What's new at MLS

See the action alert from Health Care for All, below, asking you to contact your state senator to ask for their support for Amendment #216, which would restore the MassHealth adult dental program and add coverage for root canals and crowns.    Please also ask your state senator…

DTA and the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) have a special "Heat and Eat" Fuel Assistance program, or H-EAT. This program has helped thousands of elderly and disabled households qualify for higher SNAP benefits. We are writing to share some updates with the DTA…

DTA recently updated a number of materials in the DTA Online Guide (policy manual for DTA staff). These updates were sent to DTA staff and case managers on Friday, 3/31, and are important for community partners to know!  For example, it can be helpful to point directly to DTA policy…

MBTA Youth Pass In February the MBTA announced a special discount Youth Pass program for low-income youth who are not enrolled in a traditional high school (These discounts are already offered to high school students.) The Youth Pass program is for individuals under the age of 26 who are in…

USDA has released some very useful demographic information for your advocacy work, a cautionary alert about SNAP scammer,  and two upcoming Webinars for Spanish speakers.  Check it out!  1) SNAP Demographics by Congressional Districts: Using SNAP program data and information…

TO:  Food SNAP Coalition Members FR:  Pat Baker Happy Veterans Day and Happy 11-11-11.  We wanted to be sure you saw today's Globe editorial exhorting local cities and towns to reach out to local veterans and their families in financial need and help them access…

We received a copy of the email below llate last week announcing a change in the guard at DTA. Julia Kehoe will be moving over to EOHHS to take on a new Senior Policy Development position and Daniel Curley of the Justice Resource Institute will be taking the DTA helm. EOHHS Secretary Dr. Bigby's…

This is late breaking news, and many of you may not have even known trouble was brewing.  Late last night the U.S. Senate voted DOWN a proposal to cut SNAP benefits including BOTH our Massachusetts Senators John Kerry and Scott Brown!! The vote was 41 Yes to 58 Nays on one very harmful amendment.…

Sending Client Documents to DTA Boston Web SNAP Unit – Secure Email OptionFollwing recent discussions with the Boston Centralized Web Unit about ways to improve SNAP application processing, agencies that serve clients in theBoston Web Unit catchment areas have the opportunity to set up secure…

A number of changes in "SNAP math" went into effect October 1st to implement the annual cost of living adjustments (COLA). The gross, net and 165% income eligibility standards have increased slightly (note that the 200% level has remained the same; this generally changes in the spring, not…