OLGT 2023-80A: TAFDC: One-time TANF Pandemic Emergency Assistance Payment (Revised)

As part of The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a Temporary Assistance
for Needy Families (TANF) Pandemic Emergency Assistance fund was established. Massachusetts is using the remaining money within this fund to issue a one-time payment of $39.17 to children and pregnant grantees who received a TAFDC payment in the month of October 2023. This includes cases that are now closed with limited exceptions such as cases that closed due to death.

TAFDC families do not have to do anything to receive this payment. It will be issued to each family via the same benefit issuance mechanism their monthly TAFDC benefits are issued. Pandemic Emergency Assistance funds are not considered countable income for SNAP, TAFDC, and/or EAEDC. The Pandemic Emergency Assistance Payment is a one-time payment issued to specific household members. Case managers must not issue a supplement (related benefit) for this payment.