THE MASSACHUSETTS WELFARE REFORM PLAN

On December 1, 1996, the clock started ticking for people on Temporary Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) or Welfare as it is better known. The following is the first part of a two part series on TAFDC that will explain the general rules of Welfare Reform in Massachusetts (Part I) and the exceptions to these rules (Part II).

Time limits: Cash assistance is limited to 24 months out of a 60 month period.

Workfare: Recipients with school age children must work 20 hours per week outside of the home in a paid or unpaid position.

Family Cap: No additional benefits are given to children born to a family that is already receiving TAFDC.

Learnfare: Parents must provide documentation of school attendance for their children under 14 years of age. A family is put on probation if a child has more than 8 absences in 3 months, they lose benefits if the child is absent 3 times in a month while on probation.

Immunization Verification: Immunization records must be complete for every child.

Teen Parents: Parents under 20 years of age must be in school. Most teen parents under 18 must live with their own parents, a relative or in a structured setting. If none is available, they may live on their own. A teen's eligibility for TAFDC is not affected by their parent's income, but if the teen is living with grandparents, their income may not exceed 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.

Paternity: A caretaker parent must provide specific information about the absent parent such as that person's full name and Social Security number. The Department of Transitional Assistance will seek confirm and try to enforce child-support orders in lieu of, or in addition to, TAFDC.

Grant cut: 2.75% cut for all non-exempt recipients.

Treatment of Earnings: People subject to the 2.75% grant cut are allowed deductions from earnings equal to $30 plus 50% of the remainder as long as they remain eligible; others get deductions equal to $30 and 1/3 of remainder.