4403-2000 Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children Grant Pmt

For a program of transitional aid to families with dependent children (TAFDC); provided, that the payment standard shall be equal to the need standard; provided further, that the need standard shall be equal to the need standard in effect in the month of April in calendar year 2025, 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 notwithstanding section 218 of chapter 149 of the acts of 2004, recipients whose youngest child is of the age at which full time schooling is mandatory or older shall be required to participate in 30 hours per week; provided further, that not less than $1,000,000 shall be expended for cash and transportation benefits for transitional aid to families with dependent children clients whose case is closed due to earnings, for a work-related activity period not to exceed 12 months, to assist them with short-term self-sufficiency; provided further, that the department shall notify parents under 20 years of age who are receiving benefits from the program of the requirements in clause (2) of subsection (i) of said section 110 of said chapter 5 or any successor law; provided further, that a $40 per month rental 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 children's clothing allowance of $500 shall be provided to each child eligible under this program in September 2026; provided further, that the children's clothing allowance shall be included in the standard of need for the month of September 2026; provided further, that benefits under this program shall not be available to those families in which a child has been removed from the household under a court order after a care and protection hearing on child abuse, 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 children and families in accordance with that department's procedures; 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 the pregnancy has been medically verified , and who, if the child had been born and was living with that parent 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 this loss; provided further, that the department may review and revise its disability standards to reflect current medical and vocational criteria; provided further, that applicants and recipients for TAFDC or any other program administered by the department who participate in department family advisory boards may be eligible for stipends up to $400 per year; and provided further, that these stipends shall not be considered countable income for Massachusetts public benefit eligibility purposes