Budget Amendment ID: FY2014-S3-573

EHS 573

Benefit Eligibility Reforms

Messrs. Tarr, Hedlund, Knapik and Ross moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section _ the following sections:-

SECTION _.  Subsection D of section 2 of chapter 18 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking, in line 119, the word “and”.

SECTION _. Subsection D of section 2 of chapter 18 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by adding  the following clauses:—

(g) the immediate termination of benefits to any recipient who has failed to notify the department of a change of address, and who the department has attempted to contact by mail, but the mail communication has been returned to the department as undeliverable because the recipient no longer resides at said address; and

(h) the immediate termination of benefits to any recipient who has failed to provide the department with a social security number within 3 months of application for assistance, unless said person has good cause not to provide a social security number as provided for by the Immigration Nationality Act.

SECTION _. Paragraph 1 of section 22 of chapter 18 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following sentences:—

Self-declarations by applicants or recipients shall be signed under the pains and penalties of perjury and shall not be accepted as the sole verification of categorical and financial eligibility during eligibility evaluations and reviews.