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The Online Resource for Massachusetts Poverty Law Advocates

The Online Resource for Massachusetts Poverty Law Advocates

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  1. Home
  2. 2024 TAFDC Advocacy Guide
  3. Part 5: Benefits and Services

Part 5: Benefits and Services

78. What happens if you run out of money before the lump sum time is up?
79. What are the basic benefits available to TAFDC recipients?

Table of Contents

  • About MLRI, Acknowledgements, Copyright
  • Introduction to TAFDC Guide
  • Part 1: General Eligibility Rules
    • 1. Who can get TAFDC?
    • 2. Which families with children can get TAFDC?
    • 3. Can you get TAFDC if neither parent is in the home?
    • 4. Can you get TAFDC if the child is not in the home?
    • 5. How young must children be to qualify?
    • 6. Can you qualify if you are pregnant and do not have a child living with you?
    • 7. What if you just moved to Massachusetts? What if you are homeless or temporarily not in Massachusetts?
    • 8. What if you are not a citizen?
    • 9. What are the special noncitizen eligibility rules for battered immigrants and their families?
    • 10. Do you have to have a Social Security number?
    • 11. Do you have to tell DTA anything about your child's other parent?
    • 12. Can you get TAFDC if you are a parent under 20 or pregnant under 20?
    • 13. What are the school attendance rules for parents under 20 or people pregnant under 20?
    • 14. What is the living arrangement rule for parents under 18 and those pregnant under 18?
    • 15. What if you are a parent under 18 or pregnant under 18 and your parent’s home is not safe for you or there is some other reason you cannot live there?
    • 16. Are there any living arrangement rules for parents 18 or 19 or people pregnant while 18 or 19?
    • 17. Can you get your own grant if you are living with a parent?
    • 18. What are the school requirements for children (“Learnfare”)?
    • 19. How do you verify school attendance and which absences are excused?
    • 20. What are the immunization rules?
    • 21. What if you are on strike?
    • 22. What if you have an outstanding default or arrest warrant?
    • 23. What if you have a criminal history?
    • 24. What if a disability makes it hard for you to meet DTA rules or use DTA services?
    • 25. How do you ask DTA for an accommodation?
    • 26. What are your rights if DTA denies your reasonable accommodation request?
    • 27. Should you ask DTA to screen you for a learning disability?
    • 28. What if you are a domestic violence survivor?
  • Part 2: Assistance Units
    • 29. Who has to be in the assistance unit?
    • 30. Who cannot be in the assistance unit?
    • 31. What happens if you are excluded from the assistance unit?
    • 32. Who has a choice about whether to be in the assistance unit?
    • 33. Can you get TAFDC just for your children if you are not a citizen?
  • Part 3: Time Limit and Work Program Rules and Exemptions
    • 34. What is the time limit rule and when does your time limit start over?
    • 35. What is the Work Program?
    • 36. Who is exempt from the time limit and Work Program?
    • 37. How do you qualify for a disability exemption?
    • 38. Are you subject to the time limit and work rules while DTA evaluates your disability claim?
    • 39. How do you qualify for an exemption as the caregiver for a disabled child?
    • 40. How do you qualify for an exemption as the caregiver for other disabled family members?
    • 41. How do you qualify for an exemption as a pregnant woman?
    • 42. How do you qualify for an exemption on the basis of age?
    • 43. Can you get a waiver or good cause exception to TAFDC rules because of domestic violence?
    • 44. What can you do if you are getting close to the end of your time limit?
    • 45. Can you get an extension of benefits past the time limit?
    • 46. How do you request an extension of benefits past the time limit?
    • 47. How long will your extension last?
    • 48. What if your extension request is denied?
    • 49. What activities count towards the Work Program requirement?
    • 50. How many hours a week do you have to do a work activity?
    • 51. What are the work rules for two-parent families?
    • 52. What are the work rules for noncitizen parents?
    • 53. When do you have to start a Work Program activity?
    • 54. How should you choose a Work Program activity?
    • 55. What if you can't find an appropriate Work Activity?
    • 56. What if you need child care or transportation to meet the Work Program rules?
    • 57. What happens if you do not meet the Work Program rules?
    • 58. What if you have a good reason for not meeting Work Program rules?
  • Part 4: Financial Eligibilitiy
    • 59. What is financial eligibility?
    • 60. What is income?
    • 61. What income is not counted?
    • 62. What income is counted?
    • 63. Does TAFDC count assets?
    • 64. What if you are expecting money from an accident or illness?
    • 65. What happens if your child's father (or mother) pays child support?
    • 66. Does DTA ever count money as income even if you do not get it?
    • 67. How does DTA count income of a stepparent or ineligible noncitizen parent?
    • 68. How is grandparent income counted towards the baby of a parent under 18?
    • 69. What if a stepparent, parent or grandparent refuses to give income information?
    • 70. Does DTA count in-kind income?
    • 71. Do gifts count as income?
    • 72. How do you figure monthly income?
    • 73. How much income can you have and still qualify for TAFDC?
    • 74. What is the 6-month 100% earned income disregard?
    • 75. How much will you get each month?
    • 76. What is lump sum income and why is it a problem?
    • 77. Can you exclude any money from the lump sum rule?
    • 78. What happens if you run out of money before the lump sum time is up?
  • Part 5: Benefits and Services
    • 79. What are the basic benefits available to TAFDC recipients?
    • 80. When will you get your TAFDC benefits?
    • 81. How will you get your grant-direct deposit or electronic benefits transfer?
    • 82. What should you do if you need to replace or change your EBT card?
    • 83. What are the rules about what you can buy?
    • 84. When can DTA take money back?
    • 85. What other benefits do TAFDC recipients get?
    • 86. Can you get Transitional cash benefits after you leave TAFDC?
    • 87. What if DTA makes a mistake and owes you money?
    • 88. When does DTA pay your benefits directly to your landlord or utility company?
    • 89. What is the Pathways to Work Program?
    • 90. What are your Pathways to Work choices?
    • 91. What is a Pathways to Work Plan?
    • 92. Will DTA approve college attendance?
    • 93. Who is eligible for child care through DTA?
    • 94. Which children can get child care?
    • 95. How do you get child care? How should you choose a child care provider?
    • 96. Can you get full-time care?
    • 97. Can you get money for transportation?
  • Part 6: Applications and Proofs
    • 98. How do you apply for TAFDC?
    • 99. What proofs do you need?
    • 100. How should you send your proofs?
    • 101. How long does it take to decide whether you are eligible?
    • 102. What if you need help right away?
    • 103. How can you find out what is happening with your case?
    • 104. Is your information kept confidential?
    • 105. Can domestic violence survivors and others get extra confidentiality protections?
  • Part 7: Proving Continuing Eligibility
    • 106. How often will DTA review your eligibility?
    • 107. Does DTA send texts or leave voicemail?
    • 108. When do you have to report changes?
  • Part 8: Appeal Rights
    • 109. What are your rights if DTA will not give you benefits or reduces or stops your benefits?
    • 110. How much time do you have to ask for a fair hearing?
    • 111. How do you ask for a fair hearing?
    • 112. If you have the proof your worker wanted, should you still ask for a hearing?
    • 113. How should you present your case at the hearing?
    • 114. When will you get a decision and what should you do if you lose?
    • 115. Can you fix problems without going to a hearing?
  • Part 9: Overpayments and Fraud
    • 116. What if you are overpaid?
    • 117. What is an intenational program violation? What is welfare fraud?
    • 118. Can DTA stop your benefits for an intentional program violation?
    • 119. What should you do if you are told to go to a Bureau of Special Investigations (BSI) interview?
    • 120. Can you go to jail? Will you have a criminal record?
    • 121. Can DTA cut your benefits to pay itself back?
    • 122. How does DTA collect overpayments if you are not receiving benefits?
  • Appendicies
    • Appendix A: DTA Executive Staff 2024
    • Appendix B: Department of Transitional Assistance Offices with Addresses and Telephone Numbers
    • Appendix C: Client Assistance Coordinators
    • Appendix D: Legal Services Offices
    • Appendix E: DTA Online Guide Links
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