Vendor payments are required when a grantee has demonstrated an inability to manage funds such that the grant has not been used in the best interests of the child or the assistance unit. This means that the grantee has mismanaged funds to such an extent that allowing him or her to manage the grant would constitute a threat to the health or safety of the assistance unit. Mismanagement must last for a period of at least one month before a finding of financial mismanagement can be made.
When it appears that a grantee has demonstrated mismanagement of funds, the worker shall proceed to establish mandatory vendor payments on the basis of mismanagement.
When vendor payments are established on the presumption of financial mismanagement, the worker must refer the grantee to a social service agency specified by the Department for counseling. A statement of the specific reasons that demonstrate the need for vendor payments must be in the case record.
Although other relevant considerations may be taken into account, the Department shall consider the following situations as exceptions to presumption of mismanagement.
If the grantee has had difficulty with only certain items, such as rent, the worker shall make vendor payments for such items only.
106 CMR, § 706.620