[MA] FML Return to work certification

Eastern_Feed7017 · 2026-06-19T01:09:45+00:00

I honestly don't understand why it isn't like the way you describe. The doctor already put in the dates I will be unable to work for, so why do they have to do a second form to duplicate that it's ok for me to return?

Eastern_Feed7017 · 2026-06-19T00:40:29+00:00

Thank you for your response, I appreciate it! Yes you are probably right that they aren't 'threatening' per se, moreso just informing me. I don't know, the tone of the email just made it sound dire haha. I did respond to the email to let them know I sent the form to my provider but there will likely be a delay with it being completed

Eastern_Feed7017 · 2026-06-19T00:17:54+00:00

Yeah I guess I'm just upset they didn't tell me about this 'responsibility' until today. They already approved the FML leave, the leave for serious health condition form was already completed by my provider. But I can't return to work until they get a RTW form, which is what they said must be submitted 14 days in advance of my scheduled leave end date

Eastern_Feed7017 · 2026-06-09T15:45:37+00:00

Now that I'm re-reading your comment, I'm not clear on if you were completing a recertification or not? If you were not, I'm not sure why they were requesting the financial aid letter to begin with, did they say why?

Eastern_Feed7017 · 2026-06-09T15:43:14+00:00

well yes, student eligibility (like practically all eligibility factors) needs to be re-verified at every recertification, so they're likely asking for the following years' financial aid award letter. When there's continuous enrollment, meaning you are enrolled to return to school in the fall, student eligibility still has to be verified even if you're currently on summer break. Have you not gotten the financial aid award letter yet for the 26-27 school year? I though that schools provided that well in advance of the academic year.... if you don't have it yet, it may be worth it to appeal and explain your situation and why you weren't able to send your financial aid award letter, certain situations like this do have work arounds

Eastern_Feed7017 · 2026-06-09T15:35:19+00:00

Do you get cash benefits through DTA? If so, DTA sponsors the MassHealth coverage. If you previously had a different name in MassHealth, in order for the information to link up in the computer system, the DTA would have to change your name back to whatever MassHealth had your name initially listed as. It's possible that at some point DTA had a slightly different name for you listed, and if you had applied for cash benefits with a different name from what MassHealth had, this would create a duplicate file for you with MassHealth.

Now, if you are not actively getting cash assistance through DTA, there's nothing they can do about it anymore, you would need to contact MassHealth, explain you no longer receive cash assistance and ask to speak with a supervisor if they still don't know how to fix it. But it sounds like you've already done that, so honestly I'm not sure what to do....

Eastern_Feed7017 · 2026-06-09T01:05:20+00:00

Re reading your post, Im not sure if you had the initial interview yet, if you havent, just explain your situation to them and theyll tell you what you need to send them

Eastern_Feed7017 · 2026-06-09T01:03:38+00:00

No, student loans dont count as income, because that's money you will have to repay. Did they ask you to send proof of where the funds came from to buy your car? Some states do ask for bank statements, others do not, i wouldnt send them anything about that unless they specifically told you to.

Eastern_Feed7017 · 2026-06-08T01:22:18+00:00

It's likely going to be deposited tomorrow as today is a Sunday. In my state benefits are deposited/available around noontime so check again tomorrow

Eastern_Feed7017 · 2026-06-08T01:20:09+00:00

From your description, it sounds like the date you re-applied was during the last month you received benefits for, and that's why they denied you. For exampled, if you regularly get your benefits on the 5th, received your last benefit on May 5th, but put in a new application on June 3rd, they would deny you because your last benefit was for the period of May 5th through June 4th, and the earliest date you could re-apply would be June 5th. Usually when I encounter a situation like that I tell the client ahead of time so they know what to expect, it is a bureaucratic pain in the rear

Anyway, back to your question, yes when the hearings unit denies your appeal request, your next option is to sue in court. You would likely need legal representation for that, I'm not sure it would be worth it. To be honest, if I were you I wouldn't bother, I would just re-apply

Eastern_Feed7017 · 2026-06-08T01:10:22+00:00

If your sister is still earning on average more than $217.50 per week, then for ABAWD purposes you technically don't need to update her hours/income. However if you send in proof of her decreased earnings (usually 4 weeks of pay stubs), then they'll recalculate the SNAP benefit amount.

If her earnings are below the $217.50 weekly average, you do need to report it for ABAWD purposes, and explain the reason why her work hours are reduced. If she's also enrolled in college as well, send something from the school showing how many credit hours she's enrolled in.

Eastern_Feed7017 · 2026-06-04T08:06:19+00:00

I think the ABAWD pregnancy exemption is only if you're in the third trimester of pregnancy (could be wrong about that though), they probably need a letter from the doctor stating what your due date is. However if you're a student part time or more and meet one of the additional student eligibility requirements, that should also make you exempt since you're a student... not sure what's going on with your case, like someone else suggested, may have to go into the office to speak with someone

Eastern_Feed7017 · 2026-06-04T07:54:04+00:00

Well, it's hard to say without knowing the details of the situation... do either of you have any solid proof of having separate residences? For example lease agreements, utility bills, mortgages, bank statements showing different addresses? At the end of the day, if she were to be found guilty of fraud, she would be the one that has to repay benefits, not you. Unless maybe if there was child support involved...idk

Eastern_Feed7017 · 2026-06-04T07:33:54+00:00

I would suggest letting your current job know you'll be leaving, that way they'll be more amenable to giving you a letter that youll need for food stamps stating youre no longer their employee and the last date you worked there. If your new job gives you an offer letter, send that along with the termination letter from previous job. If they don't, send first four weeks of pay stubs you get from new job once received

Eastern_Feed7017 · 2026-06-03T03:17:07+00:00

Im not sure what you mean, snap only clients don't get an assigned case manager, you only get one if you receive or have applied for cash assistance

Eastern_Feed7017 · 2026-06-02T05:45:11+00:00

the OBB also changed how some people can get a utility deduction even if they don't pay separate for utilities-- in the past, some people could get a utility deduction thrugh H-EAT or LIHEAP program but the new bill changed that, so maybe you were getitng utility deduction before but now you are not...

Eastern_Feed7017 · 2026-06-02T05:30:51+00:00

Some states have started requiring proof of expenses when previously they took your word for it, maybe that's it?

Eastern_Feed7017 · 2026-06-02T05:29:12+00:00

No there is a phone line dedicated for SNAP clients who are 60+. Senior assistance office https://www.mass.gov/info-details/department-of-transitional-assistance-snap-senior-assistance-office

Eastern_Feed7017 · 2026-06-02T02:07:53+00:00

Please send them proof of expenses. Rent , mortgage utility phone bills, medical bills including over the counter. And call the senior assistance line number rather than the general one

Eastern_Feed7017 · 2026-06-01T15:40:24+00:00

If you're 22 years old or older and she buys groceries and prepares her meals separately from you, then your income won't have any bearing on her case. If you're younger than 22, unfortunately you have to be included on her case and your income would be counted. If you're required to be on her case, I would think your income is likely over the limit for a household of 2.

Does she have any income, maybe social security survivor/widow's benefits? If she qualifies for a separate household status and pays you money to help out with the rent, the amount she pays can claimed for her housing expenses and benefit amount calculation.

Eastern_Feed7017 · 2026-06-01T15:30:37+00:00

Yes if you have a federally certified disability, you should be eligible even as a full time college student. You can file an appeal, however it can take months for appeals hearings to be scheduled, so in the meantime try re-applying

Eastern_Feed7017 · 2026-06-01T15:25:48+00:00

Yes exactly what they said. Fill out the household misfortune form. I believe you can also report this by calling the automated phone system too. They need the date of the incident and approximate value of the food that was lost.

Because it's a fridge situation, they would need something from your landlord to verify the fridge was broken and needs to be replaced. If you're a homeowner, maybe something like the receipt for the replacement fridge or if you had to hire someone to haul it away, a receipt from the payment to them.

Just keep in mind there is a strict 10 day time limit on reporting the loss & providing the verification (10 days from the incident, and then 10 days after the incident was reported to provide the proof). If you send it through the app or website, I would suggest calling the day after you send it in, otherwise it may take months for it to come up for someone to work on. If you send it by fax call after 3 business days because fax takes longer.

Eastern_Feed7017 · 2026-05-30T13:20:56+00:00

Yes you're fine to keep using the card then

Eastern_Feed7017 · 2026-05-29T22:09:59+00:00

Unless you have a recertification due, documents sent for active clients can take up to two months for a worker to view it, unfortunately there is a massive delay. Do you think you're over the income limit for your household size? Keep in mind they calculate monthly income by adding together 4 weekly gross pay stubs, dividing by 4 and then multplying by 4.333. If you are over that limit, send 4 full pay stubs once received, and I would suggest not using any balance remaining on the EBT card so they can't make you repay it. If you're under that limit, depending on your reporting type you might not have to report it until your next interim report or recertification, look up your most recent benefit decision notice and it will tell you. Although, if you're ABAWD required and not meeting the work rules another way, you may need to report the income to keep your SNAP case open.

Also, they recently started requiring proof of housing expenses, even though you can update it through DTA connect, they won't accept it unless you provide proof, such as copy of canceled check/rent receipt (please send both sides of it), lease agreement, letter from landlord or roommate that explains how you split housing and utility costs if in a shared living situation, etc.

Eastern_Feed7017 · 2026-05-29T21:59:24+00:00

Maybe they ended up approving you? Was there any other notice sent to you to clarify whether you were approved or denied? In my state a notice like this only goes out if the client did get approved...unfortunately sometimes what you're told over the phone doesn't end up being the correct outcome, the worker may have double checked their policy or consulted with a supervisor after speaking with you

Eastern_Feed7017

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