86. Can you get Transitional cash benefits after you leave TAFDC?
If your TAFDC case closes because your countable earned income is more than the TAFDC grant, you are eligible for Transitional Support Services (TSS) cash payments.
- TSS stipends begin when a case has been closed for 30 days because of countable earned income. The stipends are paid according to the following schedule:
| Work Expense Stipend | Transportation Stipend | |
|
Month 1 (30 days after TAFDC closing) |
$200 | $80 |
| Month 2 | $150 | $60 |
| Month 3 | $100 | $40 |
| Month 4 | $50 | $20 |
- TSS payments are not paid if the TAFDC case reopens.
- DTA issues TSS stipends once a month based on the last digit of your Social Security Number.
- DTA deposits TSS stipends into your EBT account or your bank account.
- You do not have to apply for TSS. The payments are automatic if DTA says you qualify. Appendix E (DTA Online Guide)
Advocacy Reminders
- If your countable earned income is more than the TAFDC grant and you want to close your case, be sure to tell your DTA worker before you close your case, so you don’t miss out on TSS. TSS payments do not count for SNAP. DTA Online Guide Transmittal 2016-69 (Dec. 9, 2016). Because the payments are temporary, there is a good argument that they should not count for other benefit programs.
- In most cases when your TAFDC closes, DTA should recalculate your SNAP without the TAFDC grant and also without any new income in the month of the closing. You will then get a higher SNAP benefit for 5 months and will not have to report any changes to DTA during those 5 months. DTA calls this TBA, which stands for Transitional Benefits Alternative. See DTA Online Guide (TBA Overview). DTA may fail to issue you the higher TBA SNAP benefit. Email info@masslegalservices.org for help.
- DTA has an unwritten policy of not paying TSS when the grantee is an ineligible noncitizen. Email info@masslegalservices.org for help.