2021 Online Guide Transmittals

Enter the word(s) you are searching for; use quotes for exact phrase
Displaying 1 - 50 of 90
View by Library Type
Sort by

OLGT 2021-100: TAFDC: Restart of TAFDC Learnfare Requirements

DTA
The TAFDC Learnfare requirement mandates that any child age six (or in first grade, whichever occurs later) through age 15 must attend school regularly. Verification of attendance must be obtained for any child who is subject to the Learnfare requirement. To comply with Learnfare rules, a child…

OLGT 2021-96: SNAP: Unclear Information

DTA
Unclear information is information about a household’s circumstances from which staff cannot readily determine the effect on the household’s benefit amount or continued eligibility for SNAP. During a household’s certification period, if the Department receives unclear information…

OLGT 2021-99: Cross Program: Front Office Group Processing Model

DTA
The Department is adding several new actions for Clerks and Human Service Assistants to process in the business group “Front Office Group.” Front Office staff will pull actions for centralized work through the My Actions page in BEACON. Front end staff will continue to pull actions from…

OLGT 2021-97: SNAP: Verification of Legal Obligation of Child Support from Unemployment Compensation

DTA
  The Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) verifies an individual’s legal obligation to pay child support at the time an unemployment claim is filed. DUA will withhold child support payments from an individual’s Unemployment Compensation (UC) payments if advised by…

OLGT 2021-98: SNAP: Extending Certification Periods to July 2022

DTA
  The Department has received authorization to extend certification periods for certain households with a certification end date from December 31, 2021, through January 2022. These certification periods have been extended by 6 months and will end by July 2022. With this change, the…

OLGT 2021-95: SNAP: Updates to Prefixes in the Phone Queue

DTA
Changes have been made to the Cisco Finesse phone queue system that changed the 3-digit prefix that precedes an authenticated caller’s displayed APID. Additionally, the Variable 10 line in Cisco will display the APID in a format that will be easier to copy and paste into BEACON for quick case…

OLGT 2021-94: TAFDC – Temporary Procedures due to COVID-19 for Initial Engagement Period and Work Program Rules

DTA
In response to the COVID-19 public health crisis, the Department temporarily suspended TAFDC work program requirements to support access to and stabilization of benefits, during the State of Emergency. The Department is reinstating work program requirements for TAFDC families who do not have an…

OLGT 2021-93: TAFDC and EAEDC: Implementation of the Asset Limit Repeal–Phase 2

DTA
  A change in legislation has eliminated asset limits for both the TAFDC and EAEDC programs. This change is retroactive to July 1st, 2021. The Department is beginning the second phase of implementation for the asset limit repeal where eligibility will be assessed for certain…

OLGT 2021-91: SNAP: Bay State CAP Clients Reporting Medical Expenses

DTA
  Clients on Bay State CAP cannot receive a medical expense deduction while on Bay State CAP. However, there are times when a client would benefit from being removed from Bay State CAP and placed on regular SNAP, once medical expenses and other deductions are considered. Staff must…

OLGT 2021-90: Cross Program: Prepaid Return Envelope

DTA
To support remote work a Request for Return Envelopes option is being added to the Letter Request tab in BEACON. This option, scheduled to be available beginning December 7, 2021, will allow staff to send pre-paid return envelopes to clients. The Letter Request functionality has existed in BEACON…

OLGT 2021-89: Cross Program: Extending Certification Periods

DTA
  The Department has received authorization to extend certification periods for certain households with a certification end date from November 30 through December 2021. These certification periods have been extended to June 2022. With this change, the Department aims to facilitate the…

OLGT 2021-88: Cross Program: Updates to Temporary COVID-19 Verification Procedures

DTA
On March 10, 2020, a State of Emergency was declared by Governor Baker to support the Commonwealth’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. Since then, DTA has taken the necessary steps to ensure that active clients do not experience a disruption in benefits, while maintaining timely benefits…

OLGT 2021-82: Cross Programs: Updated Trust and Invest Collaborative (TIC) page

DTA
On June 3, 2021, The Department announced its collaboration with UpTogether to participate in the Trust and Invest Collaborative (TIC). TIC is a research study designed to assess the role of financial and social capital in helping families out of poverty. The Department continues to help recruit…

OLGT 2021-84: EAEDC: Extension and Redesignation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Yemen and Somalia

DTA
  The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the extension and re-designation of Yemen for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months. This extension and re-designation will be in effect from September 4, 2021, through March 3, 2023. Department of Homeland Security…

OLGT 2021-87: TAFDC: Good Cause from Cooperation with Child Support for Relative Caregivers

DTA
Children under the care of a relative that is not their natural or adoptive parent are eligible for TAFDC benefits. The caregivers of these children may choose to apply for TAFDC for both themselves and the child, or for just the child. These cases may be referred to in a variety of ways, such as…

OLGT 2021-85: TAFDC and EAEDC: Asset Eligibility Limits Eliminated

DTA
A change in legislation has eliminated the asset limits for both the TAFDC and EAEDC programs. This change is retroactive to July 1st, 2021. Effective immediately, assets will no longer be counted when determining eligibility for TAFDC and EAEDC. Assets include but are not limited to bank…

OLGT 2021-86: SNAP: Re-Indexing MassHealth Combo Application for SNAP

DTA
  SNAP applications received from MassHealth are not indexed by DTA-DPC staff. These applications are indexed through a MassHealth process which does not include DTA APID information. Although the action created provides the client’s name and SSN, it will not include…

OLGT 2021-80: Cross Programs: Pandemic Funding Under the Chafee Foster Care Program (Chafee Program)

DTA
  Under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood (Chafee program) received $400 million in additional funding. Each state has flexibility in how their portion of the Chafee program funds are distributed…

OLGT 2021-79: Cross Program: Updates to the Child Tax Credit COVID-19 OLG Page

DTA
As part of The American Rescue Plan Act, for the first time, families had the option of having one half of a family’s total Child Tax Credit paid out in monthly installments. Payments received through the expanded Child Tax Credits as part of The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, including…

Clone of OLGT 2021-81: TAFDC – Full Engagement Worker and Self Sufficiency Specialist Return to In-Person Services

DTA
  The Department remains committed to assisting all families receiving TAFDC benefits in achieving their economic mobility goals by expanding access to information on available employment and training resources, and opportunities for families to engage with the services provided…

OLGT 2021-78: Cross Program: Updates to P-EBT Functionality in BEACON

DTA
  Beginning in April 2020, DTA has issued P-EBT benefits to eligible children in Massachusetts. Some of these children do not otherwise receive DTA benefits. In April 2021, a system enhancement was put in place to allow users to view P-EBT information for non-DTA children. This BEACON…

OLGT 2021-74: Cross Programs: Updates to Temporary Guidance for Processing Cases with Paid Family and Medical Leave Income

DTA
Paid Family and Medical Leave is a state-offered benefit that provides individuals who work in Massachusetts with up to 26 weeks of paid leave for medical or family reasons. On July 1, 2021, the Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML) began accepting applications for all types of leave that…

OLGT 2021-77: Cross Programs: Clarifications on EBT Options

DTA
With the reopening of the Department’s Transitional Area Offices (TAOs) in June, guidance and trainings were provided to staff which included procedures to escalate urgent EBT card needs. The Department continues to evaluate and modify its procedures to enhance service delivery and balance…

OLGT 2021-76: Cross Program – Updated TAFDC Pathways to Work Orientation Materials and Guidance

DTA
  The Department’s Employment and Training units have rebranded to be inclusive of all education, employment, and training opportunities across agency programs now known as DTA Pathways to Work. This rebranding includes updates to DTA’s website and new client materials to…

OLGT 2021-75: Cross Program: Additional Enhancements for Clients Requesting an EBT Card

DTA
The majority of DTA clients use an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card to access their SNAP or cash benefits. Active and pending clients can request an EBT card via DTAConnect.com and through the DTAConnect Mobile App at any time. Additionally, clients who apply for benefits via the…

OLGT 2021-73: SNAP: New SNAP Processing Queue Action

DTA
  In an effort to reduce workload in future months and to prevent cases from closing due to failure to recertify, a new action type “Perform Cold Call – Telephonic Recert/IR” has been created and is scheduled to begin to generate on Monday, September 27th,…

OLGT 2021-72: TAFDC – Clothing Allowance, September 2021

DTA
The Department will issue a nonrecurring clothing allowance to eligible TAFDC clients under the age of 19 for September 2021. This year the amount of this benefit is $350 per eligible TAFDC client.

OLGT 2021-71: SNAP: Annual Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA) and Standard Utility Allowances Change

DTA
  At the beginning of each Federal fiscal year, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) adjusts SNAP income standards, deduction amounts, and maximum benefit levels to reflect changes in the cost of living. This is known as the “SNAP COLA.” The Department also…

OLGT 2021-69: TAFDC: Temporary Procedures for Clients Coming off Unemployment with Subsequent Recently Terminated Work

DTA
In response to the impact of the COVID-19 public health crisis, the Department continues to identify opportunities to assist clients who are experiencing loss of financial stability by streamlining procedures and working to quickly connect applicants with benefits and services for which they are…

OLGT 2021-70: Cross Program: Holiday Gift (Globe Santa Program) Verifications

DTA
Each year, the Globe Santa Program provides age-appropriate holiday toys and books to eligible children who live in the geographical areas designated by the Globe Santa Program. To be eligible to participate in Globe Santa, families must be active TAFDC, EAEDC or SNAP clients, live in the Globe…

OLGT 2021-68: Cross Programs: Termination of all Pandemic Unemployment Compensation Types

DTA
Effective for claim week ending September 4, 2021, all Pandemic Unemployment Compensation types will be terminated. This includes: Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation…

OLGT 2021-62: Cross Programs: Text Messages Regarding the Emergency Broadband Benefit and COVID Related Resources

DTA
As a part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program was developed to provide a temporary discount on monthly broadband bills and/or for the purchase of a qualifying device for eligible low-income households during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department…

OLGT 2021-65: Cross Programs: IVR and Telephonic Signature Updates

DTA
Following the May 2021 implementation of the telephonic signature line and the concurrent updates to the IVR system, staff have asked various follow-up questions. In response to this feedback, we have made additional updates to the Online Guide regarding telephonic signature and IVR. These…

OLGT 2021-63: Cross Program: Retroactive P-EBT Payments to Households with Children Under the Age of 6

DTA
  The Continuing Appropriations Act of 2021 extended Pandemic EBT (P- EBT), a benefit initially included in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. This is a food benefit for families with children who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals through the federal School…

OLGT 2021-66: COVID-19: TAFDC - Pandemic Emergency Assistance Payments

DTA
  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 this money to issue a one-time payment of $683.02 to children and pregnant individuals who received a TAFDC…

OLGT 2021-64: TAFDC & EAEDC: Grant Increase

DTA
The Department’s FY’22 budget included an increase to both the TAFDC and EAEDC grants. This will result in an overall increase of 20% to the benefit levels for the majority of clients. TAFDC and EAEDC cash benefit amounts increased as of July 1, 2021. The EAEDC Personal Needs Allowances…

OLGT 2021-61: Cross Programs: Domestic Violence Enhancements Phase 1

DTA
  The Department is implementing various BEACON enhancements, in phases, to improve client access, and to deliver critical domestic violence services more efficiently to both DTA and non-DTA clients. Phase One enhancements focus on Heightened Level of Security (HLS), identifying a…

OLGT 2021-60: Cross Programs: Clarification Regarding Third Party Income Verification Requests

DTA
The Department receives income verification requests from third-party entities seeking to obtain client financial information. Upon receipt of a request, an Action will be created for front end staff and the Central Eligibility Processing (CEP) Unit for processing. These actions will not be included…

OLGT 2021-57: Cross Programs: Consolidated Rights and Responsibilities

DTA
As part of the continuing effort to align SNAP and Economic Assistance policy, the Department will use one Rights and Responsibilities (R&R) language for all programs. The consolidated R&R language will appear on application, IR, recertification, and reevaluation forms. Although the…

OLGT 2021-59: COVID-19: Monthly Child Tax Credit Payments Beginning July 15th

DTA
  As part of The American Rescue Plan Act, families with children will begin receiving an expanded Child Tax Credit for 2021. This expansion includes the increase of the maximum annual Child Tax Credit from $2,000 a year per child to $3,000 a year per child for dependents between the…

OLGT 2021-58: SNAP: COVID-19 Streamlined Recertification Process and Interview Waiver

DTA
As the Department continues applying the flexibilities permitted under the Continuing Resolution Bill, the COVID-19 recertification guidance in Online Guide Transmittal 2020-82 is being transferred into the Online Guide. Furthermore, the guidance has been updated to include answers to…

OLGT 2021-54: EAEDC: Designation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti

DTA
  The ongoing economic and humanitarian crisis in Haiti has prompted the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to designate Haiti Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for an 18-month period, effective May 22, 2021, through November 22, 2022. This designation for TPS enables Haitian…

OLGT 2021-55: Cross Program: Summer P-EBT Benefits

DTA
  Under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the Department received approval to continue providing P-EBT benefits to families through Summer 2021. The Summer P-EBT benefit is $375 and will be issued in July and August in the amount of $187.50 each. To be eligible for Summer P-EBT…

OLGT 2021-56: SNAP: MassHealth SNAP Application Supplement

DTA
The Department has been working with MassHealth and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to better connect clients with services for which they are eligible and streamline the application process. The primary goal of these efforts is to ensure that MassHealth clients who are likely…

OLGT 2021-49: Cross Programs: Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)

DTA
DTA clients who have not opted out of text messaging, and who don’t have Heightened Level of Security (HLS), received a text message with information about a new funding resource offered through the Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD). The Department sent text…

OLGT 2021-48: SNAP: Clarification Regarding Requesting Proof of College Student Eligibility

DTA
  When a client reports that they or a household member are a college student, we must determine if they are subject to student rules; and if so, whether they meet the student eligibility requirements. Staff must not request a completed EDUC-1 or CCE form to determine…

OLGT 2021-52: Cross Programs: TAFDC Cases with Potential Earnings Report

DTA
The Department has agreements to share and receive data with a number of agencies and external partners. As such, the Department of Revenue (DOR) provides information related to clients who have been identified as having potential earnings. This data is compared with the information on file in…

OLGT 2021-50: Cross Program: COVID-19 Funeral Assistance

DTA
Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is providing financial assistance for COVID-19 related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020. Payments received for…

OLGT 2021-51: Cross Program: Self-Service Options in TAOs

DTA
  In March of 2020, in response to the COVID-19 public health crisis, the Department shifted operations to ensure staff and client safety and to expedite case processing. This included the temporary closing of Transitional Assistance Offices (TAOs) to the public as we transitioned…

OLGT 2021-45: Cross Programs: Trust and Invest Collaborative (TIC)

DTA
The Trust and Invest Collaborative (TIC) is a research study designed to assess the role of financial and social capital in helping families out of poverty. The Department of Transitional Assistance is collaborating with UpTogether for this study, The Department will recruit participants from the…