DTA chart listing the immigration statuses and verifications required for EAEDC, TAFDC and Food Stamp benefits.

The Work Requirements window did not allow AU Managers to enter Work Program Required = Yes for Noncitizen Assessed Persons (AP) who are nonexempt and have a legal obligation to support their dependents and are ineligible for TAFDC for themselves because of their INS status.

The Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) Program Office, within the Department of Homeland Security, is responsible for administering the SAVE Program. The SAVE Program is used to verify a noncitizen’s immigration status by using the noncitizen’s alien registration number (“A” number). The noncitizen verification is provided primarily through the Verification Information System (VIS).

This is very comprehensive guidance designed to advise DTA workers on how to handle applications from battered non-citizens and their children. DTA drafted this guidance with the extensive input from MLRI and Greater Boston Legal Services. Also attached is an MLRI summary of important points regarding battered noncitizen eligibility.

There are three types of “Alternative” SSN identifiers used by the Department to identify recipients who cannot be identified with valid SSNs. The first two numbers of these “Alternative” SSNs are always “99.”

Due to recent federal legislation, Iraqi and Afghan noncitizens who have been granted special immigrant status are eligible for certain public assistance programs, including TAFDC and Food Stamps, for a limited time period. Afghan noncitizens with special immigrant status and their family members are eligible for benefits for up to six months. Iraqi noncitizens with special immigrant status and their family members are eligible for benefits for up to eight months. Once the six- or eight-month period ends, these individuals and their families are subject to the five-year bar on receipt of public assistance unless they qualify for benefits under another qualified noncitizen status.

In order to receive benefits, these noncitizens must meet all other eligibility requirements. 

An FYI to DTA staff on expired immigration documents, explaining that an expired document does NOT mean expired immigration status!!

Immigrants do NOT have to self-petition under VAWA to be eligible for benefits as a battered noncitizen. If the person immigrated through a spouse or parent and are battered, they are eligible. The FYI explains how to figure out if an immigrant has any of the qualifying immigration statuses.

Relocation benefits: eligibility by type of shelter, eligibility by type of housing being moved into, and what the benefits can be used to pay for; TAFDC and Food Stamp eligibility when the adult is an eligible alien but the child is an ineligible alien.

TAFDC: Department-approved education and training and the work requirement;  ineligible grantee noncitizens and the work requirement.

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.

FS and TAFDC eligibility for LPR children and adults in country less than 5 years; when verification of citizenship is and is not required.

Correction to Q and A on funeral benefits from April 2006; citizenship status of children of naturalized citizens; calculating 5 year period of ineligibility for certain qualified noncitizens.

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.

Child care during breaks in activity and for noncitizens.

Battered noncitizens: verifying status for TAFDC and Food Stamps; eligibility for Food Stamps.

Food Stamps: health insurance premium as excess medical expense deduction when premium is paid by spouse and/or is for more than one person; TAFDC: "window immigrant" status for purposes of exception to sponsor deeming requirement

Orientation incentive payments for parents not on TAFDC grant, including due to immigration status; every parent eligible for orientation incentive payment, including each parent in two parent family and teen parents who are dependents on their parents' grants;

TAFDC and FS: Noncitizen deeming-- multiple issues.

Student financial aid verification forms; FS anf TAFDC: Aliens with DV code admitted through diversity lottery; FS: excess income of institutionalized child; FS: residents of battered women's shelters eligible for FS even if shelter provides meals; FS: timeframe for inputting addition of new family member to raise benefits; FS: handling of FS cases for refugees not receiving TAFDC.

Leased vehicles not countable; treatment of tax refunds and EIC; TAFDC: how many pay stubs to use to calculate financial eligibility for extension for recipient who has just started working; FS: when to start counting ineligibility period for voluntary quit prior to application; FS: 60 days of job search counts for 12 calendar months regardless of whether case closes and reopens;  TAFDC: Sponsor deeming.

Treatment of earned income of undocumented and documented immigrants not on grant in FS and TAFDC programs;  pre-paid calling card not a utility for FS SUA purposes.

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 MRVP in use; TAFDC: ineligible immigrants with children on TAFDC and proration of shelter costs (none if parent has no  income).

Food Stamp disability determinations; EA continuance of benefits after 12 months in shelter; TAFDC benefits for eligible immigrants whose children are not eligible.