m how your earnings are counted under mem
M
HOW YOUR EARNINGS ARE COUNTED UNDER MEM:
Under the TAFDC rules, you may still be eligible for some cash benefits if you have earning. The amount of your TAFDC grant depends on how much you earn, your expenses and size of your family. If you are a current TAFDC recipient, not exempt from the time limit, the basic rules for counting earned income are: ONE: Calculate monthly gross income before taxes (weekly gross times 4.333 weeks), TWO: Deduct a flat $90/month deduction for work expenses (like taxes, uniforms, transportation, other costs of working). THREE: If you pay for child care, dedUct what yeti pay up to maximum limits of 5175/month if working 30-40 hours/week and your child is age 2 or over,.$88/morith if working 10 20 hours/week (more if child younger than 2)'. FOCI: Deduct an additional $30 plus 'A of the remainder as a "work incentive.." This $30 and% deduction continues as long as you are eligible for TAFDC. The remaining income is subtracted from the' TAFDC grant amount.
FOR EXAMPLE: Jane Doe has one child. She earns $600/month gross income (before
taxes). She has no child care expenses. Under these income rules, she has $240 in countable income: $600 gross monthly income - 90 (minus $90 standard work deduction, not including child care) $510 - 30 (minus the,$30 deduction)
$480 -240 (minus 16 of $480 - the "work incentive" deduction) $240 Net earned income counted against Jane's TAFDC grant. Jane would get $278.00 ($518 - $240) for total income of 5878.00 ($600 +$278)
If you are exempt from the work rules (you are disabled, have a child under ago 2 or other reason), the rules use a 530 and onethird deduction for earnings (not one-half). If you are a first time TAFDC applicant with earnings, special rules apply to your income before these deductions, Talk with an advocate.
n
EARNINGS AND TRAINING MONEY THAT DOES NOT COUNT:
Some earnings do not count Examples include college work study, reimbursements for job training or education related expenses, earnings from the VISTA program, training stipends of up to $130/rnonth. Earned income of your children under age 14 and earnings of children 14 to 19 years who are in school full time or who are in school part-time and employed full lime through the Job Training and Partnership Act (JTPA) do not count. Any income of an SSI recipient in the family also does not count against the TAFDC grant - but SST may count the earnings. -
REPORTING YOUR EARNINGS: TAFDC recipients must report any changes that may affect eligibility within 10 days of the change. To be safe, do so in writing and keep a copy of your statement. Most recipients with earned income are also required to report income monthly (known as "monthly reporting"). DTA will send you a form that asks you about all, your income, expenses and other changes_ If your wages drop, you can ask for a supplemental payment in your TAFDC grant. You can ask'your DTA worker about supplemental payments or write this request on the monthly report.
IF YOUR TAFDC STOPS BECAUSE YOUR EARNINGS INCREASE? •
If your TAFDC benefits stop, you may still be eligible for child care, Massilealth and Food Stamps. Your child care should continue for at least one year after you lose TAFDC eligibility because of earnings. DTA provides an authorization for this child care and the local child care resource and referral agency provides a voucher. The amount you pay will depend on your income. If you are still working at the twelve month after your benefits end you will be able to keep your voucher under the income eligible childcare program. if you got TAFDC cash benefits, your family's Masshealth benefits should automatically continue for at least a year after you go off TAFDC due to increased earnings provided you still arc employed and still have a dependent child. You may still be eligible for supplemental Pried Stamps. If your TAFDC ends, DTA is supposed to automatically calculate your Food Stamps based on the amount of your income (without TAFDC) and your expenses. You are eligible for five months of Food Stamps at that rate unless a new calculation would resultin a higher amount. Then DTA will recalculate based on the changed circumstances. DTA should send you a notice about how much you will receive. -
al
IF YOUR TAFDC STOPS !BECAUSE OF THE TIME LIMIT
If your TAFDC stops due to the twenty-four month time limit and you are working thirty five hours per week and you are still income eligible for TAFDC berCefits, you are entitled to an automatic benefit extension. If you are working less than 35 hours per week, are still income eligible for TAFDC, and.are working and/or performing community service for at least 20 hours per week (if you are non-exempt) you should also be able to get an extension on your TAFDC benefits.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND LEGAL ADVICE: If you get a written notice saying your TAFDC benefits will be reduced because of earnings but you disagree with the amount of the reduction, or you are denied a supplemental payment when your earnings drop, you have the right to a hearing. You also have the right to appeal any denial of child care or transportation reimbursement. Free Legal Services may be available to give you more advice or representation. Call your local Legal Services program in your community to find out how they can help.
TAFDC Gross Income Test - EXEMPT Household Assistance Unit Size
A. Eligibility Standards No Rent Allowance
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 • 10 Incremental
$717.80 908.35 1,097.05 1,278.35 1,465.20 1,657.60 1,844.45 2,029.45 2,214.45 2,401.30 194.25
B. Eligibility Standards With Rent Allowance $791.80 982.35 1,171.05 1,352.35 1,539.20 1,731.60 1,918.45 2,103.45 2,288.45 2,475_30.. 194.25
In the event a clothing allowance or other one-time nonrecurring payment is authorized in the General Appropriations Act which temporarily increases the Eligibility Standards, the revised Eligibility Standards will be specified at Mass.gov/dta at Program Eligibility Charts and Tables during the effected time period. Paper copies are available upon request.
TAFDC Gross Income Test - NON-EXEMPT Household Assistance A. Unit Size
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Incremental
Eligibility Standard No Rent Allowance $699.30 884.30 1,069.30 1,245.05 1,428.20 1,613.20 1,796.35 1,973.95 2,155.25 2,336.55 190.55
B. Eligibility Standard
With Rent Allowance $773.30 958.30 1,143.30 1,319.05 1,502.20 1,687.20 1,870.35 2,047.95 2,229.25 2,410.55 190.55
In the event a clothing allowance or other one-time nonrecurring payment is authorized in the General Appropriations Act which temporarily increases the Eligibility Standards, the revised Eligibility Standards will be specified at Mass.gov/dta at Program Eligibility Charts and Tables during the effected time period. Paper copies are available upon request.,
TAFDC Net Income Test - EXEMPT Household
Assistance Unit Size 2
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Incremental
A. Payment Standards: No Rent Allowance $388.00 491.00 593.00 691.00 792.00 896.00 997.00 1,097.00 1,197.00 1,298.00 105.00
B. Payment Standards: With Rent Allowance $ $428.00 531.00 633.00 731.00 832.00 936.00 1,037.00 1,137.00 1,237.00 1,3.38.00 105.00
In the event a clothing allowance or other one-time nonrecurring payment is authorized in the General Appropriations Act which temporarily increases the Payment Standards,'the revised Payment Standards will be specified at Mass.gov/dta at Program Eligibility Charts and Tables during the effected time period. Paper copies are available upon request.
TAFDC Net Income Test - NON-EXEMPT Household
Assistance UnitSize 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Incremental
A, Payment Standards: No Rent Allowance $378.00 478_00 578.00 673.00 772.00 872.00 . 971.00 1,067.00 1465.00 1,262.00 103.00
B. Payment Standards: With Rent Allowance $418.00 518.00 618.00 713.00 812.00 912.00 1,011.00 1,107.00 1,205.00 1,303.00 103.00
In the event a clothing allowance or other one-time nonrecurring payment is authorized in the General Appropriations Act which temporarily increases the Payment Standards, the revised Payment Standards will be specified at Mass.gov/dta at Program Eligibility Charts and Tables during the effected time period. Paper copies are available upon request.
Simplified TAI(DC grant calculation worksheet • Family's Narne Number of eligible people in family
Date Rent Allowance El yes D no
1
Figure gross monthly earned income
$
2
Subtract $90 work expense deduction
$
3
TOTAL AFTER WORK EXPENSE DEDUCTION =
$
4
Subtract $30
$
5
TOTAL AF i ER $30 DEDUCTION
$
6
Subtract 113 or 1/2 of Line 5
7
TOTAL AFTER 1/3 OR 1/2 DEDUCTION (enter in Line 8)
8
TOTAL AFTER $30 & 113 or $30 & 12 AS APPLICABLE
9
Subtract dependent care expenses
10 TOTAL NET EARNED INCOME
=
90.00
30.00
$
$ =
$
11 Add countable unearned income $
12 TOTAL COUNTABLE INCOME (enter on Line 14) 13 Enter Payment Standard for family size based on exempt or non-exempt status (use amount with rent allowance as applicable) 14 Subtract total countable income (Line 12) from Payment Standard
-
$
15 MONTHLY TAFDC GRANT (round down to the nearest dollar)
Worksheet excerpted from TAFDC and EA Advocacy Guide, 2008 edition, pUblished by Massachusetts Law Reform Institute and Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc_
Instructions for completing worksheet
Line 1 For recipients on Monthly Reporting, add up all the earnings received during the "budget month" (two months before the payment month). For all other recipients, multiply weekly earned income by 4.333 or biweekly earned income by 2.167. 6 Exempt recipients get 1/3 deduction. Non-exempt recipients get 1/2 deduction. 9 Subtract dependent care expenses up to the Maximum Dependent Care Deductions for each dependent in chart below. .
Maximum Dependent Care Deductions Hours of Work Weekly
Monthly
1-10 1-43
Age of Dependent 2 or over
Under 2
$ 44
$ 50
11 - 20
44 - 87
$ 88
100
21 -30
88- 130
$132
$150
31+
" 131+
$175
$200
11
Do not count child support.
13
Use the payment standard from 106 C.M.R. 204.420 or 204.425, depending on whether you are exempt or non-exempt
15
The family's cash income may also include up to $50 a_month in current child support collected by the Department of Revenue and "passed through" to the family and/or $90 paid for a child excluded under the family cap. No cash payment is made if the grant amount is lesS than $10 a month, but the family is subject to the Work Program, time limit, family cap and other welfare rules.
HOW YOUR EARNINGS ARE COUNTED UNDER MEM:
Under the TAFDC rules, you may still be eligible for some cash benefits if you have earning. The amount of your TAFDC grant depends on how much you earn, your expenses and size of your family. If you are a current TAFDC recipient, not exempt from the time limit, the basic rules for counting earned income are: ONE: Calculate monthly gross income before taxes (weekly gross times 4.333 weeks), TWO: Deduct a flat $90/month deduction for work expenses (like taxes, uniforms, transportation, other costs of working). THREE: If you pay for child care, dedUct what yeti pay up to maximum limits of 5175/month if working 30-40 hours/week and your child is age 2 or over,.$88/morith if working 10 20 hours/week (more if child younger than 2)'. FOCI: Deduct an additional $30 plus 'A of the remainder as a "work incentive.." This $30 and% deduction continues as long as you are eligible for TAFDC. The remaining income is subtracted from the' TAFDC grant amount.
FOR EXAMPLE: Jane Doe has one child. She earns $600/month gross income (before
taxes). She has no child care expenses. Under these income rules, she has $240 in countable income: $600 gross monthly income - 90 (minus $90 standard work deduction, not including child care) $510 - 30 (minus the,$30 deduction)
$480 -240 (minus 16 of $480 - the "work incentive" deduction) $240 Net earned income counted against Jane's TAFDC grant. Jane would get $278.00 ($518 - $240) for total income of 5878.00 ($600 +$278)
If you are exempt from the work rules (you are disabled, have a child under ago 2 or other reason), the rules use a 530 and onethird deduction for earnings (not one-half). If you are a first time TAFDC applicant with earnings, special rules apply to your income before these deductions, Talk with an advocate.
n
EARNINGS AND TRAINING MONEY THAT DOES NOT COUNT:
Some earnings do not count Examples include college work study, reimbursements for job training or education related expenses, earnings from the VISTA program, training stipends of up to $130/rnonth. Earned income of your children under age 14 and earnings of children 14 to 19 years who are in school full time or who are in school part-time and employed full lime through the Job Training and Partnership Act (JTPA) do not count. Any income of an SSI recipient in the family also does not count against the TAFDC grant - but SST may count the earnings. -
REPORTING YOUR EARNINGS: TAFDC recipients must report any changes that may affect eligibility within 10 days of the change. To be safe, do so in writing and keep a copy of your statement. Most recipients with earned income are also required to report income monthly (known as "monthly reporting"). DTA will send you a form that asks you about all, your income, expenses and other changes_ If your wages drop, you can ask for a supplemental payment in your TAFDC grant. You can ask'your DTA worker about supplemental payments or write this request on the monthly report.
IF YOUR TAFDC STOPS BECAUSE YOUR EARNINGS INCREASE? •
If your TAFDC benefits stop, you may still be eligible for child care, Massilealth and Food Stamps. Your child care should continue for at least one year after you lose TAFDC eligibility because of earnings. DTA provides an authorization for this child care and the local child care resource and referral agency provides a voucher. The amount you pay will depend on your income. If you are still working at the twelve month after your benefits end you will be able to keep your voucher under the income eligible childcare program. if you got TAFDC cash benefits, your family's Masshealth benefits should automatically continue for at least a year after you go off TAFDC due to increased earnings provided you still arc employed and still have a dependent child. You may still be eligible for supplemental Pried Stamps. If your TAFDC ends, DTA is supposed to automatically calculate your Food Stamps based on the amount of your income (without TAFDC) and your expenses. You are eligible for five months of Food Stamps at that rate unless a new calculation would resultin a higher amount. Then DTA will recalculate based on the changed circumstances. DTA should send you a notice about how much you will receive. -
al
IF YOUR TAFDC STOPS !BECAUSE OF THE TIME LIMIT
If your TAFDC stops due to the twenty-four month time limit and you are working thirty five hours per week and you are still income eligible for TAFDC berCefits, you are entitled to an automatic benefit extension. If you are working less than 35 hours per week, are still income eligible for TAFDC, and.are working and/or performing community service for at least 20 hours per week (if you are non-exempt) you should also be able to get an extension on your TAFDC benefits.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND LEGAL ADVICE: If you get a written notice saying your TAFDC benefits will be reduced because of earnings but you disagree with the amount of the reduction, or you are denied a supplemental payment when your earnings drop, you have the right to a hearing. You also have the right to appeal any denial of child care or transportation reimbursement. Free Legal Services may be available to give you more advice or representation. Call your local Legal Services program in your community to find out how they can help.
TAFDC Gross Income Test - EXEMPT Household Assistance Unit Size
A. Eligibility Standards No Rent Allowance
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 • 10 Incremental
$717.80 908.35 1,097.05 1,278.35 1,465.20 1,657.60 1,844.45 2,029.45 2,214.45 2,401.30 194.25
B. Eligibility Standards With Rent Allowance $791.80 982.35 1,171.05 1,352.35 1,539.20 1,731.60 1,918.45 2,103.45 2,288.45 2,475_30.. 194.25
In the event a clothing allowance or other one-time nonrecurring payment is authorized in the General Appropriations Act which temporarily increases the Eligibility Standards, the revised Eligibility Standards will be specified at Mass.gov/dta at Program Eligibility Charts and Tables during the effected time period. Paper copies are available upon request.
TAFDC Gross Income Test - NON-EXEMPT Household Assistance A. Unit Size
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Incremental
Eligibility Standard No Rent Allowance $699.30 884.30 1,069.30 1,245.05 1,428.20 1,613.20 1,796.35 1,973.95 2,155.25 2,336.55 190.55
B. Eligibility Standard
With Rent Allowance $773.30 958.30 1,143.30 1,319.05 1,502.20 1,687.20 1,870.35 2,047.95 2,229.25 2,410.55 190.55
In the event a clothing allowance or other one-time nonrecurring payment is authorized in the General Appropriations Act which temporarily increases the Eligibility Standards, the revised Eligibility Standards will be specified at Mass.gov/dta at Program Eligibility Charts and Tables during the effected time period. Paper copies are available upon request.,
TAFDC Net Income Test - EXEMPT Household
Assistance Unit Size 2
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Incremental
A. Payment Standards: No Rent Allowance $388.00 491.00 593.00 691.00 792.00 896.00 997.00 1,097.00 1,197.00 1,298.00 105.00
B. Payment Standards: With Rent Allowance $ $428.00 531.00 633.00 731.00 832.00 936.00 1,037.00 1,137.00 1,237.00 1,3.38.00 105.00
In the event a clothing allowance or other one-time nonrecurring payment is authorized in the General Appropriations Act which temporarily increases the Payment Standards,'the revised Payment Standards will be specified at Mass.gov/dta at Program Eligibility Charts and Tables during the effected time period. Paper copies are available upon request.
TAFDC Net Income Test - NON-EXEMPT Household
Assistance UnitSize 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Incremental
A, Payment Standards: No Rent Allowance $378.00 478_00 578.00 673.00 772.00 872.00 . 971.00 1,067.00 1465.00 1,262.00 103.00
B. Payment Standards: With Rent Allowance $418.00 518.00 618.00 713.00 812.00 912.00 1,011.00 1,107.00 1,205.00 1,303.00 103.00
In the event a clothing allowance or other one-time nonrecurring payment is authorized in the General Appropriations Act which temporarily increases the Payment Standards, the revised Payment Standards will be specified at Mass.gov/dta at Program Eligibility Charts and Tables during the effected time period. Paper copies are available upon request.
Simplified TAI(DC grant calculation worksheet • Family's Narne Number of eligible people in family
Date Rent Allowance El yes D no
1
Figure gross monthly earned income
$
2
Subtract $90 work expense deduction
$
3
TOTAL AFTER WORK EXPENSE DEDUCTION =
$
4
Subtract $30
$
5
TOTAL AF i ER $30 DEDUCTION
$
6
Subtract 113 or 1/2 of Line 5
7
TOTAL AFTER 1/3 OR 1/2 DEDUCTION (enter in Line 8)
8
TOTAL AFTER $30 & 113 or $30 & 12 AS APPLICABLE
9
Subtract dependent care expenses
10 TOTAL NET EARNED INCOME
=
90.00
30.00
$
$ =
$
11 Add countable unearned income $
12 TOTAL COUNTABLE INCOME (enter on Line 14) 13 Enter Payment Standard for family size based on exempt or non-exempt status (use amount with rent allowance as applicable) 14 Subtract total countable income (Line 12) from Payment Standard
-
$
15 MONTHLY TAFDC GRANT (round down to the nearest dollar)
Worksheet excerpted from TAFDC and EA Advocacy Guide, 2008 edition, pUblished by Massachusetts Law Reform Institute and Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc_
Instructions for completing worksheet
Line 1 For recipients on Monthly Reporting, add up all the earnings received during the "budget month" (two months before the payment month). For all other recipients, multiply weekly earned income by 4.333 or biweekly earned income by 2.167. 6 Exempt recipients get 1/3 deduction. Non-exempt recipients get 1/2 deduction. 9 Subtract dependent care expenses up to the Maximum Dependent Care Deductions for each dependent in chart below. .
Maximum Dependent Care Deductions Hours of Work Weekly
Monthly
1-10 1-43
Age of Dependent 2 or over
Under 2
$ 44
$ 50
11 - 20
44 - 87
$ 88
100
21 -30
88- 130
$132
$150
31+
" 131+
$175
$200
11
Do not count child support.
13
Use the payment standard from 106 C.M.R. 204.420 or 204.425, depending on whether you are exempt or non-exempt
15
The family's cash income may also include up to $50 a_month in current child support collected by the Department of Revenue and "passed through" to the family and/or $90 paid for a child excluded under the family cap. No cash payment is made if the grant amount is lesS than $10 a month, but the family is subject to the Work Program, time limit, family cap and other welfare rules.
