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Part 1: General Eligibility Rules

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TAFDC Advocacy Guide

• Introduction
• Part 1: General Eligibility Rules
  • 1. Who can get TAFDC?
  • 2. Which families with children can get TAFDC?
  • 3. Can you get TAFDC if neither parent is in the home?
  • 4. Can you get TAFDC if the child is not in the home?
  • 5. How young must children be to qualify?
  • 6. Can you qualify if you are pregnant and do not have a child living with you?
  • 7. What if you just moved to Massachusetts? What if you are homeless or temporarily not in Massachusetts?
  • 8. What if you are not a citizen?
  • 9. What are the special noncitizen eligibility rules for battered immigrants and their families?
  • 10. Do you have to have a Social Security number?
  • 11. Do you have to tell DTA anything about your child's other parent?
  • 12. Can you get TAFDC if you are a teen parent or pregnant teen?
  • 13. What are the school attendance rules for teen parents and pregnant teens?
  • 14. What is the living arrangement rule for minor teen parents and pregnant teens?
  • 15. What if you are a minor teen parent or pregnant teen and your parent's home is not safe for you or there is some other reason you cannot live there?
  • 16. Are there any living arrangement rules for teen parents and pregnant teens who are 18 or 19?
  • 17. Can you get your own grant if you are living with a parent?
  • 18. What are the school requirements for children ("Learnfare")?
  • 19. How do you verify school attendance and which absences are excused?
  • 20. What are the immunization rules?
  • 21. What if you are on strike?
  • 22. What if you have an outstanding default or arrest warrant?
  • 23. What if you have a criminal history?
  • 24. What if a disability makes it hard for you to meet DTA rules or use DTA services?
  • 25. How do you ask DTA for an accommodation?
  • 26. What are your rights if DTA denies your reasonable accommodation request?
  • 27. Should you ask DTA to screen you for a learning disability?
  • 28. What if you are a domestic violence survivor?
• Part 2: Assistance Units
• Part 3: Time Limit and Work Program Rules and Exemptions
• Part 4: Financial Eligibility
• Part 5: Benefits and Services
• Part 6: Applications and Proofs
• Part 7: Proving Continuing Eligibility
• Part 8: Appeal Rights
• Part 9: Overpayments and Fraud
• Appendices

By

Massachusetts Law Reform Institute

Reviewed

Reviewed

January 2024

Text

Part 1 of the TAFDC Advocacy Guide has information about who is eligible for TAFDC in Massachusetts.

Go to the table of contents, or download this chapter as a PDF below.

TAFDC Advocacy Guide Part 1: General Eligibility (January 2024).

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1. Who can get TAFDC?

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