OLGT 2024-63: Cross Programs: Summer EBT Updates – Scanned Documents, Hearings, Application History and Expungements

Changes were made to Scanned Document Types in BEACON to allow the Department to identify Summer EBT-specific documents submitted by DTA and Non-DTA clients. Two new Scanned Document Types have been created to identify Summer EBT documents. The new document types are S-EBT Hearings and Appeals and S-EBT Documents.

S-EBT Hearings and Appeals documents will be routed to the Division of Hearings (DOH) to initiate an Appeal. Enhancements have been made to the BEACON Appeal Notifications and Views to allow DOH staff to schedule
and implement decisions for Summer EBT Appeals for DTA and Non-DTA clients. For clients that request an in-office hearing, the Department will be represented by the Appeals Liaison for the TAO in which the hearing is taking place. For virtual hearings, the Department will be represented by select staff from Central Office.

Clients whose applications are initially denied may be subsequently approved for benefits after their appeal decision or if they opted to provide missing verification(s) prior to the appeal. The Summer EBT Application History page has been added in BEACON to allow UMass staff and DTA staff to approve previously denied Summer EBT applications.

Any unused Summer EBT benefits will be expunged 122 after the benefits were issued. The Department has started notifying clients who have a balance on their EBT or Summer EBT cards through the mailing of the Summer EBT Benefit Expungement Warning Notice. The Department also sends texts and emails to warn clients about unused balances. Clients must use their Summer EBT benefits within 122 days of issuance to avoid expungement.