BOSTON (AP) - The state's welfare agency says it made a mistake when it released information about past benefits given to Boston Marathon bombing suspect, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, and other family members.
The Department of Transitional Assistance released a statement Thursday saying that it "inappropriately confirmed" information about the family because state and federal laws prohibit disclosure of information about individuals receiving benefits.
On Wednesday, a spokesman for the state Office of Health and Human Services confirmed that Tsarnaev, who was killed in a gunfight with police last week, received welfare benefits until last year when he became ineligible based on family income. The spokesman also said Tsarnaev's parents previously received benefits for a portion of the time they lived in the U.S.
Gov. Deval Patrick says he has asked officials to make sure the benefits were proper.
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