reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 704.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Program: Financial Eligibility › Section 704.100 - Assets

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
Assets are objects of value, other than income as defined in
				106
				CMR 704.200, such as personal property, real
				estate, vehicles, the cash surrender value of life insurance, cash, bank
				deposits, and negotiable securities. Countable assets are all assets that are
				used for eligibility determination. Noncountable assets are all assets that are
				exempt from use for eligibility determination. All assets are considered
				countable unless inaccessible as provided in
				106
				CMR 704.125 or noncountable as provided in
				106
				CMR 704.140.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 704.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Program: Financial Eligibility › Section 704.110 - Asset Limitations

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
In order for an EAEDC individual in living arrangement E, as
				set forth in
				106
				CMR 704.435(A)(6), to be
				eligible, the combined countable assets of the filing unit may not exceed
				$2000.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 704.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Program: Financial Eligibility › Section 704.120 - Countable Assets

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
Assets used to determine financial eligibility are:
(A)
Cash
.
(1)
Definition
. Cash
			 includes currency, checks, or bank drafts, in the possession of, or available
			 to, the filing unit.
(2)
Verification
. The amount of cash is verified at
			 application, eligibility reviews and when a change is reported. The applicant's
			 or client's declaration of the amount of cash available to the filing unit is
			 sufficient verification unless contradictory information is received by the
			 Department.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 704.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Program: Financial Eligibility › Section 704.125 - Inaccessible Assets

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
(A)
Requirements
. An inaccessible asset is one that is not
			 available to the individual and is not counted when determining eligibility for
			 Transitional Cash Assistance. Inaccessible assets include, but are not limited
			 to:
(1) Property that is the subject of legal
			 proceedings and irrevocable trust funds; and
(2) Any funds in a trust, and the income
			 produced by that trust, to the extent it is not available to the assistance
			 unit, if all of the following conditions are met:
(a) No assistance unit member has the power
			 to revoke the trust or change the name of the beneficiary;
(b) The trustee administering the trust is:
1. a court or an institution, corporation, or
			 organization that is not owned or operated by any assistance unit
			 member;
2. an individual appointed
			 by the court who has court imposed limitations placed on his or her use of the
			 funds; or
3. an individual whose
			 responsibilities are governed by the terms of the irrevocable trust and who is
			 not under the direction or control of any assistance unit members;
			 and
(c) Trust investments
			 made on behalf of the trust do not directly involve or assist any business or
			 corporation owned or operated by an assistance unit member.
Except as provided in 106 CMR 704.120(B)(3)(a), all assets to
				which the applicant or client is legally entitled are considered accessible to
				the applicant or client:
(3) from the date of application or
			 ownership, whichever is later, if the applicant or client does not meet the
			 conditions provided in 106 CMR 704.125(A)(2); or
(4) from the period beginning six months
			 after the date of application or ownership, whichever is later, if the
			 applicant or client is incapable of competently representing his or her own
			 interests, has no guardian or conservator capable of representing his or her
			 interests, and the representative of such applicant or client is making a good
			 faith effort to secure the appointment of a competent guardian or
			 conservator.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 704.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Program: Financial Eligibility › Section 704.130 - Joint Ownership of Assets

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
(A)
Definition
. Any asset owned by two or more persons,
			 other than a joint bank account is considered owned in equal parts unless a
			 different ownership share is verified. If joint ownership exists, only that
			 portion owned by persons included in the filing unit is countable.
(B)
Verification
.
			 Documents that verify other than equal ownership include, but are not limited
			 to, titles, purchase contracts, or other certificates of ownership.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 704.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Program: Financial Eligibility › Section 704.140 - Noncountable Assets

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
The following are not countable assets for Transitional Cash
				Assistance purposes. They do not effect eligibility.
(A) Highway Relocation assistance payments,
			 Urban Renewal Assistance payments, disaster relief payments used for
			 relocation, and payments from private agencies used for relocation;
(B) The filing unit's principal place of
			 residence and the undivided land on which it rests;
(C) For TAFDC, the value of one vehicle owned
			 by the filing unit as provided in
			 106 CMR
			 704.120(G);
For EAEDC, the first $1500 of the equity value of one vehicle
				as provided in
				106 CMR
				704.120(G);
(D) Household belongings such as
			 furniture, appliances, household decorations, linens and cookware, personal
			 belongings, such as jewelry, books and toys, even if of more than usual
			 value;
(E) Property to which the
			 filing unit has no ready access, such as property the ownership of which is the
			 subject of legal proceedings (
e.g
., wills being probated,
			 divorce suits,
etc
.), and irrevocable trust funds placed in
			 trust 12 months or longer before application for Transitional Cash
			 Assistance;
(F) Home produce grown
			 or preserved by the filing unit for its own consumption;
(G) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
			 (SNAP) benefits;
(H) A loan
			 verified by a written document, signed by the borrower and the lender, that
			 states the borrower's intent to repay and the conditions of repayment, the
			 terms of which specify the purpose of the loan and which cannot be used to meet
			 current living costs;
(I) A grant
			 or scholarship to a student, which cannot be used to meet current living
			 costs;
(J) A grant or loan to an
			 undergraduate student for educational purposes made or insured under any
			 program administered by the U.S. Secretary of Education;
(K) Student financial assistance provided
			 under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 or under the Bureau of
			 Indian Affairs Education Assistance programs, or student financial aid for
			 costs, such as, but not limited to, tuition, fees, equipment or books, under
			 programs developed pursuant to the Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology
			 Education Act;
(L) Assets of any
			 member of the household:
(1) who receives
			 Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments;
(2) in a TAFDC household, for whom state
			 and/or federal foster-care maintenance payments are made, including the child
			 of the foster child when the foster-care maintenance payment includes the
			 child; or
(3) in a TAFDC household,
			 for whom state and/or federal adoption assistance is provided except when the
			 person is included as a member of the assistance unit in accordance with
			 106 CMR
			 704.305(A)(3);
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 704.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Program: Financial Eligibility › Section 704.200 - Income

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
Income is considered either countable or non-countable when
				determining financial eligibility and the grant amount in each cyclical month.
				Income paid in other than monthly amounts must be converted to monthly
				amounts.
For TAFDC, this calculation is done for income received by the
				filing unit.
The most current monthly income information is used as the
				basis for the Transitional Cash Assistance grant calculation, unless subsequent
				information is received indicating a change in income or eligibility. If
				verified income information indicates an underpayment, a grant adjustment must
				be made.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 704.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Program: Financial Eligibility › Section 704.210 - Types of Countable Income

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
The types of countable income generally are as follows:
(A)
Earned Income
.
			 Earned income is income, in cash or in kind, earned through employment or
			 self-employment. Earned income may be received as wages, salary, tips,
			 commissions, or in kind. For employees, earned income is the total gross amount
			 received.
With respect to self-employment, earned income is the total
				gross income less total business expenses.
See
106
				CMR 704.210(E) and (F) for
				an explanation of income from real estate, roomers and boarders, and business
				expenses;
(B)
Unearned Income
. Unearned income is all income that a
			 person does not earn through employment. Unearned income includes, but is not
			 limited to:
(1) Dividends;
(2) Interest;
(3) Unemployment Compensation
			 payments;
(4) Pensions;
(5) Social Security (RSDI)
			 benefits;
(6) Veterans' benefits,
			 except as provided in
			 106
			 CMR 702.720:
Veterans' Services
			 Benefits
for EAEDC;
(7)
			 Contributions, except as provided in
			 106
			 CMR 704.120 and
			 704.250; and
(8) Certain income from real estate as
			 provided in
			 106
			 CMR 704.210(E);
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 704.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Program: Financial Eligibility › Section 704.220 - Rules for Counting Income

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
Generally, all income of a member of the filing unit is
				considered in determining need and assistance payments for the entire
				assisstance unit.
(A) Income from an
			 absent parent that is received directly by the applicant or client, or paid
			 directly to the Department except for the first $50 received in any month, is
			 countable for eligibility calculation but not for grant amount calculation as
			 provided in
			 106
			 CMR 704.230. Income from a person who has a
			 legal obligation to support an EAEDC applicant or client is counted in
			 accordance with
			 106
			 CMR 704.335;
(B) A payment that represents accumulated
			 recurring income, such as a retroactive Social Security check, is countable as
			 monthly income in accordance with
			 106
			 CMR 704.240 for TAFDC and
			 106
			 CMR 704.245 for EAEDC;
(C) Any earned income disregards in
			 accordance with
			 106
			 CMR 704.280,
			 106
			 CMR 704.281 and
			 106
			 CMR 704.286; and
(D) Any noncountable income in accordance
			 with 106 CMR 704.250.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 704.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Program: Financial Eligibility › Section 704.230 - Income from a TAFDC Absent Parent

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
(A) Income from an
			 absent parent for a child included in the TAFDC assistance unit:
(1) will continue to be paid to the applicant
			 until the child receives TAFDC benefits; and
(2) must be paid directly to the Department
			 of Revenue (DOR) when the child begins receiving TAFDC benefits.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 704.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Program: Financial Eligibility › Section 704.235 - Income Deemed to the TAFDC Filing Unit

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
(A)
Income Available to the Filing Unit
. Earned and
			 unearned monthly income of a person living in the same household as the
			 dependent child, that exceeds the sum of the following, is deemed to be
			 available as unearned income to the filing unit on a monthly basis:
(1) An amount equal to the person's monthly
			 work-related-expense deduction that would be applied to the person's monthly
			 earned income in accordance with
			 106
			 CMR 704.270;
(2) An amount equal to the Need Standard for
			 a family composed of: the person and those individuals living in the same
			 household who are or could be claimed as dependents for federal tax purposes,
			 and who are not required to be included in the TAFDC filing unit;
(3) The monthly amounts actually paid by the
			 person to individuals not living in the same household, if the person claimed,
			 or could have claimed such individuals as dependents for federal tax purposes;
			 and
(4) Actual monthly payments by
			 the person of alimony or child support, to individuals not living in the same
			 household, when these payments do not duplicate those payments in
			 106
			 CMR 704.235(A)(3).
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 704.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Program: Financial Eligibility › Section 704.236 - Income from the Parent(s) of a Teen Parent Younger than 18 Years Old for TAFDC

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
(A)
Requirements
.
(1) The
			 income from any parent of a teen parent younger than 18 years old living with
			 them is considered available to the teen parent's TAFDC filing unit as follows:
(a) The amount of the gross earned and
			 unearned monthly income of the parents of the teen parent that is over 200% of
			 the federal poverty level for a family composed of the parents and those
			 individuals living in the same household who are, or could be, claimed as
			 dependents of the parents for federal tax purposes, excluding the teen parent
			 and his or her dependent child, is deemed to the teen parent's filing unit on a
			 monthly basis; and
(b) The gross
			 monthly eligibility standards are posted at
www.mass.gov/dta
and can be viewed by selecting
			 the Program Eligibility Charts and Tables link. Paper copies are available upon
			 request.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 704.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Program: Financial Eligibility › Section 704.240 - Lump Sum Income

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
(A)
Definition
.
(1)
			 Income is considered to be lump sum when it is received as a one-time,
			 nonrecurring payment. Exclusions from the lump sum income calculation are
			 provided in
			 106
			 CMR 704.240(B).
(2) Lump sum income may be either earned or
			 unearned income. It does not include contractual salaries.
(3) Lump sum income includes, but is not
			 limited to, the following types of income:
(a)
			 Accumulation of retroactive income such as Railroad Retirement, Federal
			 Veterans' Benefits, Workers' Compensation that represents loss of income,
			 retroactive Social Security payments, Unemployment Compensation, child support,
			 retroactive wages, and compensation for lost wages received under the
			 Compensation to Victims of Violent Crimes Act; and
(b) Other payments in the nature of a
			 windfall, such as lottery winnings, inheritances, settlements and awards that
			 are not totally or partially received as a reimbursement for a specified items
			 and used to pay for them. Whatever portion of the lump sum income that is
			 received as a reimbursement for specified items and used to pay for them is
			 considered noncountable.
(4) Verification of lump sum income is by an
			 appropriate document, such as:
(a) a copy of
			 the benefit or award letter;
(b) a
			 copy of the check or payment document;
(c) a written statement from the agency or
			 person making the payment; and
(d)
			 if applicable, a written statement from the agency, person making the payment,
			 or attorney representing the client, that states what specific items are being
			 reimbursed as part of the lump sum payment and receipts that verify the payment
			 for the specific items.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 704.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Program: Financial Eligibility › Section 704.245 - Retroactive Social Security Benefits for EAEDC

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
A retroactive Social Security benefit is a payment made to a
				client for the period of time from the application date of said benefit to the
				approval date. The retroactive Social Security payment received is considered
				available unearned income to determine the needs of all members of the
				assistance unit until such time as the funds are no longer available to the
				assistance unit.
Retroactive Social Security income is unavailable to the
				assistance unit when the income has been used as an expenditure for the
				assistance unit as provided in
				106
				CMR 704.240(B)(4) or
				704.240(F)(2) and
				(3).
Verification of the retroactive Social Security benefit is
				by:
(A) a copy of the benefit or award
			 letter;
(B) a copy of the check or
			 payment document; or
(C) written
			 statement from the agency or person making the payment.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 704.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Program: Financial Eligibility › Section 704.250 - Noncountable Income

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
106 CMR 704.250 lists income
				that is not counted in either the test of financial eligibility or the grant
				amount calculation. Income that may or may not be countable under certain
				circumstances is treated as provided at
				106
				CMR 704.260. The following types of income
				are never countable:
(A) All income of
			 any member of the household:
(1) who receives
			 Supplemental Security Income (SSI);
(2) who receives State Supplement Program
			 (SSP) benefits;
(3) who receives an
			 SSI emergency advance payment or one-time payment made pending an SSI
			 eligibility determination;
(4) who
			 receives TAFDC and for whom state or federal foster care maintenance payments
			 are being provided, including the child of the foster child when the foster
			 care maintenance payment includes the child; or
(5) who receives TAFDC and for whom state or
			 federal adoption assistance is provided except when the household member is
			 included as a member of the assistance unit;
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 704.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Program: Financial Eligibility › Section 704.260 - TAFDC Income Test of Eligibility

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
(A) Financial
			 eligibility for TAFDC is determined at application, eligibility reviews and
			 when a change in income is reported. Filing units whose total countable income
			 as defined in
			 106
			 CMR 704.210 does not exceed the applicable
			 Need Standard for the exempt or nonexempt assistance unit found at
			 106
			 CMR 704.400 and
			 106
			 CMR 704.405, respectively, are
			 eligible.
(B)
Test of
			 Financial Eligibility
.
(1) The
			 total income of the filing unit, excluding:
(a) the types of noncountable income as
			 provided in
			 106
			 CMR 704.250;
(b) the wages received from the Full
			 Employment Program; and
(c) the
			 disregarded income as provided in
			 106
			 CMR 704.270,
			 106
			 CMR 704.275,
			 106
			 CMR 704.280 and
			 106
			 CMR 704.281 may not exceed the applicable
			 Need Standard in any month.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 704.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Program: Financial Eligibility › Section 704.270 - Work-related-expense Deduction

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
(A)
Requirements
. An employed applicant is entitled to a
			 $200 monthly work-related-expense deduction from gross wages in determining
			 eligibility.
An employed client is entitled to a $200 monthly
				work-related-expense deduction from gross wages in determining the grant
				amount, unless eligible for the 100% Earned Income Disregard pursuant to
				106
				CMR 704.281.
A person who meets the provisions of
				106
				CMR 704.335 for EAEDC or
				106
				CMR 704.210(D) for TAFDC,
				whose income is deemed to the filing unit, is also entitled to a $200 monthly
				deduction from gross wages for a work-related-expense
				deduction.
(B)
Restrictions
.
(1) An
			 applicant or client who meets the provisions of
			 106
			 CMR 704.280(A) or (B) or
			 106
			 CMR 704.286(C) for EAEDC
			 shall not be eligible for the work-related-expense deduction.
(2) An applicant or client who is required to
			 be in the filing unit, but is not included in the assistance unit, shall not be
			 eligible for the work-related-expense deduction.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 704.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Program: Financial Eligibility › Section 704.275 - Dependent Care Deduction

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
(A)
Requirements
. An employed applicant or client may
			 receive a deduction from income equal to the expenditure for the care of a
			 dependent child, as provided in
			 106
			 CMR 701.600:
Definition of
			 Terms
, including an incapacitated individual requiring care.
If the applicant or client is eligible for a 50% TAFDC
				disregard (
see
106
				CMR 704.280 or
				106
				CMR 704.281), the dependent care deduction is
				made after the 50% disregard has been deducted. The dependent child or
				incapacitated individual must be a member of the assistance unit. For an
				applicant or client who is employed full-time, the amount allowed as a
				deduction is the actual cost of dependent care, including the cost of
				transporting dependents to and from dependent care, but shall not exceed $175
				per dependent child, age two or older, or incapacitated individual per month.
				For children under the age of two, the monthly maximum allowable deduction
				shall not exceed $200.
An applicant or client who is employed less than full-time may
				receive a proportionate share of the maximum allowable deduction. The following
				standards are used to determine the maximum deduction, per child, or
				incapacitated individual. In all situations, the amount allowed for dependent
				care is the actual expenditure for dependent care, including the cost of
				transporting dependents to and from dependent care, or the maximum allowable
				deduction, whichever is less.
WEEKLY HOURS
MONTHLY HOURS
MAXIMUM DEDUCTIONS
DEPENDENT CHILD
TWO OR OLDER
YOUNGER THAN TWO
1 - 10
1 - 43
$44
$50
11 - 20
44 - 87
$88
$100
21 - 30
88 - 130
$132
150
31 - above
131 - above
$175
$200
(B)
Restrictions
.
(1) An
			 applicant or client who meets the applicable provisions of
			 106
			 CMR 704.280(A) or (B) or
			 106
			 CMR 704.281(A) or (B) for
			 TAFDC and
			 106
			 CMR 704.285(C) for EAEDC
			 shall not be eligible for the dependent care deduction.
(2) An applicant or client who must be in the
			 filing unit, but is not included in the assistance unit, is not eligible for
			 the dependent care deduction.
(3)
			 The dependent care deduction is not applied to income from a renter, roomer, or
			 boarder.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 704.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Program: Financial Eligibility › Section 704.280 - TAFDC Earned Income Disregard at Application

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
For eligibility determination purposes, an applicant who has
				received TAFDC within the last four calendar months is eligible to have 50% of
				the remaining gross earned income disregarded, after work-related-expenses, but
				before dependent care deductions, unless:
(A) he or she reduced his or her income or
			 terminated his or her employment without good cause before the month the grant
			 amount is calculated or refused a
bona fide
job offer without
			 good cause in the same period.
See
106
			 CMR 701.380:
Good Cause
			 Criteria
for good cause criteria;
(B) he or she failed without good cause to
			 make a timely report of income received. Good cause for failure to do so is
			 limited to demonstrated serious illness on the part of the applicant or client,
			 or a dependent child.
See
106
			 CMR 701.420:
Responsibility for
			 Notification of Changes
for the definition of a timely
			 report;
(C) he or she is employed
			 in the Full Employment Program (FEP); or
(D) he or she is not included in the case but
			 is legally liable to support his or her dependent child.
If one or more of these conditions exists, the disregard does
				not apply in the month in which the condition exists.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 704.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Program: Financial Eligibility › Section 704.281 - TAFDC Earned Income Disregards For Grant Calculation

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
(A)
			 For purposes of the grant calculation, a TAFDC client shall have 100% of his or
			 her earned income disregarded for up to six consecutive months immediately
			 following the start of employment, or if already employed the date on which the
			 recipient began receiving TAFDC, whichever is later, provided the total
			 household countable income does not exceed 200% of the Federal Poverty Limit
			 for the client's household size. The household size is determined under the
			 rules of
			 106
			 CMR 704.305(B) Composition
			 of the Filing Unit.
Except where 704.281(C)(1) applies, if a client stops working
				before receiving the full six months of the 100% disregard, he or she will be
				eligible to receive the balance of the months when employed again and all other
				eligibility conditions are met.
If, after the client received the 100% disregard, a TAFDC case
				is closed for at least 30 days and subsequently reopened, the client will be
				eligible for another six months of the 100% disregard if the client has a
				different employer from the one for whom the earnings were previously
				disregarded. All other eligibility conditions must be met.
(B) After the six month period has ended, a
			 working client shall be eligible for the $200 work-related expense and a 50%
			 earned income disregard.
(C)
			 Clients shall not be eligible for either earned income disregard when the
			 following situations apply:
(1) he or she
			 reduced his or her income or terminated his or her employment without good
			 cause within the 30 days before the month the grant amount is calculated or
			 refused a
bona fide
job offer without good cause in the same
			 period.
See
106
			 CMR 701.380:
Good Cause
			 Criteria
for good cause criteria;
(2) he or she failed without good cause to
			 make a timely report of income received. Good cause for failure to do so is
			 limited to demonstrated serious illness on the part of the applicant or client,
			 or a dependent child as provided in
			 106
			 CMR 701.420;
(3) he or she is employed in FEP;
			 or
(4) he or she is not included in
			 the case but is legally liable to support his or her dependent child.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 704.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Program: Financial Eligibility › Section 704.285 - EAEDC Income Test of Eligibility

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
Financial eligibility is determined at application,
				redeterminations, and when a change in income is reported. For filing units
				whose income does not exceed the applicable Standard of Assistance provided in
				106
				CMR 704.440, a grant calculation is performed
				as provided in
				106
				CMR
				704.500(B).
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 704.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Program: Financial Eligibility › Section 704.286 - EAEDC Earned Income Disregards

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
An applicant or client is eligible for the following disregards
				of the remaining gross earned income disregarded, after work-related-expenses,
				but before dependent-care deductions:
(A) For the first four consecutive calendar
			 months of benefit receipt, the client is eligible for the $30 and a 
			 1/3 disregard. Once
			 the $30 and 
			 1/3 disregard has
			 been used for four consecutive calendar months, the client is ineligible for it
			 as long as he or she continues to receive EAEDC. If the $30 and 
			 1/3 disregard has
			 been used for four consecutive calendar months and the client stops receiving
			 EAEDC, the client shall be ineligible to receive this disregard again until a
			 year has passed without receiving EAEDC.
(B) For the following eight consecutive
			 calendar months of benefit receipt, the client is eligible for the $30
			 disregard.
(C) These disregards do
			 not apply to the earned income of a member of the assistance unit for the month
			 in which:
(1) the applicant or client reduced
			 his or her income or terminated his or her employment without good cause within
			 the 30 days before the month the grant amount is calculated or who refused a
bona fide
job offer without good cause in the same period.
See
106
			 CMR 701.380:
Good Cause
			 Criteria
for acceptable good cause reasons; or
(2) the applicant or client failed without
			 good cause to timely report income received. Good cause for failure to make a
			 timely report shall be limited to demonstrated serious illness on the part of
			 the applicant or client, or a dependent child.
See
106
			 CMR 701.420:
Responsibility for
			 Notification of Changes
for the definition of a timely
			 report.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 704.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Program: Financial Eligibility › Section 704.290 - Verification and Determination of Income

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
(A)
Verification and Determination of Monthly Wages
.
			 Eligibility and grant amount are based on the filing unit's projected income at
			 the time of application or when a change is reported. Projected income must be
			 based on the best estimate of income that actually will be received in the
			 cyclical month in which action will be taken on the application or the change.
Earned income from wages shall be verified at application,
				redeterminations, at any time a member of the filing unit reports he or she has
				started receiving income and when a change in income that is required to be
				reported under
				106
				CMR 701.420:
Responsibility for
				Notification of Changes
has occurred.
Earned income shall be verified by pay stubs, pay envelopes, or
				a written statement signed by an employer. The verification must show the gross
				wages (including tips, if applicable) and the number of hours worked.
(1) If the employee is paid weekly, the
			 average of the four consecutive weeks' pay received before the application date
			 will be multiplied by 4.333 to get an average monthly wage.
(2) If the employee is paid bi-weekly, an
			 average of the last two consecutive pay periods will be multiplied by 2.167 to
			 obtain a monthly figure. If the employee is paid twice a month, the last two
			 consecutive pay periods will be added to obtain a monthly figure.
(3) If the employee is paid monthly, the
			 monthly figure will be used.
(4) If
			 the employee receives a contractual annual salary, the amount to be used is the
			 contractual annual salary divided by 12. Verification of the annual salary
			 shall be a signed copy of the contract or a signed letter stating the annual
			 salary to be received.
(5) Pay
			 stubs and pay envelopes that contain the employer's federal employment
			 identification number, or a written statement signed by an employer showing
			 wages paid and the number of hours worked in the year to date may be used to
			 determine an anticipated monthly wage as long as the number of weeks' pay is
			 shown or can be calculated.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 704.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Program: Financial Eligibility › Section 704.300 - Membership in the Assistance Unit and Filing Unit

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
An assistance unit is made up of those persons whose needs are
				used to determine eligibility and the grant amount, and who are eligible to
				receive benefits under TAFDC or EAEDC. All persons in the assistance unit must
				be included in the filing unit.
A filing unit is made up of those persons whose income is used
				to determine the eligibility and grant amount for the assistance unit,
				regardless of whether they are included in the assistance unit.
A household is the total group of persons who live together.
				The household may include persons who are not in the filing unit. In order for
				the assistance unit to be eligible for TAFDC or EAEDC, the filing unit may not
				have income, including income deemed to it, greater than the allowable limits
				for income defined in
				106
				CMR 704.210.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 704.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Program: Financial Eligibility › Section 704.305 - Composition of the TAFDC Assistance Unit and Filing Unit

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
(A)
Composition of the Assistance Unit
.
(1) Whenever a TAFDC application is made for
			 a dependent child, the following persons must be included in the assistance
			 unit:
(a) the dependent child as defined in
			 106
			 CMR 701.600:
Definition of
			 Terms
;
(b) the parent of
			 the dependent child living in the same household as the dependent child;
			 and
(c) all siblings of the
			 dependent child who are related by blood or adoption and living in the same
			 household as the dependent child and who are themselves dependent children.
			 Stepbrothers and stepsisters are not required to be in the assistance
			 unit.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 704.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Program: Financial Eligibility › Section 704.310 - Composition of the EAEDC Assistance Unit and Filing Unit

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
(A)
Composition of the EAEDC Assistance Unit
.
(1) When an application is made by an elderly
			 person, the assistance unit shall include the elderly person;
(2) When an application is made by a disabled
			 person, the assistance unit shall include the disabled person;
(3) When an application is made by a person
			 participating in MRC, the assistance unit shall include the person
			 participating in MRC;
(4) When an
			 application is made by a person caring for a disabled person, the assistance
			 unit shall include the person caring for the disabled person;
(5) When an application is made by a
			 caretaker for dependent children, the following persons must be included in the
			 assistance unit unless one or more of these persons meets one of the exceptions
			 provided in
			 106
			 CMR 703.700(C):
(a) the dependent child as defined in
			 106
			 CMR 701.600:
Definition of
			 Terms
; and
(b) the
			 siblings and half-siblings of the dependent child.
The caretaker may include or exclude himself or herself only
				from the assistance unit, but the caretaker may not be an assistance unit of
				one when the dependent children and the siblings and half-siblings in the home
				are foster children.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 704.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Program: Financial Eligibility › Section 704.315 - Failure to Cooperate TAFDC

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
(A) If TAFDC
			 financial eligibility cannot be determined because of the failure or refusal of
			 any member of the filing unit to provide verification, the entire assistance
			 unit shall be ineligible.
(B) If
			 any person required to be in the TAFDC filing unit does not meet a nonfinancial
			 eligibility requirement but financial eligibility for the assistance unit can
			 be determined, the assistance unit's eligibility and grant amount is determined
			 by including that person's income but excluding him or her from the assistance
			 unit.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 704.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Program: Financial Eligibility › Section 704.320 - Optional Membership in a TAFDC Assistance Unit

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
A person may only be an eligible member of one assistance unit.
				The following persons may, at their option, be included in an assistance unit,
				if otherwise eligible:
(A) a grantee
			 who is not the parent of the dependent child, provided the grantee is related
			 to the dependent child as provided in
			 106
			 CMR 703.310:
TAFDC
			 Relationship
;
(B) a minor
			 parent, living with his or her dependent child and his or her parents. He or
			 she may either:
(1) have his or her own
			 assistance unit with his or her child; or
(2) be included with his or her child in the
			 assistance unit of the parents.
However, the minor parent must be included in the assistance
				unit of the parents with whom he or she lives if that parent's assistance unit
				includes a dependent child who is a sibling or half sibling of the minor
				parent.
The applicant or client must be informed of the advantages and
				disadvantages of being included in the assistance unit, where an option exists.
				Although being included in the assistance unit confers automatic eligibility
				for MassHealth, the income of any individual who chooses to be included in the
				assistance unit must be considered to determine eligibility and the grant
				amount.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 704.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Program: Financial Eligibility › Section 704.325 - Eligibility of the Spouse of the TAFDC Grantee

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
A grantee's spouse may be included in the assistance unit only
				when he or she is the parent of the dependent child.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 704.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Program: Financial Eligibility › Section 704.330 - Circumstances Governed by Legal Support Obligations for TAFDC

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
(A) Circumstances in
			 which legal support obligations exist include the following circumstances:
(1)
Natural or Adoptive
			 Parents
.
(a) Natural or adoptive
			 parents have a legal obligation to support their minor children.
(b) A natural or adoptive parent living in
			 the same household as the child, must have his or her income used to determine
			 eligibility of the dependent child even if the parent is not eligible to be
			 included in the assistance unit or required to be in the filing unit.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 704.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Program: Financial Eligibility › Section 704.335 - Circumstances Governed by Legal Support Obligations for EAEDC

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
(A)
Spouses
. Spouses have a legal obligation to support
			 their spouses and at the same time have a right to receive support from them.
			 If the applicant's or client's spouse is living in the same household, his or
			 her income must be used to determine the applicant's or client's eligibility.
			 The requirements for the treatment of the spouses's income are provided in
			 106
			 CMR 704.335(B) and
			 (C).
(B)
Income
.
(1) Excluding the types of noncountable
			 income as provided in
			 106
			 CMR 704.250, the income of the applicant's or
			 client's spouse who lives in the same household but who is not an EAEDC or
			 TAFDC applicant or client, shall be deemed to the applicant or client as
			 follows:
(a) If there is only earned income,
			 the amount of income deemed to the assistance unit is:
1. the monthly gross earned income less the
			 work-related-expense deduction as provided in
			 106
			 CMR 704.270; and
2. less an amount equal to the appropriate
			 standard as provided in
			 106
			 CMR 704.440;
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 704.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Program: Financial Eligibility › Section 704.340 - Eligibility Test for an EAEDC Person Caring for a Disabled Person

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
The income of a disabled person being cared for by an EAEDC
				applicant or client as provided in
				106
				CMR 703.620:
TAFDC Residence
must not exceed $1500 monthly.
The rules for counting this income are the same as for an EAEDC
				applicant or client.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 704.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Program: Financial Eligibility › Section 704.410 - TAFDC Table of Need Standards - Assistance Units

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
The figures in the Need Standards columns are posted at
www.mass.gov/dta/TAFDCPayments
.
				Paper copies are available upon request.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 704.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Program: Financial Eligibility › Section 704.420 - TAFDC Table of Payment Standards - Assistance Units

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
The figures in the Payment Standards columns are posted at
www.mass.gov/dta/TAFDCPayments
.
				Paper copies are available upon request.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 704.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Program: Financial Eligibility › Section 704.430 - EAEDC Living Arrangement and Grant Calculation

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
The EAEDC grant for applicants or clients is based on the
				living arrangement of the assistance unit.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 704.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Program: Financial Eligibility › Section 704.435 - EAEDC Living Arrangement

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
(A)
Definition
. In order to be eligible for EAEDC, the
			 living arrangement of EAEDC applicants or clients must be one of the following:
(1)
Living Arrangement
			 A
: an EAEDC individual or EAEDC family who is responsible for a
			 shelter cost, including, but not limited to, rent, mortgage, real estate taxes,
			 insurance, fuel or utility expenses or room or board expenses from a licensed
			 lodging house, and who:
(a) Lives alone;
			 or
(b) Lives with others (including
			 another assistance unit, applying for or receiving TAFDC where there is no
			 legal obligation to support), except as provided in
			 106
			 CMR 704.435(A)(2) or
			 (3);
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 704.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Program: Financial Eligibility › Section 704.440 - EAEDC Table of Standards of Assistance

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
Standards of Assistance Tables are posted at
				www.mass.gov/dta/EAEDCFinancialEligibility. Paper copies are available upon
				request.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 704.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Program: Financial Eligibility › Section 704.510 - Guide for Income-in-kind

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
Generally, income-in-kind is income other than cash provided to
				the assistance unit. It may consist of free rent or mortgage, free heat, free
				utilities, free food and/or free clothing. In regard to housing costs,
				106
				CMR 704.510 applies to a family in temporary
				emergency shelter.
(A)
TAFDC Income-in-kind
. A contribution from a
			 non-legally responsible person(s) that meets the entire cost of one or more of
			 the needs below is considered countable income for calculation of the grant
			 amount only and is deducted using the standard values below.
The following table provides the amounts for specific items in
				the Payment Standard. These amounts are to be used to determine:
(1) The amount authorized for vendor payments
			 to meet the immediate needs of applicants in accordance with
			 106
			 CMR 702.125(F):
Immediate Needs
; and
(2) The value of shelter (rent, mortgage,
			 fuel, utilities) and/or food provided at no cost to an applicant or client.
			 This applies to a family in a temporary emergency shelter.
TABLE OF MONTHLY VALUES FOR
				INCOME-IN-KIND
RENT OR MORTGAGE
Unheated Facility
$102.00 per month 126.30 per month
Heated Facility
FUEL
27.90 per month
UTILITIES
18.60 per month
FOOD (Individual)
41.80 per month
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 705.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Programs (TCAP) related benefits › Section 705.000 - Overview of Related Benefits

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
106 CMR 705.000 describes
				the program-related benefits provided by the Department which applicants or
				clients may be eligible to receive. Some benefits are available to all clients;
				others are intended for special needs or situations. Unless otherwise stated,
				106 CMR 705.000 applies to
				TAFDC and EAEDC applicants and clients. Descriptions of the benefits are found
				under the following headings:
(A)
			 MassHealth,
			 106 CMR
			 705.100;
(B) SNAP,
			 106 CMR
			 705.200;
(D) Social Services,
			 106 CMR
			 705.400;
(E) Food Vouchers for Temporary Visits,
			 106 CMR
			 705.500;
(F) Infant Benefits,
			 106 CMR
			 705.600;
(G) Funeral and Final Disposition Benefits,
			 106 CMR
			 705.700;
(I) Maximum $50.00 Support Payment,
			 106 CMR
			 705.900;
(J) Rent Allowance,
			 106 CMR
			 705.910;
(L) Voter Registration,
			 106 CMR
			 705.950.
Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 106 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE › Title 106 CMR 705.000 - Transitional Cash Assistance Programs (TCAP) related benefits › Section 705.100 - MassHealth

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
MassHealth provides medical services for individuals who meet
				specific income and other eligibility requirements. Current TAFDC and EAEDC
				clients are eligible for MassHealth without filing a separate
				application.
The following are eligible to receive MassHealth
				benefits:
(A)
Extended
			 MassHealth Eligibility Subsequent to Termination of TAFDC or
			 EAEDC
. Members of a TAFDC or EAEDC assistance unit whose TAFDC or
			 EAEDC assistance has been terminated shall receive MassHealth until a
			 determination of ineligibility is made by MassHealth.
(B)
Extension of MassHealth after
			 the TAFDC Termination for Employment Reasons
(1) Members of a TAFDC assistance unit who
			 are ineligible for TAFDC remain eligible for MassHealth for the
			 12-calendar-month period beginning with the month in which the family becomes
			 ineligible for TAFDC provided that the unit:
(a) continues to include a child who meets
			 the age requirements provided in 106 CMR 703.220:
TAFDC Dependent
			 Child: Younger than 18 Years Old
and 703.230:
TAFDC Dependent
			 Child: 18 years of Age
) of a dependent child getting TAFDC;
(b) became ineligible for TAFDC because of an
			 income increase from the grantee's work; and
(c) has a member who continues to
			 work.