106 CMR, § 706.400 - Delivery of Benefits

(A) Requirement. The monthly grant is paid to the grantee in two installments. These installments and any retroactive or additional payments are made by one of the following methods:

(1) Direct Deposit to his or her bank account as provided in 106 CMR 706.410;

(2) Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) as provided in 106 CMR 706.420; or

(3) mailing a check as provided in 106 CMR 706.400(C).

(B) Exceptions. The full monthly grant is not paid by the above methods when:

(1) a grantee does not receive a monthly grant in accordance with 106 CMR 706.400(D);

(2) a grantee is a participant in the Full Employment Program as provided in 106 CMR 707.180: Full Employment Program; or

(3) a partial or full monthly grant is made to the client as:

(a) a vendor payment in accordance with 106 CMR 706.600. The balance of the monthly grant, if any, will be paid to the client in accordance with 106 CMR 706.400(A);

(b) an immediate needs payment in accordance with 106 CMR 702.130: Responsibility for Eligibility Determination; or

(c) an immediate assistance pending replacement payment in accordance with 106 CMR 706.530.

(C) Mailing a Check.

(1) When a grantee is temporarily absent from the Commonwealth in accordance with 106 CMR 703.360: Temporary Absence), the local office director or designee may authorize delivery of checks to the temporary out-of-state address.

In cases where checks are sent to a temporary out-of-state address, continued residence or intent to retain residency must be verified by one of the following, provided it bears the name and Massachusetts address of the client:

(a) a current rent receipt;

(b) a current gas bill;

(c) a current electric bill;

(d) a current telephone bill; or

(e) any other form of documentation that the supervisor has determined will verify the continued residence or intent to retain residency.

(2) In other situations, the Department may, at its discretion, authorize delivery of checks to grantees.

(3) To avoid the misdirection of checks, the worker must require verification of address from an applicant or client who moves and requests a change of address.

Acceptable verification includes a rent receipt, statement from the new landlord, or a gas, electric or telephone bill that shows the new address.

(D) Minimum Monthly Payment. The smallest monthly grant paid for TAFDC is $10. The smallest monthly grant paid for EAEDC is $2. If the grant amount is greater than zero, but less than the smallest monthly grant paid for the cash program, the grantee is considered to be receiving assistance, but will not receive a monthly payment.

Notes

106 CMR, § 706.400

Amended by Mass Register Issue 1310, eff. 4/8/2016. Amended by Mass Register Issue 1360, eff. 3/9/2018. Amended by Mass Register Issue 1396, eff. 5/15/2019.