Section 22. For the purpose of considering the need for service or assistance of an applicant or recipient of programs provided in accordance with chapters one hundred and seventeen, one hundred and eighteen, and one hundred and eighteen E, the department shall require the verification of all elements of categorical and financial eligibility. Such verification requirements, including home visits by workers assigned to recipients, shall be reasonable and in accordance with federal law and regulations, where applicable. Self-declarations by applicants or recipients of transitional aid to families with dependent children shall be signed under the penalties of perjury and, if possible, shall not be accepted as the sole verification of categorical and financial eligibility during eligibility evaluations and reviews.
The department shall determine what verification requirements can be reasonably met by third party affidavits and shall provide notification to recipients and applicants of the circumstances that third party affidavits may be used; provided, however, that all work participation forms shall be verified by a third party who shall sign the work participation form under the penalties of perjury. For the purposes of verification, the department may accept a payroll stub that contains an employer's federal employment identification number. The department shall establish reasonable procedures for the verification of continuing eligibility, including monthly reporting and retrospective budgeting where appropriate. Except for eligibility requirements which the department has determined to be subject to frequent variation, the department shall not terminate benefits to recipients for failure to provide reverification without a reasonable belief that the condition has changed for which reverification is requested. The department shall promulgate uniform rules and regulations designating which eligibility requirements are subject to frequent variation.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part I - Administration of the Government
Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth
Chapter 18 - Department of Transitional Assistance
Section 1 - Department of Transitional Assistance
Section 2 - Comprehensive Financial Assistance Program; Services
Section 2a - Food Stamp Employment and Training Plan; Maximization of Federal 50–50 Match Program
Section 2b - Educational Program; Services
Section 3 - Commissioner; Appointment; Qualifications; Salary
Section 4 - Deputy Commissioner; Assistant Commissioners; Qualifications; Salaries; Succession; Bond
Section 5 - Organization of Department; Regional Offices; Community Service Areas
Section 5b - False Representations or Failure to Disclose Facts; Penalty
Section 5c - Vendors' Bill for Services; Perjury
Section 5d - Vendors; Violations
Section 5e - Return of Unlawful Payments
Section 5f - Father's Leaving Family to Obtain Assistance; Penalty
Section 5g - Claimant; Subrogation
Section 5l - Food Stamp Benefits Trafficking; Penalty
Section 5m - Organizational Food Stamp Benefits Trafficking; Penalty
Section 5n - Fraud Hotline; Sign Display
Section 7 - Community Service Area Boards
Section 8 - Civil Service Status of Commissioners; Restoration
Section 9 - Employees of Department; Delegation of Responsibilities
Section 10 - Reports; Rules and Regulations; Federal Aid
Section 11 - Lists of Recipients; Publication; Records; Rules and Regulations
Section 14 - Reciprocal Agreements
Section 18 - Reimbursement of Department; Recipient Arrearages; Furniture Payments
Section 18a - Failure of Custodial Parent to Cooperate With Iv–d Agency
Section 19 - Eviction From Furnished Apartment; Furniture; Relocation
Section 20 - Purchase of Home or Income Producing Property
Section 21 - Support and Maintenance; Subrogation of Department; Termination of Assistance; Notice
Section 22 - Verification of Categorical and Financial Eligibility
Section 26 - Direct Payment of Rent; Public Housing; Appeal
Section 27 - Direct Payment of Rent; Request of Landlord or Recipient
Section 27a - Direct Deposit of Assistance Checks at Banking Institutions; Option of Recipient
Section 29 - Repayment of Fraudulently Obtained Assistance; Lien
Section 30 - Overpayments of Assistance; Repayment Agreement; Assignment of Income
Section 31 - Job Diversion Program; Services
Section 32 - Participation in Pathways to Self-Sufficiency Program Required; Exceptions
Section 33 - Providing of Social Security Number Required; Exceptions; Penalty for Noncompliance
Section 34 - Tracking of Outcomes of Individuals Served by Training and Employment Service Programs
Section 35 - Availability of Caseworker via Telephone to Recipient of Cash Assistance
Section 36 - Fraud Detection Program