Which income is and is not counted for EA?

The EA income rules generally are based on the income rules for the program of Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC), but some things count as income for EA that do not count for TAFDC. 106 C.M.R. § 309.020 (E), citing portions of 106 C.M.R. § 204.

Income that is counted for EA includes:

Earned income (such as wages, tips, salary, and self-employment income minus business expenses), 106 C.M.R. § 204.210(A), and

Unearned income (such as Social Security, unemployment compensation, veteran's benefits and income from trusts). 106 C.M.R. § 204.210(B).

Note

For EA (unlike TAFDC), countable income also includes Supplemental Security Income (SSI), TAFDC, Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC) and all child support actually received by the household. 106 C.M.R. § 309.020 (E).

Income that is not counted includes:

• foster care payments you receive for a foster child,
• food stamps (SNAP),
• federal higher education (college level) grants, loans and work study,
• other higher education grants and scholarships that cannot be used to meet current living expenses,
• any loan that cannot be used to meet current living expenses,
• training stipends up to $130 per month,
• reimbursements for training expenses,
• Youthbuild or Americorps earnings or payments to participants,
• earnings of a child under 14,
• certain restricted cash gifts from persons who are not financially responsible for anyone in the EA household, and
• assistance from social service or other organizations.

When DTA administered EA, it took the position that the following payments were non-countable (and, since DHCD is applying DTA's former regulations, DHCD should take the same position):

• up to $7,500 in relocation payments received by a tenant to leave a foreclosed property plus additional amounts you can verify are being used for relocation expenses, see DTA Transitions, Jan. 2008, p. 7, and
• payments from a reverse mortgage (loan that allows homeowner to withdraw equity from property), see DTA Transitions, April 2007, pp. 4-5.

This is not a complete list of noncountable income. The regulations describe over 30 types of noncountable income. Check the regulations for a more complete list. See 106 C.M.R. § 204.250(A)(2) through (QQ), cited in 106 C.M.R. § 309.020 (E).