OLGT 2021-66: COVID-19: TAFDC - Pandemic Emergency Assistance Payments

As part of The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Pandemic Emergency Assistance fund was established. Massachusetts is using this money to issue a one-time payment of $683.02 to children and pregnant individuals who received a TAFDC payment in the month of July 2021. This includes cases that are now closed with limited exceptions such as cases that closed due to death.

TAFDC families do not have to do anything to receive this payment. It will be issued to each family via the same benefit issuance mechanism their monthly TAFDC benefits are issued. Pandemic Emergency Assistance funds are not considered countable income or assets for SNAP, TAFDC, and or EAEDC.The Pandemic Emergency Assistance Payment is a one-time payment issued to specific household members. Case managers must not issue a supplement.