Household composition, living arrangement, temporary absence (TAFDC)

An Advocate's Guide to the Massachusetts Welfare Rules for Families By Deborah Harris and Betsy Gwin, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, January 2024 Edition As described by MCLE: Using a simple question-and-answer format, this handbook guides advocates through the maze of TAFDC rules and…

From the Hotline If you have any questions on this column or other policy and procedural material, please have your Hotline designee call the Policy Hotline at 617-348-8478. Q. 1. A woman and her same-sex spouse applied for SNAP benefits. The woman recently requested that we add her newborn to…

Q. Our TAO has received an application on behalf of a TAFDC household consisting of two family cap daughters, and an 18-year-old son. Are there any dependent children in this home? A. Yes, there are three dependents in this household. The 18-year-old remains eligible as long as he: •…

If you have any questions on this column or other policy and procedural material, please have your Hotline designee call the Policy Hotline at 617-348-8478. Q. My TAFDC applicant says he is receiving payments from the Montgomery GI Bill Program. This Program provides veterans with up to 36…

 It is important to follow up on any DSS Match that alerts the Department to the placement of a dependent child. Case managers must check with the client to be sure that any other child continuing to receive assistance is still living in the home. While not eligible for SNAP, children absent…

TAFDC and Food Stamp benefits for eligible adult with child who is ineligible alien; TAFDc caretaker exemption not dependent on relationship; EAEDC-- doctor signing Medical Report does not have to be Mass Health provider.

If the only dependent child is ineligible for TAFDC, the parent is still eligible as an assitance unit of one if otherwise eligible for benefits. In a two parent family, both parents are eligible as an assistance unit of two if otherwise eligible.

TAFDC: Caring for a disabled family member exemption redetermination and conseqences; TAFDC and Food Stamps when only child in household is ineligible immigrant; Food Stamps: gift cards not countable.

Temporary absence of child and TAFDC eligibility: what kinds of absences affect eligibility; boarding school and eligibility; verifying temporary absence.

Cousins and relationship requirement for TAFDC; Supported Work wages as countable income.

Household composition and income treatment issues for stepparent with stepchild on TAFDC; exemptions in two-parent families.

Learnfare; teen parent AU composition for TAFDC and FS.

TAFDC for 18 year-old who has finished high school but not passed MCAS; counting income of working teen dependents for TAFDC and FS purposes.

Step-grandparent and TAFDC relationship requirement; proper way to close FS case for recipient moving out of state; reporting requirements for FS applicants with pending UI claims.

EA: Intervening housing since eviction from subsidized apartment for nonpayment; TAFDC: step-grandparents not eligible based on relationship requirement.

Teen parents with a Certificate of Completion of coursework from high school are considered to have a diploma for TAFDC teen parent eligibility purposes even if they did not pass the MCAS and get a degree. Teen parents in this situation who are taking the MCAS retain teen parent exemptions until…

TAFDC: grandmother does not need guardianship to establish relationship even if not on the grant; TAFDC and FS: severance pay is nonrecurring lump sum payment; TAFDC: recipients in domestic violence shelters are eligible for relocation benefits.

TAFDC: temporary absence of child placed in foster care; EA: lump sum received prior to application; FS: eligibility of individual wearing prison bracelet.

Replacement EBT cards at reapplication; TAFDC: household composition including 2 parents, one common child, one child from previous relationship, and earnings; TAFDC: income of step-parent where natural parents are not in the home is not counted if she opts out of assitance unit.

TAFDC: affect of teen parent school requirement sanction on teen parent's child's TAFDC and teen parent's mother's TAFDC, effect of DSS custody of teen parent on her eligibility for TAFDC and TLP; FS: length of time sanctioned TAFDC amount counts as income, combination SFS/FS issue re: shelter…

TAFDC: exclusion of teen parent's baby from assistance unit of teen parent's mother (so the baby can keep child support); FS: mortgage payments beyond what is required are not deductible; TAFDC: recipient living in development with federal subsidy entitle to rent allowance if no Section 8 or…

TAFDC: teen parent can keep her baby out of teen parent's mother's assistance unit in order to keep child support payments; no penalty warning notice necessary before child support noncooperation sanctions; step-parent who opts out of grant does not have income included (can opt out where…

TAFDC: Step-parent's income not counted where neither natural parent is present and step-parent opts out of assistance unit; FS: application for reinstatement of FS taken off EBT card for not being used; EBT cards can be used to make purchases in stores with NYCE logo.

AFDC and EAEDC: certain types of payment refunds not considered countable income; AFDC: changing child from one grant to another in timely fashion; FS: voluntary quit provision applies only to head of household; procedures for issuing expedited FS.

EAEDC: application is also application for Medicaid; AFDC: explanation of first cousin once removed; AFDC and EAEDC: treatment of tax refunds and EIC; AFDC: If applicant received final paycheck before application and is not working, do not count past paychecks even if received within last 4 weeks;…