Application for Other Benefits-TAFDC

As a condition of eligibility, Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) 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:

Retirement Survivors Disability Insurance (RSDI)
Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML)
Unemployment Insurance (UI)
Workers Compensation (WC)
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 above, the client must apply, and you must follow the procedures outlined in each section below.

Additional benefits that TAFDC clients may be eligible for are:

Veteran’s Services Benefits (VSB)
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

TAFDC clients should be encouraged to apply for VSB and SSI if potentially eligible, but they are not required to do so as a condition of eligibility. If a TAFDC client chooses to apply for VSB or SSI, you must provide them with the information on how to file the application, found under Applying for Veterans Services Benefits (VSB) and Applying for Retirement Survivor’s Disability Insurance (RSDI) below.

Examples

Example 1Example 1Orlando (he/him) is a TAFDC applicant who recently gained custody of his two daughters because their mother has passed. Orlando had to take a family leave from his job to get the girls settled and address their needs. He will be on leave for twelve weeks. The letter from his employer states that he is on an unpaid leave. Because Orlando was working and will be returning to work, he must apply for PFML. In addition, due to the reported death of his daughters’ mother, Orlando must apply for RSDI benefits for the two children.

Example 2Example 2Leslie (she/her) is applying for TAFDC benefits for herself and her 16-year-old son. She was working full time and was laid off for the winter. She reports there is no other income for the home, and she is no longer receiving child support because her child’s father recently passed. Leslie must apply for RSDI on behalf of her child. Since Leslie was laid off, she must also apply for UI benefits.

Example 3Example 3Francisco (they/them) has applied for TAFDC for themselves and their son. Francisco states they recently left their job and are unable to work due to a disability. They are on unpaid leave from work, and they hope to be able to return but they are unsure at this time. Because Francisco is on an unpaid leave from work, they are required to apply for PFML as a condition of eligibility. Francisco should be encouraged to apply for SSI when and if it is determined that they will not be able to return to work due to their disability, but they are not required to do so.

Applying for Retirement Survivors Disability Insurance (RSDI)

At application, TAFDC clients who may be eligible for RSDI must apply for these benefits as a condition of eligibility for TAFDC. This includes:

children who have a deceased parent,
children whose parent receives RSDI, and
a surviving spouse.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has informed DTA that due to back logs in requests for appointments to apply for benefits, they are sometimes unable to immediately schedule an appointment when the request is made. As a result, clients are facing delays in obtaining an appointment to apply for RSDI. The client has met the obligation for TAFDC purposes when they verified that they have requested an appointment to apply for RSDI.

This can be verified by:

a collateral contact three-way call with the client and SSA,
an email from SSA indicating the client has requested an appointment to apply,
an Appointment Confirmation letter from SSA,
a letter from SSA indicating the client has made a request for an appointment,
a Receipt for your Claim of Retirement Survivors Disability Insurance from SSA,
the SSA systems generated application form receipt from SSA,
any other documentation from SSA that shows a pending application or appeal, or
if a client states they requested an appointment by phone on their own, but haven’t received a confirmation letter from SSA, you must accept their self-declaration. However, you must verify this at their next reevaluation. Verification of this is needed to complete the reevaluation.

Clients are able to file an application for RSDI for themselves online, however they are not able to file an application or make a request for an appointment to file an RSDI application for Survivor Benefits using the internet. Explain to the client that they can request an appointment to apply for RSDI Survivor Benefits by calling the Social Security Administration (SSA). You must offer to help the client initiate the request for an appointment to apply for RSDI while you are on the phone with them.

To assist the client in initiating the request for an appointment, place a three-way call to the local Social Security Administration (SSA) office that covers the client’s place of residence. See Social Security Office Locator for a tool to search this by zip code.

Important: While many local office phone numbers are available using this tool, there are a several zip codes (particularly in the Boston Area) that provide only the main number for SSA, 1-800-772-1213. If you are unable to locate a local office’s direct phone number, you will need to use the main SSA phone number which can have increased wait times.

Note: Clients who would like to make a request for an appointment to apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) can be directed to the SSA website or provided the phone number for their local SSA office using the search tool noted above, however filing an application for SSI is not a condition of eligibility for TAFDC.

You must offer to assist clients in making a request for an appointment to apply for RSDI during the application interview or when the client reports the death of a spouse or a child’s parent. If the client does not want to make a request for an appointment to file the RSDI application by completing a three-way call, you must provide them with the phone number to their local Social Security Administration (SSA) office to apply (or the main number for SSA if a local number is not available) and write a detailed narrative to explain how you assisted the client.

If the client fails to apply for RSDI or make a request for an appointment to do so, and you have attempted to assist the client in connecting with SSA, you must deny the TAFDC by selecting Failure to Apply for Other Benefits under Noncooperation on the AU Composition Results page. You must not deny the case for this reason if you have not offered to assist the client and documented your efforts in the narrative.

In this case, if all other verifications have been returned, you must approve the TAFDC and then assist the client in connecting to SSA.

Applying for Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML)

TAFDC 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 TAFDC 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 is required to complete 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 a TAFDC 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 PMFL benefits, the case must be closed for Fail to submit the required verifications under Noncooperation.

Applying for Unemployment Assistance (UI)

TAFDC applicants who have had recent employment are required to apply for Unemployment Insurance (UI) as a condition of eligibility for TAFDC.

Active TAFDC clients who report they have stopped working are also required to apply.

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:

by phone at (877)626-6800, or
by using the Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) website. See Unemployment Insurance (UI) Online Application.

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 they originally provided to DUA for their UI claim 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 a client indicates they have been unable to 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 TAFDC. 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. The employer must file the claim with their insurance company. 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 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 TAFDC case by selecting Failure to apply for other benefits under Noncooperation.

Applying for Railroad Retirement Benefits (RRB)

Railroad Retirement Benefits are available to retired or disabled workers or survivors though the Railroad Retirement Board. TAFDC 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 TAFDC.

You must:

inform the client they can:
- apply for these benefits online 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 TAFDC must be denied by selecting Failure to submit required verifications under Noncooperation on the AU Composition Results page.

Applying for Veteran’s Services Benefit (VSB)

The Executive Office of Veterans Services offers needs-based financial assistance to Massachusetts veterans, their spouses, and their dependents under the Chapter 115 program. TAFDC applicants who are a veteran, the spouse of a veteran, or the dependent of a veteran may be eligible for these benefits. TAFDC clients can choose to apply for either TAFDC or Veteran’s Services Benefits. You must assist the client with determining which benefit will be better for them.

Clients can 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 when the client reports they have begun receiving Veterans’ Benefits.

If the client would like to apply for these benefits and indicates a barrier 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 Veterans’ Services with the client to make a request to apply.

Important: Because it is not mandatory for a TAFDC client to apply for VSB, do not send a VC-1 unless the client reports they have started receiving these benefits.

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.