The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) provides low-income individuals and families with transitional services that promote responsibility and self-sufficiency. DTA administers five major programs of income assistance and other services: Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC), Emergency Assistance (EA), Emergency Aid to Elderly, Disabled, and Children, the state supplement to the federal Supplemental Security Income program (SSI), and state and federal Food Stamp programs. The common focus of all DTA programs is to provide short-term assistance to individuals currently unemployed, and longer-term assistance to individuals who cannot work due to age, disability, or other factors. During Fiscal Year 1999, the Department will serve approximately 63,579 families in the TAFDC program, 165,000 DTA and Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB) clients eligible for federal SSI, and 16,770 individuals and families eligible for EAEDC.

Objectives

In Fiscal Year 1999, DTA will continue to implement the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA), with the primary focus on helping recipients into the workforce. During Fiscal Year 1998, many DTA recipients successfully made the transition to work; however, a portion of those remaining individuals face two year time limits and the loss of benefits beginning in 1998. To ensure that recipients are job-ready, the Department will continue to offer every recipient the opportunity to participate in work-training and education programs. For those families facing greater challenges that prevent them from obtaining work, the Department will provide transportation and expanded support programs.

In addition, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) will coordinate the programs of other EOHHS departments to provide substance abuse treatment, mental health services, and other family supports for TAFDC recipients. In combination with available Welfare-To-Work funds, this initiative will pull together the resources of all state government to reduce the barriers TAFDC recipients face in attaining self-sufficiency.

The Department will also fully operationalize the Benefit Eligibility and Computer On-line Network (BEACON) by December 1998. This will centralize intake and eligibility information and improve administrative efficiency.

In Fiscal Year 1999, the Department will assume responsibility for administering the SSI state supplement program. A state administered program will provide more flexibility for establishing eligibility standards, and greater ability to monitor state spending. In addition, state administration will be more cost-effective than paying administrative fees to the federal government.

The Department will begin administering the SSI state supplement program by April 1, 1999. Once fully operational, the Department will process state benefit checks for 165,000 recipients, 6,000 of whom are clients of the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind. In addition to processing state benefit checks, the Department will be responsible for conducting benefit re-determinations and case management for 23,000 individuals who receive only state benefits.

Budget Recommendations

The Fiscal Year 1999 recommendation for DTA is $936.63 million. This spending recommendation includes $291.77 million of federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant dollars.

In Fiscal Year 1999, the Commonwealth will receive a total of $459.4 million in federal TANF block grant dollars. In addition to the $291.77 million in TANF spending at DTA, $91.87million of the total block grant will be transferred to the Child Care fund, $45.94 million will be transferred to the Social Services fund, and $29.79 million will be used to fund child care programs for TAFDC recipients at the Office for Child Care Services.

The Fiscal Year 1999 recommendation includes an additional $3 million for employment support and transportation (4401-1000); $2.9 million to provide emergency rental assistance for an additional 2,913 families (4403-2110); and $2.8 million for assisted living residential placements for an additional 625 individuals (4405-2000).

In Fiscal Year 1999, the program providing nutritional assistance to noncitizens, formerly administered at the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (4000-0175), will be moved to DTA .

These recommendations also include $600,000 to improve the salaries for the Department's lowest paid, contracted, direct care workers. In Fiscal Year 1998, this funding was appropriated as part of a reserve account in the Executive Office for Administration and Finance.

Budgetary Direct Appropriations

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATION
4400-1000	For the operation of the department of transitional assistance, including the development and maintenance of automated data processing systems and services in support of department operations, and for the administration of department programs in local transitional assistance offices, including the expenses of operating a food stamp program	137,757,632
	General Fund 65.97% Transitional Aid to Needy Families Fund 34.03%

EMPLOYMENT SERVICES PROGRAM
4401-1000	For a program to provide employment and training services for recipients of benefits provided under the program of transitional aid to families with dependent children and the absent parents of said recipients; provided, 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 the provisions of chapter 118 of the General Laws but for the deeming of the grandparents` income, shall be allowed to participate in the employment and training services program; provided further, that certain transportation and employment support services may be made available to former recipients of transitional aid to families with dependent children subject to regulations promulgated by the department of transitional assistance; provided further, that not more than $3,000,000 shall be expended on said services; provided further, that payment for the costs of transportation to an approved activity by means other than public transportation or private automobile shall be permitted only when transportation by said means is not reasonably available and affordable, and shall be subject to reasonable maximums determined by the department; provided further, that the department may require certain recipients participating in community service programs to participate in job search activities provided through the department in lieu of community service or, with the department`s assistance, to seek an alternative community service site; provided further, that the department may allocate funds from this item to other state agencies, including community colleges, for the purposes of the employment and training services program; and provided further, that the MassJOBS Council shall explore all other job training initiatives within the commonwealth, including but not limited to federal Welfare-to-Work initiatives in each service delivery area, to supplement the program funded herein	27,944,367
	Transitional Aid to Needy Families Fund 51.71% General Fund 48.29%

TAFDC GRANT PAYMENTS
4403-2000	For a program of transitional aid to families with dependent children; provided, that notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, benefits funded by this item shall be paid only to citizens of the United States and to noncitizens for whom federal funds may be used to provide benefits; provided further, that the need standard shall be equal to the standard in effect in fiscal year 1989; provided further, that the payment standard shall be equal to the need standard; provided further, that the payment standard for families which do not qualify for an exempt category of assistance under the provisions of subsection (e) of section 110 of chapter 5 of the acts of 1995 shall be 2.75 per cent below the payment standard in effect in fiscal year 1995, pursuant to the provisions of the state plan required under the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, so called; provided further, that the department of transitional assistance shall notify all teen parents receiving benefits from said program of the requirements found in clause 2 of subsection (i) of said section 110 of said chapter 5; 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 non-recurring children`s clothing allowance in the amount of $150 shall be provided for each child eligible under this program in September 1998; provided further, that benefits under this program shall not be available to those families in which a child has been removed from the household pursuant to 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 social services in accordance with department procedures; provided further, that notwithstanding the provisions of section 2 of chapter 118 of the General Laws, or any other general or special law to the contrary, the department of transitional assistance 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 such payments are to be made or within the three-month period following the month of such payments, and who, if such child had been born and were living with her in the month of payment would have been 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 such loss; 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 services 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 may enter into an interdepartmental service agreement with the office of new americans for the purpose of allocating funds to the Massachusetts refugee resettlement program for certain individuals who are eligible to receive benefits under the transitional aid to families with dependent children program; provided further, that those individuals eligible for benefits through said Massachusetts refugee resettlement program pursuant to said interdepartmental service agreement shall not be eligible for benefits pursuant to chapters 117A or 118 while eligible for cash assistance under said Massachusetts refugee resettlement program; provided further, that the total cost of providing cash assistance to said individuals under said Massachusetts refugee resettlement program shall not exceed what the total cost would have been to provide cash assistance under the transitional aid to families with dependent children program for the same recipients; and provided further, that no funds so allocated shall be used for the costs of managing or administering the Massachusetts refugee resettlement program	359,328,286
	General Fund 50.00% Transitional Aid to Needy Families Fund 50.00%

SUPPLEMENTAL TRANSITIONAL FAMILY AID
4403-2002	For a program of supplemental transitional aid to families with dependent children; provided, that benefits under this item shall be provided only to persons who are not citizens of the United States and for whom, pursuant to section 401, 402, or 403 of the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, 8 U.S.C. section 1611, 1612, or 1613, federal funds may not be used to provide benefits pursuant to chapter 118 of the General Laws, but who are qualified aliens within the meaning of section 431 of said Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, 8 U.S.C. section 1641, or are otherwise permanently residing in the United States under color of law; provided further, that notwithstanding the provisions of 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 1989; provided further, that the payment standard shall be equal to the need standard; provided further, that the payment standard for families which do not qualify for an exempt category of assistance under the provisions of subsection (e) of section 110 of chapter 5 of the acts of 1995 shall be 2.75 per cent below the payment standard in effect in fiscal year 1995; provided further, that the department shall notify all teen parents receiving benefits from said program of the requirements found in clause 2 of subsection (i) of said section 110 of said chapter 5; 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 non-recurring children`s clothing allowance in the amount of $150 shall be provided for each child eligible under this program in September 1998; provided further, that benefits under this program shall not be available to those families in which a child has been removed from the household pursuant to a court order after a care and protection hearing on child abuse, nor to adult recipients otherwise eligible for supplemental 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 the provisions of 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 such payments are to be made or within the three-month period following the month of such payments, and who, if such child had been born and were living with her in the month of payment would have been categorically and financially eligible for supplemental 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 such loss; 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 services 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 in promulgating, amending, or rescinding its regulations with respect to eligibility for, or levels of benefits under, the program of supplemental transitional aid to families with dependent children, the department shall take into account the amount available to it for expenditure from this item so as not to exceed the amount appropriated herein; and provided further, that the commissioner of the department of transitional assistance is hereby authorized to transfer a total amount not to exceed 40 per cent of the funds appropriated herein to item 4403-2000	18,637,000

EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE - RENT ARREARAGES
4403-2110	For expenses of the emergency assistance program directly attributable to rent liability; provided, that no funds shall be expended for heat or utility arrearages, so called; provided further, that the department of transitional assistance may provide limited related services in the event of a disaster as defined by regulations promulgated by the department; provided further, that said services shall be defined as payments for advance rent, security deposits, sheltering, housing search, food, clothing, and housing supplies; provided further, that in promulgating, amending, or rescinding regulations with respect to eligibility or benefits under said program, the department shall take into account the amount available to it for expenditure from this item so as not to exceed the amount appropriated herein; provided further, that the department shall prepare and promulgate rules and regulations pursuant to the provisions of this item and of item 4403-2120 to prevent abuse in the emergency assistance program; provided further, that said rules and regulations shall include but not be limited to a year-to-year cross check of recipients to determine whether a person has received similar benefits in the previous 36 months; provided further, that if a person has utilized emergency assistance benefits more than once within 36 months, the department is hereby authorized and directed to place said person on a protective payment schedule for the entire period during which said person is receiving said benefits; provided further, that no advance payments shall be paid in fiscal year 1999; 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, and shall not be provided to illegal or undocumented aliens; and provided further, that no emergency assistance expenditures which are not explicitly authorized herein shall be made from this item	12,398,704
	Transitional Aid to Needy Families Fund 87.40% General Fund 12.60%

TEEN STRUCTURED SETTINGS
4403-2119	For the provision of structured settings as provided in subsection (i) of section 110 of chapter 5 of the acts of 1995 for parents under the age of 20 years who are receiving benefits under the transitional aid to families with dependent children program	5,279,009

EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE - FAMILY SHELTERS AND SERVICES
4403-2120	For certain expenses of the emergency assistance program as herein delineated: (i) contracted family shelters; (ii) transitional housing program; (iii) program to reduce homelessness in Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket counties; (iv) intake centers, so called, and (v) voucher shelters, so called; provided, that no funds may be expended for heat or utility arrearages, so called; provided further, that in promulgating, amending, or rescinding regulations with respect to eligibility or benefits under said program, the department of transitional assistance shall take into account the amount available to it for expenditure from this item so as not to exceed the amount appropriated herein; provided further, that the department shall promulgate rules and regulations to prevent abuse in the emergency assistance program pursuant to the provisions of this item and of item 4403-2110; provided further, that said rules and regulations shall include but not be limited to a year-to-year cross check of recipients to determine whether a person has received similar benefits in the previous 36 months; provided further, that if a person has utilized emergency assistance benefits more than once within 36 months, the department is hereby authorized and directed to place said person on a protective payment schedule for the entire period during which said person is receiving said benefits; provided further, that no advance payments shall be paid in fiscal year 1999; provided further, that the department is authorized to enter into an interdepartmental service agreement with the department of housing and community development for a program to prevent homelessness; 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 and shall not be provided to illegal or undocumented aliens; and provided further, that no emergency assistance expenditures which are not explicitly authorized herein shall be made from this item	34,749,195
	Transitional Aid to Needy Families Fund 89.00% General Fund 11.00%

FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR NONCITZENS
4404-1000	For a program of nutritional assistance through the purchase of federal food stamps for distribution in fiscal year 1999 to residents of the commonwealth who are qualified aliens within the meaning of section 431 of the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, so called, and noncitizens otherwise permanently residing under color of law in the United States; provided, that such a resident shall be eligible for such benefits only if he (1) is ineligible for federal food stamp benefits pursuant to the provisions of sections 401, 402, or 403 of said act, (2) would be eligible for federally funded food stamps but for his citizenship status, and (3) has resided in the commonwealth for at least 60 days; provided further, that priority in the distribution of such benefits shall be given to persons who were receiving federally funded food stamps in fiscal year 1997 but were rendered ineligible for such benefits by operation of said sections 401, 402, or 403; provided further, that the benefit levels established for said program shall, to the extent feasible, replicate the equivalent levels in effect for the federal food stamp program as of June 30, 1997, but shall be reduced by a consistent percentage across all benefit levels to the extent necessary to ensure that expenditures for said program do not exceed the amount appropriated herein; and provided further, that such benefits may be distributed by electronic benefit transfer to the extent such distribution does not jeopardize otherwise available federal funding or impede the effective distribution of such benefits	6,000,000

STATE SUPPLEMENT TO FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME FOR AGED AND DISABLED
4405-2000	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, pursuant to section 7A of chapter 118A of the General Laws, may be paid from this item; provided further, that the payment levels for the optional supplement categories shall be those in effect on July 1, 1995; provided further, that the department of transitional assistance, in collaboration with the division of medical assistance, is hereby authorized to fund an optional supplement living arrangement category under the supplemental security income program that makes payments to persons living in assisted living residences certified pursuant to chapter 19D of the General Laws who meet the income and clinical eligibility criteria established by the department and said division; and provided further, that the department is authorized and directed to take all necessary steps to implement state administration of said supplement not later than April 1, 1999	201,435,215

HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS ASSISTANCE
4406-3000	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 the department of transitional assistance may allocate funds to other state agencies for the purposes of this program	29,801,695

EMERGENCY AID TO THE ELDERLY, DISABLED AND CHILDREN
4408-1000	For a program of cash assistance to certain residents of the commonwealth pursuant to chapter 117A of the General Laws, entitled emergency aid to the elderly, disabled and children, who are found by the department of transitional assistance to be eligible for such aid, pursuant to regulations promulgated by the department and subject to the limitations of the appropriation therefor; provided, that the payment standard shall equal the payment standard in effect under the emergency aid to the elderly, disabled and children program in fiscal year 1998; provided further, that a $35 rent allowance, to the extent possible within the amount appropriated herein, shall be paid to all households incurring a rent or mortgage expense and not residing in public housing or subsidized housing; provided further, that the department may provide benefits to persons 65 years of age or older who have applied for benefits pursuant to 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, which substantially reduces or eliminates the individual`s capacity to support himself or herself, 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, to otherwise eligible students under 21 years of age who are regularly attending a full-time grade school, high school, technical school, or vocational school not beyond the secondary level, and to families with dependent children whose sole reason for ineligibility for benefits pursuant to chapter 118 of the General Laws is either an inability to satisfy the work history requirement or an inability to satisfy the relationship requirement of the program authorized in said chapter 118; provided further, that the department shall establish non-financial eligibility requirements for said families consistent with the transitional aid to families with dependent children program; provided further, that no ex-offender, person over 45 years of age without a prior work history, or person in a residential treatment facility shall be eligible for benefits under this program unless said person otherwise meets the eligibility criteria described herein and defined by regulations of the department; provided further, that any person incarcerated in a correctional institution shall not be eligible for benefits under this program; provided further, that any person who would be ineligible for benefits under the transitional aid to families with dependent children program because of provisions relating to those convicted of drug-related felonies in section 115 of the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, or those who are fugitive felons or probation or parole violators under 42 U.S.C. section 608(a)(9), shall not be eligible for benefits under this program; provided further, that no funds shall be expended from this item for the payment of expenses associated with any medical review team or other disability screening process, or any other costs associated with verifying disability for this program; 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 amount available to it for expenditure from this item so as not to exceed the amount appropriated herein; provided further, that the department is authorized to promulgate emergency regulations pursuant to chapter 30A of the General Laws to implement such eligibility or benefit changes or both; 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 said program that are returned to the department, in an amount not to exceed $13,500,000, shall be credited to this account and may be expended without further appropriation for the purposes of this program; and provided further, that notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, the funds made available herein shall be the only funds available for this program, and the department shall make no expenditure for this program in excess of the amounts made available herein	70,801,500

Budgetary Retained Revenues

CHILD SUPPORT RETAINED REVENUE
4403-2013	The department of transitional assistance is hereby authorized to expend an amount not to exceed $32,500,000 accrued from the child support payments collected pursuant to Title IV-D of the Social Security Act, for the purposes of the program of transitional aid to families with dependent children pursuant to the provisions of item 4403-2000	32,500,000

Federal Grant Spending

FOOD STAMP EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING GRANT
4400-3066	For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Food Stamp Employment and Training Grant	2,250,000

FULL EMPLOYMENT FOOD STAMP CASH OUT
4400-3069	For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Full Employment Food Stamp Cash Out	1,800,000

FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION
4400-9054	For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Family Violence Prevention	25,000