Page 8
Massachusetts TANF State Plan
• Participating in an education or training activity including a certificate or degree program from a four-year institute of higher education, community college or certificate program provided the degree does not exceed a bachelor’s degree • Participating in a vocational program for not more than 12 months; or • Meeting housing search requirements while residing in emergency shelter
A complete list of qualified work activities can be found at 106 CMR 707.130 - 190.
Exemptions
Exemptions from the work program requirement and time limited benefits can be found in statute in Chapter 5, Section 110 (e)(1) of the Acts of 1995 and in regulation at 106 CMR 703.100 (A)(1). The exemption reasons are: • Disability • Being essential to the care of a disabled child, spouse or child’s other parent living in the home • 33rd week or later of pregnancy • Having a child living in the home under age 2, except for a teen parent’s dependent child if the teen parent is living in the home • Being a parent under the age of 20 who is meeting living arrangement and school requirements • Being a relative caregiver who is not part of the assistance unit • Age 66 or older • Age 60 – 66 who is the primary caregiver for the child and retired prior to receiving TAFDC
Good Cause
Parents or caregivers may claim good cause for failure to meet TAFDC work program requirements. These are found in regulation at 106 CMR 701.380 and include: • Appropriate child care is not available • Family crisis or emergency situation • Health condition or illness that prevents participation • Lack of affordable or reliable transportation • Participation in housing search in an emergency shelter • Lack of an available and appropriate community service site
Sanctions for Non-Compliance When a parent or caregiver is not engaged in work or an activity after 60 days or stops participating in work or an activity without good cause, they are removed from the grant and the grant is reduced to the lower household size until the parent or caregiver connects with the FEW and accepts a program referral. If the parent or caregiver does not participate after accepting a program referral, the grant is terminated for the whole family.