Income Maximization -- BBT Training

Materials from the May 02, 2024 Income Maximization training gathered by Legal Services Center, GBLS, MLRI, presented as part of the MLRI/MCLE Basic Benefits Training series.

Handouts

• Maximizing Income & Reducing Expenses BBT Training (pdf of slides)
• Income Maximation BBT Training Agenda (pdf)
• About the Faculty (pdf)
• Advocating for Working Poor Families Scenarios Handout (pdf)
• Immigrant Eligibility for DTA and SNAP Handout (pdf)
• Income Maximization Resource Checklist (pdf)
• 2024 Income Maximization Resource List (pdf)
• Clean Slate Fact Sheet (pdf)
• TAFDC Child Care Fact Sheet (pdf)

Additional Materials

TAFDC

• Income Eligibility Charts and Information (link)
• DTA Ombudsman's Office and Local Office Contacts (link)
• List of DTA Client Assistance Coordinators (link)
• TAFDC Transportation Benefits - DTA Operations Bulletin 2016-08 (link)
• Transitional Support Services - DTA OLGT 2016-56 (link)
• Work Related Expense and Earned Income Deduction OLGT 2016-57 (link)

Child Care Benefits

• Financial Assistance for Families (link)
• Child Care Resources and Referral Agencies (link)
• Desk Guide to Non-citizen Eligibility for Child Care Financial Assistance (link to pdf)

Child Support

• Section on Mass Legal Services

Transportation

• MassHealth Transportation Services (link), How to Complete and Submit the PT-1 Form for Transportation Online  (link) and PT-1 Form (link)
• Help with buying a car
  • Good News Garage/MRC car program, and 1-800-Charity-Cars (link)
• Accessibility on the MBTA
• TAFDC Advocacy Guide: Question 97: Can you get money for transportation? (link)
• Youth Pass Eligibility Criteria 2021-2022
• Bluebikes EBT and Other Discounts

Health Care

• Understanding the Affordable Care Act:
  • How MassHealth will count income - MAGI (link)
  • Eligibility of Non-citizens for Mass Health and Other Subsidized Health Benefits (link)
• Application for health and dental coverage and help paying costs (link)
• MassHealth Permission to Share Information Form (PSI) (link)
• Application for Waiver or Reduction of MassHealth premium (link)
• Tips for meeting a MassHealth deductible (link)
• MassHealth and Other Health Programs Upper Income Levels Chart (pdf)

Education and Training

• UI Training Opportunities Program:  Overview (link) Requirements (link) Application Information (link)
• Resources about Pell Grants and other Financial Aid for UI Claimants (link)
• Workforce Investment Act Policy Memorandum: Individual Training Accounts (ITA) (pdf)

SNAP/FoodStamps

• Basic SNAP Rights (link)
• DTA SNAP and Cash Benefits during COVID-19
• Food Benefits and Immigrants: Eligibility (link)
• How to Increase SNAP benefits through child care and medical deductions:
  • Child and Dependent Care Deduction and Medical expense deduction (links)
• SNAP benefits charts: Working families with children; UI recipients; and Two Person Elder/Disabled Households with Unearned Income (link)
• College students access to SNAP benefits (link)
• SNAP photo IDs for EBT cards (link)
• Online SNAP calculators (link)
• SNAP Advocacy Guide (link)
• ABAWD Info (link)

Women, Infant and Children (WIC) Benefits

• WIC program overview on Mass.gov (link)
• WIC approved food guide (link)
• The WIC Card (link)
• Income Guidelines (link)
• How to Apply (link)
• Can men participate in WIC? (link)

Unemployment Insurance (UI)

• Unemployment Advocacy Guide
• Department of Unemployment Assistance
• Department of Unemployment Assistance on CARES Act
• Attorney General’s Office FAQ on COVID and Employment Issues

Utilities

• 2023 LIHEAP eligibility and benefit chart
• DHCD Cold Relief Information (link)
• Fuel Assistance benefits - who is eligible and how to apply (link)
• Utility Discounts (link) and Shutoff Protection (link)
• Lifeline- free phone and minutes and problems to look out for (link)
• Utilities Advocacy Guide (link)
• Affordable Connectivity Program

Tax Credits

• IRS EITC income limits and max credit amounts (link)
• Outreach for Tax Credits (link)
• EIC and Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (link)
• Education Tax Credits for College and Job Training (link)
• Economic Stimulus Payment/Recovery Rebate Credit

Homelessness Prevention Programs

• Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT)
• Emergency Assistance Advocacy Guide (link)
• Find regional administering agency by city or town
• Family Resource Centers (for METAR) 
• CHAPA Housing Toolbox with List of Municipal Rental Assistance by City/Town 

Bankruptcy

• National Consumer Law Center Resources for Consumers (link)

Student Loan Debt

• Income-Driven Repayment Plan Q&A (link)
• Income Based Repayment, Pay as you earn, and Public Service Loan Forgiveness programs (link)
• Discharge application for total and permanent disability (link)
• Discharge applicant Representative Designation (link)
• NCLC's Student Load Borrower Assistance Project (link)

CORI/Criminal Record Sealing

• MassLegalServices CORI section
• Coming Home Directory
• Legal Services Center CORI Initiative 

Immigrants/Public Charge

• MassLegalServices Information on Public Charge

Veterans' Services

• MassLegalServices Veterans section
• Chapter 115 Benefits/Safety Net Program  and COVID procedures
• SNAP for Veterans 
• Mass Vet Benefit Calculator 
• DAV Massachusetts