2008 DTA Guidance

If a reported address change is expected to increase SNAP benefits (due to increased shelter and/or utility costs), case worker must enter the change right away. If it is not expected to result in increased SNAP benefits, case worker should wait for verification of new address and expenses to enter…

SNAP and Unemployment compensation (UI) benefits: UI counting gross or net income;  Earnings from  the Title V, Older Americans Act deducted from UI; UI deductions for child support; extended UI screen not showing dependency deductions.

SNAP: eligibility of children of naturalized citizen when children born outside U.S.; TAFDC: online training course for college credit and the work program requirement.

The Unemployment Insurance Inquiry screen lists regular and extended UI benefits. TAFDC, EAEDC, and EA clients who may be eligible for extended UI must apply for it. SNAP/Food Stamps  clients should be encouraged to apply for them.

Caseworkers must advise clients to apply for UI extension benefits. UI extension benefits do not appear on DUA inquiry screen but DUA is working on this.

4 year college issues: Meeting TAFDC work program with educational  program beyond the associate’s degree level;college study after use of 12 months of training and  education as an ESP component activity; child care for college study when 12 months is used up; TAFDC clients in…

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

Food Stamp medical expense deductions for elderly and disabled recipients: Medical expenses do not need to have been paid yet in order to qualify as deductible; hearing aids are deductible; choice of deducting all expenses in one month or averaging larger one-time over rest of certification period.…

(NOTE:  As of January 2013, rate is 56.5 cents per mile)  Food stamp regulations at 106 CMR 364.400 allow elderly and/or disabled household members to deduct medical expense in excess of $35 per month. This includes “the reasonable cost of transportation and lodging to…

BEACON sends a closing notice to EAEDC recipients when a computer match with SSA shows that they have not applied for SSI or appealed an SSI denial. If the recipient brings in verification that he or she has in fact applied for SSI or appealed an SSI denial, the TAO director must manually override…

Explains vendor payment continuation when cases are transferred.

Who counts as a licensed medical professional for purposes of the form verifying disability of noncitizen elder on Food Stamps; expedited Food Stamps still requires inquiry about assets for individuals who fit into new categorical eligibility categories.

From the HotlineThe questions below discuss the impact of receiving fuel assistance on food stamp benefits.There are two fuel assistance programs in Massachusetts: the traditional Low Income Housing Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Heat and Eat Fuel Assistance Program (H-EAT).LIHEAP fuel…

TAFDC and EAEDC AU Managers are reminded that, when denying a TAFDC or EAEDC application before the 30th day for missing two interviews, the FS application must remain pending and not be denied before the 30th day.

Participation and Attendance forms are sent out to clients the first business day (Monday unless Monday is a holiday) of the week before the last Saturday of the month. These forms must be returned by the client no later than the 10th of the following month (or the first business day after the 10th…

Food Stamp work-required individuals can cure sanctions by working 80 hours in a 30 day period or complying with community service requirements. Sanctions can be cured at any time. If they work and then lose their job through no fault of their own, they get a second 3 months of Food Stamps without…

(Note that as of March 2010, the federal mileage rate is 50 cents per mile.  See March 2010 FYI.)  Food stamp regulations at 106 CMR 364.400 allow elderly and/or disabled household members to deduct medical expenses in excess of $35 per month. This includes the reasonable cost of…

AU Managers are reminded that the federal government regularly intercepts certain federal payments made to clients and former clients - such as income tax refunds - to offset outstanding client food stamp debts.  The federal Economic Stimulus payment described in Field Operations Memo 2008-18…

Please remember that TAFDC or EAEDC families, as well as teen parents, may be eligible for up to $1,000 in Relocation Benefitsfor securing permanent housing if the family has been in temporary shelter for 60 days or more.  Examples of clients who meet the requirements specified in 106CMR…

Food Stamp program: treatment of child support payments for obligor's Food Stamp case;  verification of obligor's child support obligations; Food Stamp clients only need to verify household composition if questionable. Hotline Focus May 2008 Q. Are the legally obligated child support payments…

AU Managers must remember to help applicants and clients obtain required verifications, if they are unable to obtain verifications for reasons beyond their control. AU Managers must also remember to allow additional time and to give additional help to applicants and clients who have identified…

Orientation incentive payments for parents not on TAFDC grant, including due to immigration status; every parent eligible for orientation incentive payment, including each parent in two parent family and teen parents who are dependents on their parents' grants;

Food Stamps: health insurance premium as excess medical expense deduction when premium is paid by spouse and/or is for more than one person; TAFDC: "window immigrant" status for purposes of exception to sponsor deeming requirement.  Q. My food stamp client who is elderly and…

TAFDC and EAEDC: Recalculating lump sum disqualification periods when there has been domestic violence. Hotline Focus February 2008 Q.  Twelve months ago, a TAFDC client in our TAO reported that she received a lump sum payment from her insurance company. The amount of this payment closed the…

From FYI Transitions February 2008:  Expansion of Office for Refugee and Immigrants (ORI) ESP Openings for TAFDC Clients; T-A34/36 Form andPregnant Women Expansion of Office for Refugee and Immigrants (ORI) ESP Openings for TAFDC Clients DTA currently funds Job Search/Job Readiness with…

Index to 2007 Hotline Focus questions. An index to “From the Hotline” questions and answers published in Transitions during 2007 is compiled in the January 2008 Transitions.  The index is intended to provide quick access to policy information. Please remember that this index explains…