DTA counts as income money that is being taken out of your TAFDC, EAEDC, or other needs-based benefits because you intentionally failed to comply with a program requirement— even if you are not sanctioned under the SNAP/food stamp rules. 106 C.M.R. § 363.220(C)(5). See 49. Do the SNAP/food stamp rules count money I don't receive? DTA should not count TAFDC or EAEDC deducted to recover an overpayment that is not a result of an intentional program violation.

This rule applies if you were sanctioned because you committed an intentional program violation (fraud) under that program or because you were found to have intentionally failed to comply with a TAFDC program requirement, such as the child support cooperation, work rules, teen parent school, immunization, or other requirements of TAFDC or the EAEDC program. DTA will calculate your SNAP/food stamp benefits as if your household is still getting the full amount of the cash benefit grant amount.

Example

Vicky lives in private housing and receives $418 in TAFDC for her child. Vicky was getting $518 but DTA reduced the benefits due to a sanction for her failure to comply with the TAFDC child support requirements without good cause. DTA will calculate the SNAP/food stamp benefits as if Vicky receives the two-person TAFDC of $518 per month.

This rule does not apply if the entire cash grant case closes due to a sanction. For example, teen parents receiving TAFDC face a full family sanction if they do not comply with the school rules after 30 days. Other TAFDC households may face a full family sanction if the parent does not comply with the work rules after 30 days. In these situations, the SNAP/food stamps should be calculated using the household's actual income. 106 C.M.R. § 363.220(C)(5).