Section 31. (a) The department, in collaboration with the commonwealth corporation, shall develop a job diversion program for applicants for cash assistance under transitional aid to families with dependent children to identify applicants who have the necessary job skills and experience and match those applicants with appropriate full-time employment prior to receiving benefits. The job diversion program shall be mandatory for all identified applicants over the age of 18 who are not attending a secondary school full-time or participating in an education or training activity, as defined in 106 CMR 203.400(A)(2)(i); provided, however, that the program shall not be mandatory for an applicant exempt from the work requirements under 106 CMR 203.400(A)(1)(a) to (c), inclusive; and provided further, that the program shall not be mandatory for an applicant participating in a substance abuse treatment program while in a substance abuse shelter or other in-patient program.
(b) The program shall identify able-bodied applicants who are capable of working and attempt to match them with jobs prior to receiving benefits. For those identified applicants not connected with full-time employment prior to receiving cash assistance, the department shall provide a written finding as to why the job diversion program was not successful. The findings shall be part of the applicant's case file. An applicant otherwise eligible for assistance shall not be denied temporary benefits while awaiting job diversion placements.
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