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LANGUAGE ACCESS AT DTA: Policies and Advocacy

Learn how DTA regulations and policies address language access through translated warnings, interpreter services, and hearing officer duties. Stay informed about client rights and the complaint procedure.

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LANGUAGE ACCESS AT DTA: Policies and Advocacy

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  1. LANGUAGE ACCESS AT DTA: Policies and Advocacy Naomi Meyer Senior Attorney, Welfare Law Unit Greater Boston Legal Services nmeyer@gbls.org

  2. Past Advocacy Current DTA regulations & policies resulted from: • Lawsuit under federal Food Stamp regulations • HHS OCR Resolution Agreement

  3. Johnson v. AtkinsStipulation of Dismissal, 1990 • No administrative disqualification if not given SNAP penalty warning in language in which adult household member fluent • Manual for Hearing Officers with instructions for implementing right to interpreter

  4. DTA Regulations: Client Rights • Interpreter services • Translated SNAP penalty warnings • Notice of right to interpreter in SNAP hearings • Interpreters at SNAP hearings

  5. DTA Regulations: Hearing Officer Duties • Inform appellants who are not fluent in English of right to full & accurate interpretation • conduct bilingual hearings in accordance with manual • ensure all statements fully interpreted without alteration

  6. DTA Online Guide and Operations Memo 2013-11 • Instructions for all staff who deal with clients • Must offer DTA interpreter even if client brings her own • No magic words • Must orally interpret application and recertification materials

  7. DTA Language Access Plan Complaint Procedure – Write to: Sarah Stuart, Associate Commissioner for Program & Policy Implementation, sarah.stuart@state.ma.us

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