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Massachusetts TANF State Plan

family child care, and license exempt options that are willing to enter into a voucher agreement at the state maximum rate for services). The CCRR makes referrals only to appropriate, licensed child-care providers and discusses licensed-exempt options, such as in-home and relative care. If the recipient refuses all referrals made by the CCRR, the recipient shall be deemed to have been offered appropriate and available child care, unless the recipient can provide a reasonable explanation to EEC why the child care should be considered unavailable to or inappropriate for the particular family. Unsuitability of informal child care is defined as each child-care provider, licensed by EEC, is generally considered an appropriate resource for recipients who need child care. The Child Care Resource and Referral (CCRR) agency staff will assist TANF recipients in making informed decisions regarding the child care search by assessing each family's needs and reviewing available child care options, which include the entire mixed delivery system (center-based, family child care, and license exempt options that are willing to enter into a voucher agreement at the state maximum rate for services). The CCRR makes referrals only to appropriate, licensed child-care providers and discusses licensed-exempt options, such as in-home and relative care. If the recipient refuses all referrals made by the CCRR, the recipient shall be deemed to have been offered appropriate and available child care, unless the recipient can provide a reasonable explanation to EEC why the child care should be considered unavailable to or inappropriate for the particular family. Affordable child care arrangements are defined as each child-care provider, licensed by EEC, is generally considered an appropriate resource for recipients who need child care. The Child Care Resource and Referral (CCRR) agency staff will assist TANF recipients in making informed decisions regarding the child-care search by assessing each family's needs and reviewing available child-care options, which include the entire mixed delivery system (center-based, family child care, and license exempt options that are willing to enter into a voucher agreement at the state maximum rate for services). The CCRR makes referrals only to appropriate, licensed child-care providers and discusses licensed-exempt options, such as in-home and relative care. If the recipient refuses all referrals made by the CCRR, the recipient shall be deemed to have been offered appropriate and available child care, unless the recipient can provide a reasonable explanation to EEC why the child care should be considered unavailable to or inappropriate for the particular family. Employment Incentives

To support employment and ease the ‘cliff effect’, a parent or caretaker who is working while receiving TAFDC receives a 100% earned income disregard for the first six months of employment as long as their earned income does not exceed 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). After six months the family receives a $200 work related expense deduction and a 50% earned income disregard. In a two parent family each parent or caretaker is eligible for the earned income disregards.

Transitional Support Services (TSS)

When a TAFDC case closes due to earnings, an employed parent or caregiver will receive a stipend for four months to support their transition off TAFDC benefits into employment.