Application for Other Benefits EAEDC

As a condition of eligibility, Emergency Assistance to the Elderly, Disabled, and Children (EAEDC) clients must apply for other benefits that they may be eligible for. This is true both at application and when a change occurs that indicates potential eligibility for other benefits. These benefits include, but are not limited to:

  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  • Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML)
  • Unemployment Insurance (UI)
  • Workers Compensation (WC)
  • Veterans’ Services Benefits (VSB)
  • Railroad Retirement Benefits (RRB)

When completing an interview or when a client reports a change, you must ask about other benefits they could potentially be eligible for. If it appears the client could be eligible for another type of benefit, the client must apply, and you must follow the procedures outlined in each section below.

ExamplesExamples

Maurice (he/him) has applied for EAEDC as a disabled individual. He reported that he was injured at work and will not be able to return to work for six to eight months. He submitted an EAEDC Medical Provider Statement, and his medical provider checked the box next to the duration of 60 days to 12 months. Because Maurice was injured at work, he must apply for Workers Compensation benefits. Because his disability is not expected to last one year or more, he is not required to apply for SSI.

Lydia (they/them) is a disabled individual applying for EAEDC. Lydia and their spouse recently married, and Lydia reports their spouse is a veteran. Lydia stated that they had been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis several years ago, but the disease has progressed, and they are no longer able to work. Because Lydia does not believe they will be able to return to work at all, they must apply for SSI. Additionally, since Lydia indicated that their spouse is a veteran, Lydia must apply for Veteran’s Services Benefits.

Applying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

EAEDC clients who may be eligible for SSI must apply for these benefits as a condition of eligibility for EAEDC. They must also appeal any denial from SSA. This includes:

  • disabled individuals whose disability or health condition has lasted or is expected to last one year or more and
  • those 65 or older.

For information on how to assist clients with applying for SSI see Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Requirement - EAEDC.

Applying for Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML)

EAEDC clients must apply for PFML at application and at case maintenance when the client reports that they:

  • are temporarily absent from their job without pay,
  • are expected to return to work, and
  • are absent due to the following reasons: their own health issue or because they are caring for a relative with a serious medical condition.

Other EAEDC clients do not have to apply for PFML.

You must explain to clients that the PFML benefit will likely be greater than the cash assistance amount. You must offer to help the client apply for PFML. If they would like assistance, you must make a three-way call to the Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML) to initiate an application for PFML. You must do this during the application interview or place a separate call to the client if necessary. Write a detailed narrative to explain how you assisted the client.

If you cannot place the three-way call, or the client declines, you must send a VC-1 for application for PFML benefits. You must create a User-entered VC-1 for Additional Verification. Enter Application for Other Benefits in the Details field and enter:

"You have stopped working due to caring for a relative or you have stopped working due to your own health condition. You must apply for Paid Family and Medical Leave. Call the Department of Family and Medical Leave at 833-344-7365 or apply online. You must give DTA proof that you applied for Paid Family and Medical Leave. Tell your case manager if you need help to apply for PFML.”

If you place a three-way call with the client to DFML to initiate the PFML application, this counts as proof that the client initiated the PFML application, and the verification element must be marked as verified.

If the client applies for PFML online without your assistance, they must submit a screenshot of their PFML account or an email confirming their application to prove that they initiated the PFML application.  

If the client applies for PFML by phone without your assistance, they may not have anything to prove that they initiated their application. In this case, you must accept a one-time telephonic self-declaration. You must revisit this at the next reevaluation and verification that the client has applied for PFML must be received to compete the reevaluation.

If the client fails to apply for PFML and you have assisted the client in connecting with DFML, you must document your efforts in a narrative. The case must be denied for Fail to apply for other benefit(s) under Noncooperation. You must not deny the case for failure to apply for PFML unless you offered the client assistance in applying for PFML. If you did not assist the client to initiate an application for PFML you must approve the application and then assist the client in connecting with DFML.

If an EAEDC client reports that they are receiving PFML, enter the income type Paid Family and Medical Leave on the Other Income page. This will populate a mandatory verification for Paid Family and Medical Leave on the Verification tab. If the client reports that they are receiving PFML and does not submit verification of PFML benefits, the case must be closed for Fail to submit the required verifications under Noncooperation on the AU Composition Results page.

Applying for Unemployment Insurance (UI)

Clients with an active UI claim are not eligible for EAEDC even if the weekly payment amount is zero or if they are waiting for payments to begin.

If a client has applied for EAEDC based on having a disability or health condition that prevents them from working, they must not be asked to apply for UI as a condition of eligibility for EAEDC. At application, if the client already applied for UI prior to applying for EAEDC, that claim must be denied for the client to be eligible for EAEDC.

If an active EAEDC client who was employed stops working, you must explore the reason that the client stopped working. If the client indicates that they left the job because their disability or health condition interfered with their ability to maintain the employment, they must not be asked to apply for UI. If, however, the client states that they were laid off from the job, they must apply for UI as a condition of continued eligibility for EAEDC.

If the client has not already applied for UI, you must create a user entered VC-1 by selecting the user entered verification element Application for Other Benefits and then selecting Unemployment Compensation in the Value drop down.

You must inform the client they can apply for UI benefits:

Clients who have filed a previous UI claim will use the same log in information each time they file a claim. If the client does not have access to the email address that they originally provided to DUA or they have been the victim of identity theft, they will need to provide DUA with proof of their identity to reset their account. At times this may require the client to go in person to the DUA office with proof of identity. If the client indicates they have been unable apply for UI because they have not been able to resolve the issue after multiple attempts to contact DUA, you must ask your supervisor to request that a local office director or Systems Information Specialist (SIS) send an email to the procedural mailbox for further guidance.

Once the client has applied, the case manager will be able to view the status of the UI claim on the DUA website, see Unemployment Compensation.

Applying for Workers’ Compensation (WC)

Clients who have been injured at work or have an illness caused by their employment, must apply for WC as a condition of eligibility for EAEDC. Employers are responsible for providing this coverage to their employees. Because the insurance is purchased through individual insurance companies, there is no statewide means of filing an application. A client with an injury or illness caused by their employment must report this to their employer to facilitate a claim. See Workers Compensation for more information.

If the client has not already applied for WC, you must create a user entered VC-1 by selecting the user entered verification element Application for Other Benefits and then selecting Workers’ Compensation in the Value drop down.

Clients have met their obligation once they have provided proof that they reported the injury or work-related illness to their employer. This is verified by:

  • a letter or an email from the employer,
  • a copy of the Employers First Report of Injury or Fatality (Form-101) that the client receives once the employer has filed the claim with the insurance company, or
  • other documentation from the insurance company or the employer showing an application for WC was filed.

If the client indicates a barrier to obtaining the information from their employer, you must offer to assist the client to the best of your ability. This may include placing a collateral contact three-way call with the client and the employer to verify that the injury has been reported.  

If the client does not provide verification by the due date, you must deny the application or close the active EAEDC case by selecting Failure to apply for other benefits under Noncooperation on the AU Composition Results page.

Applying for Veterans’ Services Benefit (VSB)

The Executive Office of Veterans’ Services offers needs-based financial assistance to Massachusetts veterans, their spouse, and their dependents under the Chapter 115 program. EAEDC applicants who are a veteran, the spouse of a veteran, or the dependent of a veteran must apply for this benefit as a condition of eligibility for EAEDC. Clients must be directed to their local Veterans’ Services Office to apply. A directory to search for a local office by can be found at MASSVETS | Mass.gov. The phone numbers and addresses for each local office are provided using this search tool.

You must:

  • provide the phone number for the local Veterans’ Services Office to the client,
  • inform the client to let DTA know once they have made the request to apply, and
  • send a VC-1 with a user entered verification element of Application for Other Benefits with a Value of Veterans’ Benefits.

If the client indicates a barrier to applying for these benefits, you must offer to assist the client to the best of your ability. This may include placing a three-way collateral contact call to Veterans’ Services with the client to make a request to apply.

If the client fails to apply for VSB, you must deny the EAEDC application by selecting Failure to Apply for Other Benefits under Noncooperation on the AU Composition Results page.

Applying for Railroad Retirement Benefits (RRB)

Railroad Retirement Benefits are available to retired or disabled workers or survivors through the Railroad Retirement Board. EAEDC applicants who indicate they are a former employee of the railroad or a survivor of a former employee, must apply for these benefits as a condition of eligibility for EAEDC.

You must:

  • inform the client they can:
    • apply for these benefits at myRRB, or
    • call (877) 772-5772 to request an in-person appointment to apply, and
  • send a mandatory VC-1 to apply for Railroad Retirement Benefits.

Note: Because Railroad Retirement Benefits is not a Value to select under the Application for Other Benefits Element, to do so you must select Additional Verification under Element and then type Application for Railroad Retirement Benefits in the Detail(s) section. Select the Mandatory radio button and add a row to type the following under Document(s) of Evidence: You must send proof that you have applied for Railroad Retirement Benefits.

To assist the client in deciding whether they want to apply in person, you must tell them that there is only one office located in Massachusetts at:

408 Atlantic Avenue

Boston, MA 02110-3349

Clients can also send a secure message to the office on the US Railroad Retirement Board website.

If the client does not have access to a computer or otherwise indicates barriers to applying, you must offer to assist the client to the best of your ability. This may include placing a three-way collateral contact call to the phone number above to request an appointment to apply for these benefits.

If the verification that the client has applied for these benefits is not returned, the EAEDC must be denied by selecting Failure to submit required verifications under Noncooperation on the AU Composition Results page.

Important: You must inform the client that if they begin receiving any of the above benefits, they must report the income to DTA within 10 days.

Last updated: December 21, 2023