This is not the official budget document.

Budget Summary FY2009

Department of Transitional Assistance
Data Current as of:  6/22/2009





FISCAL YEAR 2009 BUDGET SUMMARY ($000)
ACCOUNT FY2009
Conference
FY2009
Vetoes
FY2009
Overrides
FY2009
GAA
FY2009
Total
Spending
Department of Transitional Assistance 68,137 0 0 68,137 65,966  
Food Stamp Participation Rate Programs 2,933 0 0 2,933 2,896  
Domestic Violence Specialists 722 0 0 722 722  
Caseworker Salaries and Benefits 58,873 0 0 58,873 58,607  
Employment Services Program 27,721 0 0 27,721 24,597  
Employment Services Program Federal Food Stamp Reimbursement Retained Revenue 7,000 0 0 7,000 7,000  
TAFDC Grant Payments 302,743 0 0 302,743 298,170  
Supplemental Nutritional Program 1,200 0 0 1,200 1,200  
Teen Structured Settings Program 6,928 0 0 6,928 6,928  
Emergency Assistance - Family Shelters and Services 87,224 -645 645 87,224 114,656  
State Supplement to Supplemental Security Income 219,305 0 0 219,305 218,387  
Homeless Individuals Assistance 36,282 0 0 36,282 36,282  
Home and Healthy for Good 1,200 0 0 1,200 1,200  
Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children 72,476 0 0 72,476 78,574  
TOTAL    892,742 -645 645 892,742 915,185  

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account description amount
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE 915,185,258
Budgetary Direct Appropriations  
Direct Appropriations
4400-1000 Department of Transitional Assistance
For the central administration of the department of transitional assistance; provided, that during fiscal year 2009 the department shall maintain 2 transitional assistance offices in the city of Springfield; provided further, that all costs associated with verifying disability for all programs of the department shall be paid from this item; provided further, that the department shall submit on a monthly basis to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the secretary of administration and finance a status report on program expenditures, savings and revenues, error rate measurements, and public assistance caseloads and benefits; provided further, that the department shall collect all out-of-court settlement restitution payments; provided further, that the restitution payments shall include, but not be limited to, installment and lump sum payments; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, unless otherwise expressly provided, federal reimbursements received for the purposes of the department, including reimbursements for administrative, fringe and overhead costs, for the current fiscal year and prior fiscal years, shall be credited to the General Fund; provided further, that an application for assistance under chapter 118 of the General Laws shall be deemed an application for assistance under chapter 118E of the General Laws; provided further, that if assistance under said chapter 118 is denied, the application shall be transmitted by the department to the executive office of health and human services for a determination of eligibility under said chapter 118E; provided further, that the department shall, to the extent feasible within the appropriation provided, provide for extended office hours; provided further, that the department shall accomplish the staffing of these extended office hours to the maximum extent possible through the use of flex-time that will allow workers to modify their working hours to accommodate their specific personal and family needs; provided further, that the department shall, to the extent feasible within the appropriation provided, continue and expand the program of placing workers at community and human service organizations for the purposes of facilitating food stamp applications and redeterminations; provided further, that the department shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and means no later than December 15, 2008 on the extended office hours and placement of workers at community and human service organizations that the department has determined is feasible within the appropriation provided and that the department will provide in the current fiscal year; and provided further that not less than $800,000 shall be expended for the operation of the homeless management information system
65,965,656
4400-1001 Food Stamp Participation Rate Programs
For programs to increase the commonwealth's participation rate in food stamps and other federal nutrition programs; provided, that not less than $1,500,000 shall be expended for a grant with Project Bread-The Walk for Hunger, Inc. which shall be solely responsible for administering a comprehensive, community-based program to alleviate and prevent hunger and to expand participation in federal nutrition programs; provided further, that Project Bread shall focus on communities in Massachusetts with the highest rates of hunger as defined by the United States Census Bureau; provided further, that Project Bread shall develop a strategic plan to alleviate hunger; provided further, that Project Bread shall support research relative to the prevention and effect of hunger; provided further, that not less than $250,000 shall be expended for the Food Source Hotline; provided further, that the work of department employees paid for from this item shall be restricted to processing food stamp applications; provided further, that the department shall not require food stamp applicants to provide re-verification of eligibility factors previously verified and not subject to change; provided further, that, notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department shall require only 1 signature from food stamp applicants; provided further, that the department shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than December 1, 2008 on the status of these programs; provided further, that Project Bread shall file with the clerk of the house of representatives and the clerk of the senate an annual report on the status of hunger in the commonwealth and a detailed explanation of the hunger prevention strategies that have been developed and implemented not later than December 1, 2008; provided further, that the department shall fund a unit staffed by department employees to respond to food stamp inquiries, and arrange for and conduct telephone interviews for initial food stamp applications from this item; provided further, that the department shall fund a system to image and catalogue eligibility documents electronically from this item; and provided further, that not less than $350,000 shall be expended for food stamp outreach
2,896,257
4400-1025 Domestic Violence Specialists
For domestic violence specialists at local area offices
722,345
4400-1100 Caseworker Salaries and Benefits
For the payroll of the department's caseworkers; provided, that only employees of bargaining unit eight shall be paid from this item
58,607,349
4401-1000 Employment Services Program
For employment and training services, including support services, for recipients of benefits provided under the transitional aid to families with dependent children; provided, that funds from this item may be expended on former recipients of the program for up to 1 year after termination of their benefits; provided further, that not less than $4,600,000 shall be expended for the Young Parents Program; and provided further, that certain parents who have not yet reached the age of 18 years, including those who are ineligible for transitional aid to families with dependent children and who would qualify for benefits under chapter 118 of the General Laws but for the deeming of the grandparents' income, shall be eligible to receive services
24,597,457
4403-2000 TAFDC Grant Payments
For a program of transitional aid to families with dependent children; provided, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, benefits under the program of transitional aid to families with dependent children shall be paid only to citizens of the United States and to non-citizens for whom federal funds may be used to provide benefits; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law, or any provisions of this act to the contrary, no benefits under this item shall be made available to illegal or undocumented aliens; provided further, that the need standard shall be equal to the standard in effect in fiscal year 2008 unless the department determines that a reduction in the monthly payment standard should be implemented before the end of the fiscal year to keep program expenditures within the amounts appropriated in this item; provided further, that the payment standard shall be equal to the need standard; provided further, that the payment standard for families who do not qualify for an exempt category of assistance under subsection (e) of section 110 of chapter 5 of the acts of 1995, or any successor statute, shall be 2.75 per cent below the otherwise applicable payment standard, in fiscal year 2009, pursuant to the state plan required under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996; provided further, that the department shall notify parents under the age of 20 receiving benefits from the program of the requirements found in clause (2) of subsection (i) of said section 110 of said chapter 5 of the acts of 1995, or any successor statute; provided further, that a $40 per month rent allowance shall be paid to all households incurring a rent or mortgage expense and not residing in public housing or subsidized housing; provided further, that a nonrecurring children's clothing allowance in the amount of $150 shall be provided to each child eligible under this program in September 2008; provided further, that the children's clothing allowance shall be included in the standard of need for the month of September 2008; provided further, that benefits under this program shall not be available to those families where a child has been removed from the household pursuant to a court order after a care and protection hearing under chapter 119 of the General Laws, nor to adult recipients otherwise eligible for transitional aid to families with dependent children but for the temporary removal of the dependent child or children from the home by the department of social services in accordance with department procedures; provided further, that notwithstanding section 2 of chapter 118 of the General Laws, or any other general or special law to the contrary, the department shall render aid to pregnant women with no other eligible dependent children only if it has been medically verified that the child is expected to be born within the month the payments are to be made or within the 3 month period after the month of payment, and who, if the child had been born and was living with her in the month of payment would be categorically and financially eligible for transitional aid to families with dependent children benefits; provided further, that certain families that suffer a reduction in benefits due to a loss of earned income and participation in retrospective budgeting may receive a supplemental benefit to compensate them for the loss; provided further, that the department shall review its disability standards to determine the extent to which they reflect current medical and vocational criteria and report to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities on the results of that review before any changes to the standards are proposed; provided further, that no funds from this item shall be expended by the department for child care or transportation services for the employment and training program; provided further, that no funds from this item shall be expended by the department for family reunification benefits or informal child care; provided further, that the department shall provide oral and written notification to all recipients of their child care benefits at the time of application and on a semi-annual basis; provided further, that the notification shall include the full range of child care options available, including center-based child care, family-based child care, and in-home relative child care; provided further, that the notification shall detail available child care benefits for current and former recipients, including employment and training benefits, transitional benefits and post-transitional benefits; provided further, that the department shall work with the department of early education and care to ensure that both recipients currently receiving benefits and former recipients during the 1 year period after termination of benefits are provided written and verbal information about child care services; provided further, that the notice shall further advise recipients of the availability of food stamps benefits; provided further, that in promulgating, amending or rescinding its regulations with respect to eligibility for, or levels of benefits under the program, the department shall take into account the amounts available to it for expenditure by this item so as not to exceed the appropriation; provided further, that not less than $418,074 shall be expended for the purposes of the operation of the transportation assistance program operated by Traveler's Aid Family Services; provided further, that not less than $150,000 shall be expended for the lift transportation program operated by Traveler's Aid Family Services; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, 60 days before promulgating any eligibility or benefit changes, the commissioner shall file with the house and senate committees on ways and means and with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives a detailed and comprehensive report setting forth the text of, basis, and reasons for the proposed changes; and provided further, that the report shall state the department's most accurate assessment of the probable effects of benefit or eligibility changes upon recipient families
298,169,875
4403-2007 Supplemental Nutritional Program
For the department of transitional assistance to develop and implement a nutritional benefit program for low-income workers; provided, that benefits shall be provided only to those for whom receiving these benefits will improve the work participation rate under the federal program of temporary assistance for needy families
1,200,000
4403-2119 Teen Structured Settings Program
For the provision of structured settings as provided in subsection (i) of section 110 of chapter 5 of the acts of 1995, or any successor statute, for parents under the age of 20 who are receiving benefits under the transitional aid to families with dependent children program
6,927,953
4403-2120 Emergency Assistance - Family Shelters and Services
For certain expenses of the emergency assistance program as follows: (i) contracted family shelters; (ii) transitional housing programs; (iii) programs to reduce homelessness in Barnstable, Dukes, Hampden and Nantucket counties; (iv) residential education centers for single mothers with children; (v) intake centers; and (vi) voucher shelters; provided, that eligibility shall be limited to families with income at or below 130 per cent of the federal poverty level; provided, however, that any family whose income exceeds 130 per cent of the federal poverty level while the family is receiving assistance funded by this item shall not become ineligible for assistance due to exceeding the income limit for a period of 6 months from the date that the 130 per cent level was exceeded; provided further, that the department shall establish reasonable requirements for such families to escrow some or all of the portion of their income which exceeds 130 per cent of the federal poverty level; provided further, that any such escrowed funds shall be exempt from otherwise applicable asset limits; provided further, that the family may withdraw the amount placed in escrow upon transition to permanent housing or losing eligibility for shelter services; provided further, that benefits under this item shall be provided only to residents who are citizens of the United States or aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence or otherwise permanently residing under color of law in the United States; provided further, that the department shall take all steps necessary to enforce regulations to prevent abuse in the emergency assistance program; provided further, that no emergency assistance expenditures shall be paid from this item unless explicitly authorized; provided further, that eligible households shall be placed in shelters as close as possible to their home community unless a household requests otherwise; provided further, that if the closest available placement is not within 20 miles of the household's home community, the household shall be transferred to an appropriate shelter within 20 miles of its home community at the earliest possible date unless the household requests otherwise; provided further, that eligibility for shelter by an otherwise eligible family shall not be impaired by prior receipt of any non-shelter benefit; provided further, that the department shall make every effort to ensure that children receiving services from this item shall continue attending school in the community in which they lived prior to receiving services funded from this item; provided further, that notwithstanding any other general or special law to the contrary, the department shall immediately provide shelter for up to 30 days to families who appear to be eligible for such shelter based on statements provided by the family and any other information in the possession of the department but who need additional time to obtain any third-party verifications reasonably required by the department; provided further, that shelter benefits received under the preceding proviso shall not render a family ineligible under any regulation providing that a family who previously received shelter is ineligible for shelter benefits for a period of 12 months; provided further, that families receiving such shelter benefits who are found not to be eligible for continuing shelter benefits shall be eligible for aid pending a timely appeal pursuant to section 16 of chapter 18 of the General Laws; provided further, that the department shall not impose unreasonable requirements for third-party verification and shall accept verifications from the family whenever reasonable; provided further, that in promulgating, amending or rescinding regulations with respect to eligibility or benefits under this program, the department shall take into account the amounts available to it for expenditure in this item so as not to exceed the amount appropriated in this item; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, 60 days before promulgating any such eligibility or benefit changes, the commissioner shall file with the house and senate committees on ways and means and with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate a determination by the secretary of health and human services that available appropriations for the program will be insufficient to meet projected expenses and a report setting forth such proposed changes; provided further, that all of this item shall be subject to appropriation and, in the event of a deficiency, nothing in this item shall give rise to or shall be construed as giving rise to any enforceable right or entitlement to services in excess of the amounts appropriated by this item; provided further, that nothing in the preceding proviso shall authorize the department to alter eligibility criteria or benefit levels except to the extent that such changes are needed to avoid a deficiency in this item; provided further, that the department shall report quarterly to the house and senate committees on ways and means on the emergency assistance family shelter program; provided further, that the report shall contain the same data required in this item in chapter 139 of the acts of 2006; provided further, that the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless First Stop Homelessness Prevention Initiative and the Horizons for Homeless Children Playspace Program shall receive not less than the same amount of funding as in fiscal year 2008; provided further, that not less than $1,668,180 shall be expended for the Housing Assistance Program operated by Community Action Programs Inter-City, Inc.; provided further, that contract (RPO) SCWELL 4092500010000 with Open Pantry Community Services, Inc., be an amount not less than $545,195; provided further, that an amount not less than $179,381 shall be expended for the Crossroads Family Shelter in East Boston; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended for a contract with Project Just Because, a non-profit organization in the town of Hopkinton, to assist in providing food, supplies, and services to the indigent and those in danger of becoming homeless across the MetroWest region; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended for the Weymouth Youth and Family Services Teen Center to provide for advocacy, social service programs and to promote growth, social welfare and education; provided further, that $25,000 shall be expended for education, advocacy and case management services by Casa Latina, located in the City of Northampton; and provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended for the River House shelter in Beverly
114,656,116
4405-2000 State Supplement to Supplemental Security Income
For the state supplement to the supplemental security income program for the aged and disabled, including a program for emergency needs for supplemental security income recipients; provided, that the expenses of special grants recipients residing in rest homes, as provided in section 7A of chapter 118A of the General Laws, may be paid from this item; provided further, that the department, in collaboration with the executive office of health and human services, may fund an optional supplemental living arrangement category under the supplemental security income program that makes payments to persons living in assisted living residences certified under chapter 19D of the General Laws who meet the income and clinical eligibility criteria established by the department and the office; provided further, that the optional category of payments shall only be administered in conjunction with the Medicaid group adult foster care benefit; and provided further, that reimbursements to providers for services rendered in prior fiscal years may be expended from this item
218,386,855
4406-3000 Homeless Individuals Assistance
For the homelessness program to assist individuals who are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless, including assistance to organizations which provide food, shelter, housing search and limited related services to the homeless and indigent; provided, that no organization providing services to the homeless shall receive less than an average per bed/per night rate of $12.92; provided further, that the department may allocate funds to other agencies for the purposes of this program; provided further, that organizations which received funds through this item in fiscal year 2008 shall receive not less than that same percentage share of this appropriation in fiscal year 2009; provided further, that no funds shall be expended for costs associated with the homeless management information system; and provided further, that funds appropriated to this item from item 1599-6901 shall be calculated and distributed separately from any additional rate increase provided
36,281,684
4406-3010 Home and Healthy for Good
For a grant to the Home and Healthy for Good program operated by the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance for the purpose of reducing the incidence of chronic homelessness in the commonwealth; provided, that the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance shall be solely responsible for the administration of this program; provided further, that the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance shall file a report with the clerks of the house and senate, the commissioner of the department of transitional assistance, and the chairs of the house and senate committees on ways and means no later than March 2, 2009, detailing the implementation of this program; and provided further, that the report shall include information on the number of people served, the average cost per participant, the demographics of those served, whether participants have previously received government services and any projected cost-savings in other state-funded programs
1,200,000
4408-1000 Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children
For a program of cash assistance to certain residents of the commonwealth, entitled emergency aid to the elderly, disabled and children found by the department to be eligible for the aid under chapter 117A of the General Laws and regulations promulgated by the department and subject to the limitations of appropriation therefore; provided, that benefits under this item shall only be provided to residents who are citizens of the United States or qualified aliens or non-citizens otherwise permanently residing in the United States under color of law and shall not be provided to illegal or undocumented aliens; provided further, that the individual shall not be a subject to sponsor income deeming or related restrictions; provided further, that the payment standard shall equal the payment standard in effect under the general relief program in fiscal year 1991; provided further, that the department may provide benefits to persons age 65 or older who have applied for benefits under chapter 118A of the General Laws, to persons suffering from a medically-determinable impairment or combination of impairments which is expected to last for a period as determined by department regulations and which substantially reduces or eliminates the individual's capacity to support himself and which has been verified by a competent authority, to certain persons caring for a disabled person, to otherwise eligible participants in the vocational rehabilitation program of the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission and to dependent children who are ineligible for benefits under both chapter 118 of the General Laws and the separate program created by section 210 of chapter 43 of the acts of 1997 and parents or other caretakers of dependent children who are ineligible under said chapter 118 and under the separate program; provided further, that no ex-offender, person over age 45 without a prior work history or person in a residential treatment facility shall be eligible for benefits under this program unless the person otherwise meets the eligibility criteria described in this item and defined by regulations of the department; provided further, that no person incarcerated in a correctional institution shall be eligible for benefits under the program; provided further, that no funds shall be expended from this item for the payment of expenses associated with any medical review team, other disability screening process or costs associated with verifying disability for this program; provided further, that the department shall adopt emergency regulations under chapter 30A of the General Laws to implement the changes to this program required by this item promptly and within the appropriation; provided further, that in initially implementing the program for this fiscal year, the department shall include all eligibility categories permitted in this item at the payment standard in effect for the former general relief program in fiscal year 1991; provided further, that in promulgating, amending or rescinding its regulations with respect to eligibility or benefits, including the payment standard, medical benefits and any other benefits under this program, the department shall take into account the amounts available to it for expenditure by this item so as not to exceed the amount appropriated in this item; provided further, that the department may promulgate emergency regulations under chapter 30A of the General Laws to implement these eligibility or benefit changes or both; provided further, that nothing in this item shall be construed as creating any right accruing to recipients of the former general relief program; provided further, that reimbursements collected from the Social Security Administration on behalf of former clients of the emergency aid to the elderly, disabled and children program or unprocessed payments from the program that are returned to the department shall be credited to the General Fund; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the funds made available in this item shall be the only funds available for the program, and the department shall not spend funds for the program in excess of the amount made available in this item; and provided further, that, notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, 60 days before implementing any eligibility or benefit changes, the commissioner shall file with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate a determination by the secretary of health and human services that available appropriations for the program will be insufficient to meet projected expenses and a report setting forth the proposed changes
78,573,711

account description amount
Retained Revenues
4401-1101 Employment Services Program Federal Food Stamp Reimbursement Retained Revenue
For the department of transitional assistance which may expend not more than $7,000,000 from federal bonuses and from reimbursements received from the United States Department of Agriculture for food stamp outreach and employment and training programs and any enhanced funding or bonuses; provided, that the department may expend such revenue for employment and training services provided to recipients of transitional aid to families with dependant children
7,000,000

account description amount
Federal Grant Spending 16,025,000
4400-0705 McKinney Emergency Shelter Grants Program
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Emergency Shelter Grants
2,900,000
4400-0707 Department of Housing and Urban Development Continuum of Care
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Continuum of Care
6,000,000
4400-3066 Training for Food Stamp Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Training for Food Stamp ABAWDs
1,600,000
4400-3067 Food Stamp Employment and Training
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Food Stamp Employment and Training
2,100,000
4400-3069 Full Employment Program Food Stamp Cash Out
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Full Employment Food Stamp Cash-Out
25,000
4400-9404 McKinney Shelter Plus Care - Continuum of Care
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, McKinney Shelter Plus Care
3,400,000