What's new at MLS

This is HUGE!  DTA announced yesterday afternoon USDA's approval of the state plan for Summer P-EBT.  YES!     Below is the media advisory.  Here are the core details from the advisory: All K-12 students who received P-EBT this school year will…

I’m writing about two sets of upcoming deadlines:  (1)   Deadlines to apply for the one-time IRS stimulus payments, authorized by the CARES Act, of up to $1200 for eligible adults and $500 per qualified child (also known as the Economic Impact Payment (EIP)): Sept. 30 for…

We have two piece of BIG news in P-EBT land:   1.  P-EBT for September:  DTA and DESE pursued and were approved for September P-EBT benefits for Massachusetts students. This includes P-EBT for the delayed start of schools as well as P-EBT for any children in remote learning…

MassHealth has operated under a comprehensive 1115 Demonstration program for most people under 65 and not needing nursing home care since 1997. The 1115 Demo has been renewed at 3 to 5 year intervals ever since then.  The current demonstration authorization period runs from July 1,…

Thank you to all of you who joined yesterday’s Zoom call.  102 participants! Wow, we figured you were all vacationing. It was a pleasure to have you on the call along with our national partners from FRAC. THANK YOU for all you do to serve low income Massachusetts…

Attached are updated ConnectorCare materials for OE 2020 (Nov 1, 2019 to Jan 23, 2020) for coverage in 2020.    People applying for ConnectorCare coverage to begin Dec 1 are still subject to the 2018 FPLs. See the Income Tables…

Health Update: October 2019 Public Charge Multiple federal courts have blocked the Trump administration’s final public charge regulations from going into effect on October 15, 2019! This means most non-citizens can continue using the nutrition, health and housing benefits for which…

Commissioner Jeff McCue is leaving DTA in mid-October. MLRI and other advocates for low-income people in Massachusetts deeply appreciate and respect the Commissioner and the work he and his team have done since he became Commissioner in early 2015.  Commissioner McCue put a stop to…

We've received quite a few questions about how to advise immigrant families worried about receiving nutrition benefits. Attached is a flier (English and Spanish) that you can share with community organizations and immigrant families. If you find it useful, let us know and we will work on…

TO:  Food SNAP Coalition FR:  Pat Baker, Vicky Negus RE:  SNAP & Medical Expenses, Student Hunger, Voter Registration – Resources for Your Advocacy Hope you all had a fantastic July 4th break.  We are writing with a couple of updates and resources for your…