Income and Benefits
Income from Any Source
In separate fields, determine:
- Whether the client receives any income from any source listed below. * Allow clients to identify multiple sources of income. The “Client doesn’t know” and “Client refused” responses should only be used when clients do not know or refuse to answer whether they have any income.
*See a list of income sources and explanations on the following page - The amount of income received from each source on a monthly basis
- The client’s total gross monthly income.
When a client has income but does not know the exact amount, a “Yes” response should be recorded for both the overall income question and the specific source, and the income amount should be estimated.
Income received by or on behalf of a minor child should be recorded as part of household income under the Head of Household (unless your federal funder instructs otherwise).
Updates are required for persons aging into adulthood.
Income data should be recorded only for sources of income that are current as of the assessment date (i.e. have not been specifically terminated).
- As an example, if a client’s employment has been terminated and they have not yet secured additional employment, the response for Earned income would be “No,” even if they are still owed a final paycheck.
- As a further example, if a client’s most recent paycheck was 2 weeks ago from a job in which the client was working full time for $15.00/hour, but the client is currently working 20 hours per week for $12.00 an hour, record the income from the job the client has at the time the information is collected (i.e. 20 hours at $12.00 an hour).
|
Cash Income Type |
Explanation |
|
Earned Income |
This is any income from a job or employment, even if not supported by official documentation of that income. |
|
Unemployment Insurance |
The Unemployment Insurance (UI) program which provides temporary income assistance to Massachusetts workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own and who can work, available for work and looking for a job. |
|
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) |
Generally received by those who become blind or disabled before the age of 18. A disabled or blind adult or child must meet all of the following categories: |
|
Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) |
Generally received by those who become blind or disabled after the age of 18. A disabled or blind individual must have paid Social Security taxes to become insured for benefits. |
|
VA Service-Connected Disability Compensation |
For military veterans with a service-related disability. These benefits are paid to veterans who have injuries or diseases that happened while on active duty or were made worse by active military service. |
|
VA Non-Service-Connected Disability Pension |
The Veterans Pension is a needs-based benefit paid to wartime Veterans who have limited or no income and who are aged 65 or older or, if under 65, who are permanently and totally disabled. |
|
Private Disability Insurance |
Private disability insurance protects employed persons who cannot work due to disability by paying them all or part of their salaries. |
|
Worker’s Compensation |
Workers' compensation is a form of insurance providing wage replacement and medical benefits to employees injured in the course of employment in exchange for mandatory relinquishment of the employee's right to sue his or her employer for the tort of negligence. |
|
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) |
Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) is a government program that gives cash and health insurance to needy families with dependent children, including pregnant women. |
|
General Assistance (GA) |
Emergency Aid to Elders, Disabled and Children (EAEDC) is a Massachusetts state-funded program that provides cash and medical assistance to needy families and individuals who are not receiving TAFDC, SSI, or other similar benefits. |
|
Retirement Income from Social Security |
Social Security payments for those who have reached retirement age (at least 62 years old). This also includes Social Security Survivor benefits. |
|
Pension or Retirement from a former job |
A pension is a contract for a fixed sum to be paid regularly to a person, typically following retirement from service; this includes military retirement pay. |
|
Child Support |
Child Support is an ongoing, periodic payment made by a parent for the financial benefit of a child following the end of a marriage or other relationship. |
|
Alimony or other spousal support |
Alimony is a legal obligation on a person to provide financial support to his or her spouse before or after marital separation or divorce. |
|
Other Source |
"Other source" should only be used in instances where the source of client income is not listed. Users will be required to identify the source in a text field. |
Non-Cash Benefits
For each source listed, determine if the client received any non-cash benefits as of the assessment date. A “Yes” response should be recorded only for current benefits. As an example,
- If a client received food stamps on the first of the month and expects to receive food stamps again on the first of the next month, record “Yes” for Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP).
- If a client received food stamps on the first of the month but is not eligible to receive food stamps on the first of next month, then the client would not be considered to be currently receiving food stamps and “No” should be recorded for Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP).
The non-cash benefits data element is intended to collect information about non-cash mainstream benefits provided from sources other than the project in which the client is enrolled.
Benefits received by a minor child should be assigned to the head of household. If a minor child enters or leaves the household and the non-cash benefits received by the household change as a result, an update to the head of household’s record should be entered to reflect that change.
Updates are required for persons aging into adulthood.
|
Non-Cash Benefit |
Explanation |
|
Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) |
The SNAP Food Stamp Program is a government assistance program to help low-income households buy food. |
|
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) |
WIC is a nutrition program that provides nutrition and health education, healthy food, breastfeeding support and other services free of charge to Massachusetts families who qualify. |
|
TANF Child Care Services |
A voucher for childcare available to people receiving TAFDC. |
|
TANF Transportation Services |
Transportation services to current TAFDC clients who are participating in an approved Employment and Training activity. The program provides transportation reimbursement for eligible clients searching for employment, participating in ESP programs and transporting children to childcare sites. |
|
Other TANF-Funded Services |
|
|
Other Source |
"Other source" should only be used when the source of client non-cash benefit is not listed. Users will be required to identify the source in a text field. |
Resources FY 2022
HUD Data Standards Tutorial: A resource that provides specific guidance about individual questions in a fast and easy format. No user account / login required.
https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/hmis/hmis-data-standards/
HUD HMIS Data Standards
https://www.hudexchange.info/resource/3824/hmis-data-dictionary/
Program-Specific HMIS Data Manuals
https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/hmis/federal-partner-participation/
Massachusetts CoC Map
https://www.mass.gov/doc/continuum-of-care-service-areas/download
Massachusetts Balance of State Continuum of Care Programs: A description of CoC programs as well as instructions to apply for Balance of State CoC projects
https://www.mass.gov/service-details/continuum-of-care-programs-coc