OLGT 2020-22: Cross Programs: MassHealth SNAP Application Supplement

The “SNAP Gap” is a term used to describe the variance between client participation in Medicaid health insurance provided by MassHealth and SNAP participation at DTA. The Department has been working with MassHealth and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to better-support clients with wraparound support of services they are eligible for and streamlined processes for navigating those services. The primary goal of those efforts is to reduce the number of MassHealth clients who are likely eligible for SNAP based on financial and nonfinancial circumstances but are not actively receiving it. 
 
The Fiscal Year 2020 budget required DTA and MassHealth to develop a method under which low-income applicants and recipients can begin a SNAP application while applying for or renewing certain benefits provided by MassHealth. As a result, the paper application used for MassHealth senior applicants will now contain a supplement to capture interest in applying for SNAP. The supplement is a simplified SNAP application which captures basic demographic information about the head of household only. 
 
These applications will be indexed as SNAP Application – MH Senior and staff must process them according to normal SNAP application processing rules and procedures.