declared by Governor Baker to support the Commonwealth’s response to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). DTA is taking steps to ensure that active clients do not experience a disruption in benefits and prioritizes new applications.

OLGT 2020-27A: Temporary Emergency Operations Due to COVID-19

DTA
On March 10, 2020 a State of Emergency was declared by Governor Baker to support the Commonwealth’s response to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). DTA is taking steps to ensure that active clients do not experience a disruption in benefits and prioritizes new applications.  The…

Guidance For Family Shelter Providers Responding To Individuals Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19

DHCD
Guidance from DHCD.

Bulletin to Commercial Health Insurers

Office of Consumer Affairs - Division of Insurance
The Division of Insurance ("Division") issues this Bulletin to provide information to Commercial Health Insurers, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Inc., and Health Maintenance Organizations ("Carriers") about the Division's expectations regarding Carriers' appropriate coverage…

Reminder of Interim Redetermination Procedures for Decreases in Gross Income

DHCD
As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to evolve, DHCD would like to remind all local housing authorities (LHAs) of the procedures for lowering tenant rent due to a decrease in gross monthly income (either due to a decrease in income or an increase in deductions). We all ask that LHAs remind all…

UIPP 2020.05 Unemployment Compensation (UC) for Individuals Affected by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Department of Unemployment Assistance
The Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration has provided guidance to state workforce agencies regarding unemployment eligibility for claimants that are affected by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVD-10.) The following information provides guidance with respect to potential…

Moratorium on Utility Shutoffs in Massachusetts Extended

Department of Public Utilities
In view of the state of emergency due to COVID-19, Massachusetts has extended the Moratorium on utility shutoffs until the state of emergency in Massachusetts is lifted, or there is further communication.  See the attached letter that DPU is sending to utility companies, which sets forth…

MassHealth Publications in Response to COVID-19

Office of Medicaid/EOHHS
From an email sent out by the Office of Medicaid/ EOHHS: In coordination with agencies across the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, MassHealth/ EOHHS have released provider bulletins and additional guidance in response to 2019 novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). These policies…

DUA policy memo on UI eligibility for workers affected by Covid

Department of Unemployment Assistance
Policy memo outlining eligibility of workers affected by Covid, including illustrations of common scenarios involving quarantine and potential exposure.

BHA Moratorium on Non-essential Eviction Actions

Boston Housing Authority
The Boston Housing Authority has notified the Housing Court by letter of the following: The BHA's intent to "immediately suspend its filing and prosecution of all Housing Court cases and matters with respect to its non-essential eviction actions. We define non-essential cases to be nonpayment and…

OLGT 2020-22: Cross Programs: MassHealth SNAP Application Supplement

DTA
The “SNAP Gap” is a term used to describe the variance between client participation in Medicaid health insurance provided by MassHealth and SNAP participation at DTA. The Department has been working with MassHealth and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to better-support…

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

DTA

DUA Adjudication Handbook

Division of Unemployment Assistance
DUA Adjudication Handbook   Cover Table of Contents Chapter 1: Adjudicator responsibilities Chapter 2: Filing requirements and considerations Chapter 3: Monetary determinations Chapter 4: Able, available and actively seeking work Chapter 5: Suitable work Chapter 6:…

Procedural Standards Index

U Mass
Index of procedural standards for disability determinations.

OLGT 2020-16: Cross Programs: Secure Jobs

DTA
DTA is dedicated to equipping families with the skills needed to become economically independent. Access to employment opportunities is critical in achieving this goal. The Secure Jobs program focuses on supporting families to find employment while experiencing or at risk of experiencing…

OLGT 2020-4: TAFDC: DTA Rent Allowance for HomeBASE Program Recipients

DTA
The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)’s Home BASE program no longer provides rental assistance. TAFDC families receiving HomeBASE assistance may be eligible for the rental allowance.

OLGT 2020-13: Cross Programs: Update to MBTA Youth Pass Program Cities and Towns

DTA
The MBTA Youth Pass Program provides affordable access to public transportation for low-income youth and young adults.  This includes many DTA clients.

OLGT 2020-21: SNAP: ABAWD Clock Page

DTA
To make it easier for case managers to track compliance with the ABAWD Work Rules (WR), BEACON now includes the ABAWD Clock page.  This page replaces the ABAWD Clock History page.  The ABAWD Clock page simplifies the process of researching a client’s WR compliance history and…

OLGT 2020-17: EAEDC & TAFDC: Telephone Applications

DTA
The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) recognizes that it is not always feasible for TAFDC and EAEDC applicants to get to a local DTA office to complete a face-to-face interview. To ensure everyone has equal access to critical benefits, DTA is formalizing a process to allow TAFDC and EAEDC…

OLGT 2020-18: Cross Programs: Implementation of BEACON5

DTA
The Department is continuing efforts to modernize technology so that staff can determine eligibility more efficiently and improve the customer experience overall.  With this in mind, the Department’s eligibility case management system, BEACON 3, will soon be re-platformed and replaced by…

OLGT 2020-11: SNAP: SNAP Application Interview and Cold Call Procedural Update

DTA
In an effort to maintain Departmental timeliness, the Online Guide has been updated to remind staff that SNAP application interviews scheduled after an unsuccessful manual cold call must be scheduled four days from the generation date of the appointment letter and prior to day 7 of the application…

OLGT 2020-7: SNAP: SNAP Waived Recertification Interview Procedural Clarification

DTA
SNAP recertification interviews may be waived for households where all adult members are elderly and/or disabled and there is no earned income. Households with minor children are also eligible for this waiver provided the previous conditions are met.    Staff are reminded that a…

OLGT 2020-12: TAFDC and SNAP: The 2020 Federal Poverty Guidelines

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

PS 01-6 Withdrawal of the DMA disability application

DES
Revised Februrary 5, 2020. Revised March 16, 2016. 

Information about federal debt collections: child support, tax withholdings and offsets, administrative wage garnishment

Debt Management Service, Bureau of the Fiscal Service

OLGT 2020-6: SNAP: ABAWD Work Rules Waived Areas

DTA
Certain clients are exempt from the Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) Work Rules because they reside in waived areas.    Between January 1, 2020 and March 31, 2020, there will be additional waived areas.    As always, when speaking with a client, it is always a…

OLGT 2020-1: SNAP: Clarification on Verifying Dependent Care Transportation Costs

DTA
In response to feedback received from staff, two new examples have been added to the Online Guide Dependent Care Expense - Examples page.     The first example clarifies that a written self-declaration is sufficient for verifying dependent-care-related transportation costs that are…

OLGT 2020-8: Cross Programs: 2020 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 1.6%.  This COLA can affect TAFDC, EAEDC and SNAP benefits.  The Online Guide changes advise staff…

PS 04-01: Inadvertent Disclosure of Protected Health Info

DES
For the purposes of this policy the Disability Evaluation Services (hereinafter referred to as DES) workforce shall include all DES employees as well as certain other personnel, such as contractors, consultants, interns, and volunteers, who perform services for DES, either on the premises of DES, or…

2021-6: Cross Program: Client Emails for Engagement and Employment Services

DTA
In response to the COVID-19 public health crisis, the Department continues to modify procedures to ensure the health and safety of staff and clients, while focusing on accessibility. Some modified procedures have included changes in how clients and staff interact with one another. To expand…

2021-5: SNAP: Update Regarding Online Purchasing Program

DTA
  In response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) allowed states to submit plans to participate in an online purchasing pilot program. This option promotes equity and safety for Massachusetts residents receiving SNAP benefits, as it…

PS 20-10: DES Contractor Consultative Examination (CE) Requirements for Behavioral Health Services Through Use of Telehealth (Massachusetts)

DES
Recognizing that the use of telehealth techniques can increase access to behavioral health evaluation services and expedite  the disability determination process, DES engages qualified behavioral health professionals to provide consultative examination services in that manner. 

Earned Income Tax Credit Questions and Answers from the IRS

IRS

PS 20-01: DES Contractor Consultative Examination (CE) Requirements for Behavioral Health Services Through Use of Telehealth (Massachusetts)

DES
Purpose:  Recognizing that the use of telehealth techniques can increase access to behavioral health evaluation services and expedite  the disability determination process, DES engages qualified behavioral health professionals to provide consultative examination services in that…

OLGT 2020-05: Cross Program: Entering Employment Information

DTA
The Department is committed to ensuring that accurate earned income information is recorded in a client’s Electronic Case Folder (ECF) and used in the determination of benefits. This information includes the: • type of earned income • source (generally the employer’s…

2020 - DTA "Transitions" Newsletters

DTA
DTA Transitions from 2020 are posted here.

Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children Consolidated Report

DTA

OLGT 2019-93: SNAP: Updates to the What is SNAP page in the Online Guide

DTA
The What is SNAP page in the Online Guide has been updated with corrections to the income and asset limits.  The How to Get SNAP Benefits brochure was also updated.

OLGT 2019-91: SNAP: Change in Student Eligibility Criteria

DTA
In the past, clients could satisfy the SNAP student eligibility criteria if they were placed in an institution of higher learning through a program under the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA).  However, JPTA has been repealed by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act…

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participation Rate Report

DTA

Report on Economic Independence Accounts

DTA

OLGT 2019-87: SNAP: Bay State CAP Phase I Clarifications and High Shelter CAP Update

DTA
If the Bay State Client Options form or self-declaration to opt-out is incorrectly coded as Verification and is sent as an action through the general FAW pool, you must re-index the document as Bay State CAP Client Options Form and disposition it as Pending Agency Review. This will redirect the…

OLGT 2019-88: TAFDC – Good Cause for Disability Exemptions

DTA
Clients may request good cause when they are unable to meet certain Department requirements.  TAFDC clients who are claiming a disability and have already used their presumptive disability period may be granted good cause and prevent being sanctioned for not meeting work program requirements by…

OLGT 2019-81: TAFDC: DTA Works

DTA
DTA is dedicated to equipping families with the skills needed to become economically independent. Access to employment opportunities is critical in achieving this goal. The DTA Works program can assist clients by offering employment experience through a short-term, paid internship at a local DTA…

Annual Department of Transitional Assistance Organizational Report

DTA

OLGT 2019-83: SNAP: SNAP Attributed Amount (Riverside Rule) Update

DTA
SNAP regulations prohibit an increase in SNAP benefits when a household’s benefits under another federal or state means-tested program as defined in 106 CMR 360.030(G) have been decreased or suspended (but not terminated) due to fraud or a failure to comply with a requirement of an Economic…

OLGT 2019-82: Cross Programs: Domestic Violence and Restraining Orders

DTA
Restraining Orders, also known as 209A Protective Orders, can be an important tool to protect victims of domestic violence from their abusers.  DTA is providing staff with basic information about restraining orders.  All clients asking about restraining orders must be referred to a DV…