Only children who get TAFDC get the September clothing allowance. Children who get SSI cannot get the clothing allowance. If your child cannot get TAFDC, they cannot get the clothing allowance.

If your family gets TAFDC because you are a dependent child, you will get the $450 clothing allowance for yourself. You can also get the $450 clothing allowance for each child you have, as long as they get TAFDC.

If you get TAFDC now, you do not have to do anything to get the clothing allowance. In late August or September, DTA will pay your family $450 for every child in the family who is less than 19 and gets TAFDC. 

For every child who already gets TAFDC:

• DTA will make the $450 payment on August 25.
• DTA will deposit the $450 in the family’s EBT account or bank account.
• DTA will send a notice to households telling them about the payment.

Families who apply before the end of September and are approved will get the full clothing allowance benefit in the fall.

If you apply for TAFDC and get approved for September, you will get the clothing allowance. The income limits for TAFDC go up for the month of September. You may be able to get TAFDC for September, even if you could not get TAFDC before.

No. DTA does not pay the clothing allowance for a child who is not on the TAFDC grant.

• DTA does not pay the clothing allowance for a child getting SSI.
• DTA does not pay the clothing allowance for a child who is not getting TAFDC.

For more information, contact:

• Deborah Harris, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, 617-357-0700 x 313, or
• Naomi Meyer, Greater Boston Legal Services, [email protected], 617-603-1621.