Effective January 17, 2006, the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) is offering Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) as a new Employment Services Program (ESP) component statewide to TAFDC recipients.

Effective January 2006, Social Security benefits and SSI payments increased by 4.1 percent. The base level Medicare Part B premium increased from $78.20 to $88.50. The Medicare Part B penalty premium also increased, as identified in the 2006 Medicare Part B Surcharge Premiums chart (page 5 of this memo).

This memo gives corrections to Field Op Memo 2006-2 on AU date listed on page 3, and AP date on page 4 of memo. In both instances the date should be January 13, 2006, instead of January 14, 2006.

In late 2004, many Food Stamp recipients who also receive Medicare benefits began participating in the Medicare Prescription Drug Discount Program (MPDDP). In January 2006, MPDDP will be phased out and Medicare Part D will replace it. Medicare Part D will be available to all persons who receive RSDI and SSI benefits (the dual eligibles), and persons who receive RSDI-only, if otherwise income and asset eligible.

Obsoleted by FOM 2006-49.

With the deployment of Increment 2.1.18 the Department will automate the FS Attributed Amount (“Riverside Rule”) function in BEACON. The Riverside Rule requires that the Department not increase Food Stamp benefits when an AU’s benefits under another federal or state means-tested program as defined in 106 CMR 360.030 have been decreased (reduced or suspended, but not when an AU’s cash benefits are terminated) due to fraud or a failure to comply with a requirement of the program that imposed the benefit decrease.

Modifications have been made to BEACON to reduce errors in processing Retirement, Survivors and Disability Insurance (RSDI) income changes. Inconsistency in the format of claim numbers across SSA, SDX and BENDEX has resulted in income duplication in BEACON, which leads to TAFDC, EAEDC, EA and Food Stamp benefit miscalculations.

Recertification of Bay State CAP Assistance Units (AUs) will occur either when the Social Security Administration (SSA) redetermines eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or when the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) recertifies the AUs. It is expected that the majority of Bay State CAP AUs will be recertified for food assistance benefits as part of the SSI redetermination. However, some Bay State CAP AUs will not be redetermined for SSI within the three-year certification period for food assistance benefits. The final USDA approval for Bay State CAP allows DTA to recertify Bay State CAP AUs.

Given the increased focus on registered sex offenders living in Massachusetts communities and the safety threat that such persons might pose in a family shelter, the Department has formalized its Emergency Assistance (EA) shelter intake and placement policies. Effective immediately, TAO staff will be required to determine if any member in the EA AU age 10 and older is listed as a sex offender with the Sex Offender Registry Board (SORB). Placement of the family will not be delayed awaiting information from SORB.

Memo identifies the name of the contact person at the Sex Offender Registry Board.

DTA staff is required to determine if any member in the EA AU age 10 or older is registered as a sex offender with the Sex Offender Registry Board (SORB). This information is obtained by faxing the Request for Sex Offender Registry Information form (DTA-SORB) to SORB.

The Department has determined that there are 89 AUs whose FS benefits were closed or denied in error because of incorrect monthly net income limits in BEACON. These AUs were calculated using the old net income limits (i.e., standards in place before the last FS COLA, effective September 23, 2005).  The error was identified among AU sizes 1 through 4. The monthly net income parameters have since been updated in BEACON.

Effective February 15, 2006, the ESP Supported Work Component will offer Post-Employment Services (PES).The PES component is a voluntary program to provide current and former recipients with services that lead to career advancement and employment stability.

DTA offers two shelter options for EA AUs who have a member with a current or past substance abuse problem: residential treatment programs and sober living programs. Both alternatives allow the applicant and his or her child(ren) to reside together during the program.

This memo gives TAO Staff procedures for removing interrupted sanctions when the Assessed Person (AP) is participating in another activity (including work), has a “Meets Compliance” reason or is in an extension and appears on the “Clients with Sanctions” view in an “Interrupt” status.

This Field Operations Memo also transmits changes to the Learning Disability Screening/Assessment Consent/Declination form (LDSC – 3/2006).

Due to comments received after issuance, the Learning Disability Screening Consent Declination form (Attachment A of 2006-14) has been revised. TAO Staff must destroy all copies of Attachment A and use the Learning Disability Screening Consent Declination form sent with this memo. If any applicant or recipient signed the Assessment Section of the previous form, the revised form must be mailed to the recipient with a request to resign the appropriate LD Assessment consent or waiver portion of the form.

In an effort to better track component activity and simplify data on BEACON, effective with BEACON Increment 2.1.19 certain obsolete “Meets Compliance” reasons on the Work Requirements window are being eliminated. Those reasons are: “Meeting WPR through SJS,” “Meeting WPR through WTW” and “Meeting WPR through Voc Rehab.” Additionally, one obsolete “Good Cause” reason is being eliminated from the Good Cause tab of the Monitor Participation window: “Conversion-Good Cause.” None of these reasons will be selectable once BEACON Increment 2.1.19 occurs.

This Field Operations Memo informs TAO Staff about the changes to BEACON and a clean-up project that must be completed prior to Increment 2.1.19, on March 27, 2006.

The Department is working on changes to the way food stamp applications are processed, particularly when the application is denied for failure to submit verifications. In certain situations, if the applicant submits outstanding mandatory verifications between Day 31 and Day 60, a second application is no longer required. The Department will process the original application in accordance with procedures described in this Field Operations Memo.

Field Operations Memo 2003-13: Random Moment Sampling (RMS) provides detailed information on the RMS process. The RMS process outlined in 2003-13, and in place in TAOs today, remains unchanged. However, the RMS staff listing on page 3 of the memo has changed. This memo transmits the changes to the current RMS staff listing.

Obsoleted by FOM 2006-22A.

The Department offers a variety of ESP activities to our applicants and recipients. To assist TAO Staff match applicants and recipients with activities, a description of current ESP activities as well as which applicants or recipients are best served by the activity has been compiled for this Operations Memo. AU Managers are reminded that while several activities may match an applicant’s or recipient’s ESP needs, the applicant or may choose (after discussion with his or her AU Manager) in which activities to enroll. Policy references for activity descriptions and participation requirements are included at the end of each section.

A list of Assistance Units (AUs) with Assessed Persons (APs) whose Other Parent indicator was removed is being e-mailed with this Field Operations Memo. AU Managers and Supervisors must review the APs and make changes to them following procedures in this memo.

Change in overpayment recovery thresholds.

The Lowell Transitional Assistance Office (TAO) has been closed as a result of a flooding situation. The office will be closed until further notice. AUs needing immediate attention (e.g., AU pending to close, Food Stamp Certification period ending, etc.) need to be handled on an interim basis.

Instructions to TAO's regarding emergency shelter and food assistance for people affected by recent floods during declared state of emergency in May, 2006.

The Department is in the process of making changes to the TAFDC program to comply with federal reauthorization of the TANF block grant. One of the most significant areas to be addressed is participation in work-related activities. A recent review of TAFDC AUs has found recipients who are Work Program required but who are not participating in an activity for the required number of hours.

Obsoleted by FOM 2008-67.

Obsoleted by FOM 2007-14.

DTA instructions to workers on how to process FS applications including screening an applicant for expedited, when the applicant must be contacted for an interview, time frames for sending out the notice of an interview. Instructions also state that an SSN that is validated through the SVES system is considered verification of identity and no other verification must be required for expedited FS purposes.

Obsoleted by FOM 2006-31A.

The Department is in the process of making changes to the TAFDC program to comply with federal reauthorization of the TANF block grant. One of the most significant areas to be addressed is participation in work-related activities. A recent review of TAFDC AUs has found recipients who are Work Program required but who are not participating in an activity for the required number of hours.

This memo notifies staff that the Notice of Termination of Temporary Emergency Shelter (NFL-ST) Form (Attachment A) has been revised to provide space on the notice for: • the name of the person engaged in the criminal activity; and • a description of the criminal activity that is causing the termination of EA shelter benefits.

The Department of Transitional Assistance and the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) are strongly committed to providing eligible low income households with nutrition assistance through the Food Stamp Program. Department staff have increased participation in the Food Stamp Program while maintaining timeliness in case processing and also decreasing the error rate; a very remarkable achievement.

The TES-EPR-1 form is being revised to facilitate a smoother transition to the designated shelter. The form includes additional information that will allow the shelter to better prepare for the family’s arrival.

Field Operations Memo 2006-14: “TAFDC – Learning Disability Screening and Assessment Clarifications and Revised Form” in part gave TAFDC staff instructions for answering the Learning Disability question on the Nonfinancials Q&A Navigator.

Effective with BEACON Increment 2.1.20, TAFDC Assessed Persons (APs) who are approved for and begin receiving SSI will be automatically closed. This will prevent double payments (TAFDC and SSI State Supplement) for both adults and children.

The purpose of this memo is to: describe the BEACON changes included with Increment 2.1.20 that affect Reevaluation Type; and stress the importance of making sure the correct information has been entered into BEACON so the system will select the correct Reevaluation Type and send the AU the appropriate notice and recertification form, if any.

State Letter 1315 issues policy revisions implementing the following cost-of-living changes in the Food Stamp Program: Maximum Benefit Levels; Gross, Net and 165 Percent Income Eligibility Standards; Shelter Deduction; Standard Deduction; Standard Utility Allowances (SUA); and Homeless Shelter/Utility Deduction, effective 10/1/2006.

Obsoleted by FOM  2007-36.

Obsoleted by FOM 2008-66.

The purpose of this memo is to: address issues related to reverification of information that is considered permanently verified; and remind AU Managers that, once SSN and date of birth are verified, applicants /recipients must not be required to verify the item unless a change is entered in BEACON or the information is questionable.

This Field Operations Memo discusses the impact of this change on TAO staff and provides AU Manager instructions for processing these AUs as well as error rate implications.

Effective with Increment 2.1.20, changes were made to the BEACON Residential Facility window to provide more complete shelter placement information on EA assistance units.

This Field Operations Memo informs TAO Staff about: how these changes will impact TAFDC APs and AUs; a tool for calculating the FLSA-based community service hours; and a special project.

This memo informs TAO Staff about the EEC child care policy changes; and that these changes do not impact DTA policies and procedures. Changes include provision of vouchers up to two weeks prior to the start of an ESP component, child care for post-secondary education, reduced verification requirements for transitional child care, and child care for maternity leave for employed recipients.

This memo notifies staff that the TES-WN-13 (Attachment A) and the NFLST (Attachment B) are being revised to include a separate section to identify the name of the EA AU member(s) involved, a description of the incident(s)/violation(s) and the date(s) of each of the incident(s)/violation(s) occurred.

This memo clarifies the notification procedure to EA AUs on decisions by the Noncompliance Committee, summarizes and elaborates Field Operations Memo 2006-50, clarifies the noncompliance referral documentation requirements, distributes recently revised EA Notices (TES-WN-13, NFL-ST and NFL-9), and provides termination information for the TES-WN-13, NFL-ST and NFL-9.

This Field Operations Memo gives an overview of BEACON functionality changes and AU Manager responsibilities as it relates to the Job Search/Job Readiness counter.

DTA instructions to the Field eliminating the "blue form" additional application signature requirement.

The Social Security and SSI Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA) have been scheduled. Effective January 2007, Social Security benefits and SSI payments will increase by 3.3 percent. The basic Medicare Part B premium will increase from $88.50 to $93.50 per month.

This memo was rescinded by FOM 2007-10.

This memo informs TAO staff about a special project to clean up the BEACON Resource Search window; and gives TAO staff procedures for reviewing and updating the status of community service sites in their area, specifically removal of community service sites no longer active.

This memo explains the steps to take when a family who was sent the Colon v. Wagner notice (Attachment A) comes in to a TAO to reapply for shelter.