Notices modified to reduce confusion and advise these households to report changes that would positively affect benefit levels.

The Department is further expanding categorical eligibility rules for Non-Public Assistance food stamp (NPA/FS) households. Effective June 9, 2008 there will no longer be an asset test for most NPA/FS households.    Clients will be relieved of the burden of providing asset information and verifications. TAO staff will no longer have to request and review asset verifications or explore asset-related matches. This change will have a positive impact on many vulnerable Massachusetts households, particularly households with elder and disabled members.  The State Letter transmitting the Maximized Categorical Eligibility policy is currently being finalized. 

Notice to income-eligible child care recipients telling them that they are eligible for Food Stamps under categorical eligibility rules.

Food Stamps transitional benefits allowance (TBA)-- what happens when TAFDC closed for not complying with work requirement; Food Stamps TBA for different TAFDC closing reasons; TBA FS for cases closed due to SSI;

Expanded categorical eligibility for NPA Food Stamp households. Questions pertain to elder and disabled households and to 18 year-old single.

FS: categorical eligibility based on receipt of income-eligible child care; FS: not categorically eligible based on TANF receipt in another state; Funeral benefits-- no reimbursement; All programs: Unemployment compensation counted in gross amount.

Cannot deny for failure to verify expenses for deduction purposes; cannot deny PA household for over-asset; cannot count both EAEDC and SSI income; cannot close Food Stamps for failure to verify something that is only required for TAFDC; if mail is returned with forwarding address must send letter to new address.