Franklincountynow.com Staff Report
(Boston, MA) — The State Senate has passed legislation to reduce barriers and expand access to critical safety net programs for vulnerable Massachusetts residents impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The bipartisan legislation temporarily prohibits the Department of Transitional Assistance from denying applications for the Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) program or the Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC) program on the basis of those program’s asset limits.
“We must break down as many barriers as we can between people and crucial safety net programs. And for many people right now, the small stipend provided by TAFDC and EAEDC could allow them to just hang on,” said Senator Jo Comerford (D-Northampton), Chair of Joint Committee on Public Health and Chair of the Senate COVID-19 Working Group.
Read more details and reaction to the bill here Senate Passes Bill to Enhance Access to Safety Net Resources