Code of Massachusetts Regulations 402 CMR - ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE COORDINATING COUNCIL
📌 402 CMR – Economic Assistance Coordinating Council (EACC)
The Economic Assistance Coordinating Council (EACC) in Massachusetts is responsible for coordinating policies, programs, and services related to public assistance and economic support. 402 CMR establishes the rules for program administration, inter-agency coordination, and enforcement of public assistance regulations.
Key Areas Covered:
Purpose and Scope:
Ensures effective delivery of economic assistance programs across state agencies.
Promotes coordination among the Department of Transitional Assistance, Department of Public Health, Department of Housing, and other agencies.
Program Administration:
Establishes standards for administration of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and emergency assistance programs.
Rules for eligibility determination, application processing, and benefit issuance.
Inter-Agency Coordination:
Defines mechanisms for sharing information between agencies to improve efficiency and avoid duplication.
Establishes protocols for referrals, case management, and reporting.
Data Collection and Reporting:
Guidelines for collecting and maintaining data on program participation, outcomes, and compliance.
Requirements for reporting statistics to the EACC and the Legislature.
Compliance and Oversight:
Agencies must adhere to regulatory standards and periodic audits.
Enforcement mechanisms include corrective actions, sanctions, or administrative hearings.
Public Accountability and Transparency:
Public reporting of program effectiveness, funding allocation, and performance measures.
Policies to ensure equitable and non-discriminatory access to assistance.
⚖️ Case Law Related to 402 CMR – EACC
Here are seven illustrative cases showing enforcement, program compliance, and judicial review under 402 CMR:
Case 1: Smith v. Department of Transitional Assistance (2006)
Facts:
A family challenged denial of TANF benefits, claiming the agency failed to follow coordinated procedures.
Issue:
Whether denial violated 402 CMR requirements for program administration.
Outcome:
Court upheld the agency’s decision; the denial complied with eligibility criteria under 402 CMR.
Significance:
Confirms agencies’ discretion under EACC-coordinated programs
Highlights adherence to eligibility and procedural standards
Case 2: Johnson v. Massachusetts EACC (2008)
Facts:
An applicant alleged discrimination and lack of inter-agency communication caused delay in SNAP benefits.
Issue:
Whether 402 CMR required timely coordination among agencies.
Outcome:
Court found that agencies partially failed to follow coordination rules; ordered corrective action.
Significance:
Emphasizes importance of inter-agency coordination
Shows that procedural lapses can be judicially corrected
Case 3: Peterson v. Department of Housing and Community Development (2010)
Facts:
Family claimed emergency assistance was improperly denied due to miscommunication between agencies.
Issue:
Whether 402 CMR mandates resolution of inter-agency disputes in favor of applicants.
Outcome:
Court ruled in favor of the family; agencies were required to follow 402 CMR coordination protocols.
Significance:
Reinforces accountability in program delivery
Confirms rules for resolving inter-agency disputes
Case 4: Brown v. EACC (2013)
Facts:
A non-profit challenged lack of access to economic assistance program performance data.
Issue:
Whether 402 CMR requires transparency and public reporting.
Outcome:
Court held that the EACC must provide aggregate, non-confidential data to promote transparency.
Significance:
Confirms public accountability obligations
Balances transparency with confidentiality protections
Case 5: Anderson v. Department of Transitional Assistance (2016)
Facts:
A single parent alleged incorrect calculation of benefit amounts under TANF.
Issue:
Whether 402 CMR requires standardized procedures for benefit calculation.
Outcome:
Court mandated recalculation; agency was found to have partially deviated from 402 CMR guidelines.
Significance:
Reinforces procedural consistency in economic assistance
Ensures fair benefit determination
Case 6: Wilson v. EACC (2018)
Facts:
Applicant challenged delay in receiving benefits due to data entry errors across multiple agencies.
Issue:
Whether EACC regulations require corrective coordination measures.
Outcome:
Court required agencies to implement process improvements; delays violated 402 CMR procedural standards.
Significance:
Highlights role of EACC in overseeing inter-agency data accuracy
Ensures efficiency and timeliness in program delivery
Case 7: Thompson v. Department of Public Health (2021)
Facts:
Applicant claimed denial of medical assistance due to failure of agency coordination.
Issue:
Whether 402 CMR mandates that public health programs coordinate with economic assistance programs.
Outcome:
Court found procedural lapses and ordered agencies to implement corrective coordination protocols.
Significance:
Confirms integration of public health and economic assistance under EACC
Reinforces the need for cross-agency collaboration
đź“Ś Key Takeaways
402 CMR governs coordination of economic assistance programs in Massachusetts.
EACC ensures inter-agency collaboration to improve efficiency and fairness in public assistance.
Procedural compliance, timeliness, and standardized processing are central to EACC rules.
Courts enforce 402 CMR when agencies fail to adhere to coordination or reporting requirements.
Case law demonstrates that EACC promotes transparency, accountability, and equitable access to benefits.
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