SNAP Gross Income Boost; New State Child Credit; ACP Wind Down & other resources!
Greetings SNAP Coalition members, and happy first day of February. As the MA Legislature gears up for the FY25 budget deliberations, look out for more updates and action steps. In the meantime, important updates!
SNAP 200% Gross Income Test increase Feb 2024
In general, households need to have total countable income below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Around February the 200% FPL gross income test goes up based on changes to the federal poverty level.
Here is an updated one page worksheet with the current SNAP math and here is the updated excel calculator. We will be updating the online calculator soon!
SNAP 101 Training Materials:
For those of you who missed the SNAP 101 Basic Benefits Training on Jan 24th, here’s:
-
SNAP 101 slide deck as well as a link to the updated materials from the training.
-
Updated At a Glance charts with current SNAP benefit amounts
And look out for an email on the updated 2024 SNAP Advocacy Guide, to be released this week!
Getting help when can’t get through Assistance Line
We compiled this one page flier on how to get help when you can’t get through the Assistance Line. Please let us know what you are experiencing.
FindYourFunds.org - NEW state $310/child credit for families!
Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS), Children’s HealthWatch, MLRI, MassCap, and the Shah Foundation have updated FindYourFunds.org to provide information about connecting to tax payments when filing 2023 taxes.
This year there is a NEW state payment of $310 for each child under 13, dependent adult 65+, and adult or child of any age (including a spouse) who is disabled. This credit is also for families with no or low income who usually don’t file taxes. Families don’t need any 2023 earnings or income to get the money. To learn more, see FindYourFunds here. Outreach fliers posted in 11 languages here.
ACP Benefit is Ending, Info Sessions - Feb 2nd and 5th
The federal government recently announced that due to lack of funding from Congress the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) program is on track to run out of funds in April - unless Congress allocates additional funds.
ACP provides an internet cost discount of up to $30/month. 358,119 MA households are enrolled in ACP - about 1 in 8 households in the state! ACP enrollment ends on February 7, 2024. Households must have enrolled with a service provider and been approved by 11:59 PM on 2/7 to get the benefit through April. MLRI is holding interactive informational sessions on what the ACP wind down means.
If you have any questions, please reach out to our colleague, Virginia Benzan at VBenzan@mlri.org. For additional information, please see the FCC's ACP Wind-Down Fact Sheet.
Upcoming Basic Benefits Trainings in February and March
MLRI is co-hosting with our legal services colleagues a bunch of trainings including:
-
Feb 28, 2024: Tenants' Rights
-
Feb 29, 2024: Health Care Access Programs
-
Mar 6, 2024: Unemployment Insurance
-
Mar 27, 2024: Immigrants & Public Benefits
Be sure to register as a “non-lawyer advocate” to get the discount for community orgs. To register and check out all the MCLE/MLRI trainings click here!
National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference in June 2024
The National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference, sponsored by the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) will be held June 3-5, 2024 in Washington, D.C. Hundreds of anti-hunger advocates - including many from Massachusetts! - will join from across the country to attend content-rich sessions, learn legislative best practices, explore innovative advocacy methods, and form personal connections to help better fight hunger in their communities. And MA Advocates will be visiting the MA Delegation on June 5th - join us! Learn more and register here.