If English is not your primary language or you are deaf or hard of hearing, DTA must provide you with a bilingual DTA worker or an interpreter (in person or by telephone) if you want one. 106 C.M.R. § 360.510. If no bilingual staff person or DTA interpreter is available, the DTA office must use a tele-language line to locate an interpreter without delay.
If you are calling by phone, the worker or receptionist should do a three-way phone call with you and the tele-language service to ensure you are able to communicate with DTA and received same services as all others.
Under federal law, DTA is required to send written notices and materials to you in your primary language if you do not speak English. DTA currently only translates its BEACON-generated notices and forms into Spanish. If you do not receive a notice in your primary language, this could be a violation of federal SNAP/food stamp law. Contact an advocate.
Advocacy Reminders
- By federal law, DTA must provide you with an interpreter if you need one. DTA should not tell you to bring your own interpreter. See Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000d. DTA should not tell you to have a family member interpret for you. The 2008 Farm Bill codified the regulatory requirements in the food stamp statute. (See Section 4118, Public Law 110-246, June 18, 2008.)
- Federal food stamp law also requires DTA to have written materials in languages other than English if there are at least 100 households in the area served by the welfare office that speak that language. 7 C.F.R. § 272.4(b)(3). A written notice cutting or stopping your benefits is not valid if it is not in your primary language, you do not read English, and there are 100 or more households in the area served by the welfare office that speak your language.
- For more information on the federal and state government's duties to persons with limited English proficiency (LEP), see the LEP website and the Civil Rights Division’s Coordination and Review Section on the US Department of Justice website.
- For SNAP/food stamps information in 35 languages, see teh SNAP section of the USDA Food and Nutrition Service website
Additional Policy Guidance on Interpreter Requirements
Additional Policy Guidance on Interpreter Requirements
- Reaffirms DTA obligations to meet its Title VI obligations to provide bilingual services to LEP clients with extensive guidance on use of interpreters. Workers must use tele-language line if bilingual staff is not available. No need for supervisory sign-off to access language line, and workers should use three-way calling with phone clients (not require them to come in). DTA cannot turn a client away or tell them to come back due to a lack of interpreters. Children under age 12 not allowed to interpret; older children only for setting up appointments; interpreter should be offered even if English-speaking family member or friend accompanies client to DTA. DTA Field Operations Memo 2008-16 (Apr. 1, 2008).
Produced by Patricia Baker, Laura Gallant, Deborah Harris, Rochelle Hahn Massachusetts Law Reform Institute Last updated January 2011
