SUPPORT BY THE COMMONWEALTH

M.G.L. pt. Part I, tit. Title XVII, ch. c. 117A

in effect

M.G.L. c. 117A, § 1 Emergency aid program for elderly and disabled residents

c. 117A, § 1. Emergency aid program for elderly and disabled residents Section 1. There is hereby established within the department of public welfare a program of emergency aid for elderly and disabled residents of the commonwealth found by the department to be eligible for such aid, pursuant to regulations promulgated by said department and subject to appropriation. In promulgating, amending, or rescinding its eligibility regulations from time to time, the department may take into account the amounts available to it for expenditure under this chapter. The department shall by regulation provide that an applicant or recipient who lives with one or more family members who receives assistance pursuant to chapter one hundred and eighteen and who is legally obligated to support such family member shall receive assistance, pursuant to this chapter, which, when combined with the assistance being received by the family member of the applicant or recipient pursuant to chapter one hundred and eighteen, does not exceed the assistance available under chapter one hundred and eighteen to an assistance unit of the same household size as the applicant or recipient and such family member. Any person (i) who is eligible for assistance under the provisions of this chapter, (ii) who is not maintaining his or her own home, and (iii) who is receiving care in a licensed nursing home, a licensed chronic hospital, a licensed rest home or an approved public medical institution, shall retain the first sixty dollars of monthly income for clothing, personal needs allowance, and leisure time activities. If there is no such income, or if such income is less than sixty dollars, the recipient shall be paid the difference between such income and sixty dollars.

M.G.L. c. 117A, § 2 Registration for work; acceptance of suitable positions; individuals not subject to provisions of section

c. 117A, § 2. Registration for work; acceptance of suitable positions; individuals not subject to provisions of section Section 2. No employable person shall be eligible for aid or assistance under this chapter who willfully fails without good cause, as determined by the department, to maintain his registration for work or to accept a referral to or offer of suitable employment. He shall be required to report to the department information with respect to any job to which he has been referred. The department shall, not less frequently than once every three months, request verification from the division of employment and training of an applicant's record with that agency. No individual shall be considered ineligible for aid or assistance because of failure to comply with the provisions of this section, if such failure is due to illness or disability. In no event shall such failure affect the eligibility of minor children for assistance under this chapter. No recipients of assistance under chapter one hundred and eighteen A or recipients of assistance with dependent children under age three years, shall be subject to the provisions of this section; provided, however, that in a two parent household, only one parent shall be exempt from the provisions of this section.

M.G.L. c. 117A, § 3 Ineligibility for benefits

c. 117A, § 3. Ineligibility for benefits Section 3. A person shall not be eligible for assistance under the provisions of this chapter if said person is eligible to receive assistance under chapter one hundred and fifteen or one hundred and eighteen or is eligible to receive unemployment compensation under chapter one hundred and fifty-one A. A person shall not be denied assistance under this chapter based wholly or in part on the amount of the person's assets; provided, however, that any income generated by such assets may be treated as countable income. The department shall not consider ex-offenders, persons over the age of forty-five with no recent work history, or persons in residential treatment facilities as eligible solely by virtue of such status. Individuals living in a rest home licensed under chapter 111 shall not be eligible for assistance under this chapter if they have assets in excess of $2,000.

M.G.L. c. 117A, § 4 Persons not citizens or legal residents

c. 117A, § 4. Persons not citizens or legal residents Section 4. A person who is neither a citizen of the United States nor lawfully admitted for permanent residence or otherwise permanently residing in the United States under color of law shall be ineligible for assistance under the provisions of this chapter.

M.G.L. c. 117A, § 5 Placing persons in unlicensed institutions

c. 117A, § 5. Placing persons in unlicensed institutions Section 5. No person dependent on public support shall be placed by the department or by any veteran's agent, board of health, or other public authority, in any hospital, nursing home, infirmary or institution not operated by the commonwealth which is not licensed as required by chapter one hundred and eleven. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than twenty-five or more than one hundred dollars.

M.G.L. c. 117A, § 6 Liability; persons receiving support to which they are not entitled

c. 117A, § 6. Liability; persons receiving support to which they are not entitled Section 6. A person shall be liable in contract to the commonwealth for expenses incurred by it under this chapter for his support to which he was not entitled, and action may be taken by the commonwealth to compel payment at any time within six years after the date when said person last received support or assistance under this chapter or chapter one hundred and eighteen A. The executor or administrator of such person shall likewise be liable for such expenses.

M.G.L. c. 117A, § 7 Parental support

c. 117A, § 7. Parental support Section 7. The parents of such poor persons, if of sufficient ability, shall be bound to support such poor persons in proportion to their ability; provided, however, that said parents shall not be required to support or contribute to the support of any of their children eighteen years of age or over.

M.G.L. c. 117A, § 8 Treasurers of financial institutions; duty to furnish information upon request

c. 117A, § 8. Treasurers of financial institutions; duty to furnish information upon request Section 8. A treasurer of a savings bank, national bank, trust company, co-operative bank, state-chartered or federally-chartered credit union, benefit association, insurance company or safe deposit company authorized to do business in the commonwealth who, upon written request, signed by an officer of the department, unreasonably refuses to inform him of the amount deposited in the corporation or association to the credit of a person named in such request as a charge upon the commonwealth, or as an applicant to the commonwealth for public assistance under chapter one hundred and seventeen A, one hundred and eighteen, one hundred and eighteen A or one hundred and eighteen D, or who willfully renders false information in reply to such request, shall forfeit fifty dollars to the use of the commonwealth. Upon such request, a treasurer, as aforesaid shall furnish the records on deposits and withdrawals during the past five years, concerning any applicant for or recipient of public assistance under chapter one hundred and seventeen A, one hundred and eighteen, one hundred and eighteen A or one hundred and eighteen D to any officer of the department.

M.G.L. c. 117A, § 9 Final disposition of deceased persons; recovery of expenses from deceased's kindred

c. 117A, § 9. Final disposition of deceased persons; recovery of expenses from deceased's kindred Section 9. The department shall provide for the decent final disposition of all deceased persons who are at the time of death recipients of aid or assistance under this chapter, all deceased persons who, although without means of support at the time of death, did not apply for such aid or assistance and all unknown persons found dead. The commonwealth may recover this expense from any legally liable family members in the manner provided in this chapter, and if such family members do not pay this expense, the commonwealth shall pay an amount not exceeding $1,100 to the funeral establishment if the total expense of the funeral and final disposition does not exceed $3,500. The commonwealth shall have the right of reimbursement from whatever resources may exist in the estate of the deceased person.

Source: Massachusetts General Court (malegislature.gov)URL: https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXVII/Chapter117AFetched: 10/20/2026