What if you need child care or transportation to meet the Work Program rules?

You are eligible for free child care if you need child care to meet Work Program rules. See Who is eligible for child care through DTA? If you cannot locate appropriate child care you have good cause for not meeting the rules. See What if you have a good reason for not meeting Work Program rules? If you are meeting the Work Program through community service, DTA says it can require you to do community service during your child’s school hours so you will not need child care. See DTA Transitions, Feb. 2004, p. 2. Contact your local legal services program, Appendix D: Massachusetts Legal Services Offices, if this is a problem for you.

DTA provides limited transportation help to Work Program participants participating in education, training, job search or paid work. See Can you get money for transportation? DTA Online Guide (Transportation Overview). If you cannot meet the Work Program rules because you do not have or cannot afford transportation, you have good cause for not meeting the rules. See What if you have a good reason for not meeting Work Program rules?; DTA Operations Memo 2011-34 (July 5, 2011); DTA Transitions, July 2015, p. 5.

DTA will authorize child care for up to three months so you can look for an activity plus two weeks if you have used up your three months and you are waiting to start an activity. See Who is eligible for child care through DTA? If you already have child care and have an activity scheduled to start within a month, DTA will authorize child care so you do not lose your child care arrangements. 106 C.M.R. § 707.210(A)(2); DTA Transitions, Nov. 2012, p. 4. DTA will authorize child care you need child care to do a work activity so you can get back on benefits after you have been cut off by the time limit or for not complying with work requirements. DTA Online Guide (Applicant 60 Day Work Search Period).