Food Stamps/ SNAP/ Nutrition Programs

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This section includes advocacy materials, policy materials, decisions, and alerts and updates on the SNAP program (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly called Food Stamps), all arranged under subject-specific subcategories.

To browse additional Food Stamps/ SNAP materials, scroll down the list of categories in the left hand column -- click on the Food Stamps/ SNAP subcategory that is of interest. Or, use the search box above.

Looking for an overview of Food Stamps/ SNAP in Massachusetts?  Check the Food Stamp/ SNAP Advocacy Guide e-book -- this e-book guide contains lots of information about SNAP benefits, in question and answer format, and includes links to policy materials.

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DTA Connect - apply for SNAP, get case information, or send documents to DTA!

MLRI
What is DTA Connect? DTA Connect is DTA’s mobile app and online portal to see case information for people who have applied for or get DTA benefits. DTA Connect.com also has an online SNAP application.   DTA Connect services are a great way for low income households and community…

Closing the "SNAP Gap" and Moving Toward a Common App! 2022 Updates!

MLRI
What is the MA SNAP Gap? The SNAP Gap is the difference between the number of low-income Massachusetts residents receiving MassHealth who are likely SNAP eligible and the number of people actually receiving SNAP. In Massachusetts, the size of this gap is approximately 700,000 MA…

Trump Admin Proposed Cuts to SNAP - MLRI Summary Chart, fact sheets, comments

MLRI
In 2019, USDA filed 3 sets of proposed rule changes that would result in significant cuts to SNAP if enacted. The first of the 3 rules, expanding the time limit for certain childless non-disabled adults subject to strict work rules, was scheduled to go into effect on April 1, 2020 but was vacated…

MA SNAP Coalition Recommendations to MA Delegation for Biden/Harris Transition Team

MLRI
93 Massachusetts anti-hunger and social justice organizations urge the Massachusetts Delegation to share our priority recommendations to decrease hunger with the Biden/Harris Transition Planning Team as soon as possible. Massachusetts is facing the highest increase in food insecurity in the…

OLGT 2020-31A: Cross Programs: Clarifications to Unemployment and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation Benefits

DTA
On March 18, 2020, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act was signed into law. This legislation contains provisions for traditional unemployment assistance benefits and other types of unemployment assistance benefits.

OLGT 2020-29: Cross Programs: Temporary Waiver of Certain SNAP Application Interviews

DTA
Staff must make all efforts to process SNAP applications quickly and accurately using the best information available for purposes of verifying program eligibility. In response to the increased volume of SNAP applications stemming from the COVID-19 state of emergency, effective immediately, the…

OLGT 2020-27A: Temporary Emergency Operations Due to COVID-19

DTA
On March 10, 2020 a State of Emergency was declared by Governor Baker to support the Commonwealth’s response to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). DTA is taking steps to ensure that active clients do not experience a disruption in benefits and prioritizes new applications.  The…

How National School Lunch Program and SNAP Treat Income Differently

MLRI
See Flier Attached: How National School Lunch Program (NLSP) and SNAP (Food Stamps) Treat Income Differently

MLRI Report - SNAP EBT Access on Public College Campuses

MLRI
Thousands of MA community college and four-year college students do not have the resources to eat balanced meals while attending school. Over the last 10 years, Massachusetts has implemented a number of policies to qualify more low income students for SNAP,  But - NONE of the Massachusetts…

SNAP Outreach Materials for Low-Income Massachusetts Veterans

MLRI
Below are four fliers you can use in your SNAP outreach with low income veterans, dependents and families of military service members. SNAP is an important nutrition benefit for all low-income residents, but veterans and military service families may be reluctant to apply.  On 11/9/18, the…

How to Lower Your Rent and Boost Your SNAP Benefits: An Advocacy Tool Kit for Mass Tenants

MLRI
This Advocacy Tool explains tenants who are elderly or disabled and live in public, subsidized and voucher housing can lower their rent and maximize their SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits with their medical expenses.  

Helping agency vs. an Authorized Representative

MLRI
We often hear of confusion from DTA case managers and from community organizations about the role of a helping agency or individual vs. the role of an Authorized Representative. It is very important that persons assisting with a SNAP case are not conflated with an Authorized…

OLGT 2017-83: SNAP - Child Support Expense Deduction

DTA
Legally obligated child support arrearage payments made by a household member to or for a non-household member are allowed as a SNAP deduction, as long as the payments meet certain requirements and are properly verified.

OLGT 2017-84: SNAP - Annual Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA) and Standard Utility Allowances Change

DTA
At the beginning of each Federal fiscal year, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service adjusts maximum SNAP benefits, deductions, and income eligibility standards. These adjustments are based on changes in the cost of living. States are also required to adjust their Standard Utility Allowances (SUAs)…

How to Help DTA Clients with Disabilities- Harper and Accommodations

GBLS
Thousands of people with disabilities turn to DTA for help each year.  Often, their disabilities can make it harder to get or keep the benefits they need and qualify for. Do you have clients who have trouble applying for benefits or completing a cash reevaluation or SNAP recertification because…

SNAP and Photo EBT Cards: Information and Resources

MLRI
What are photo EBT cards and who gets one? Massachusetts state law requires that some DTA recipients be issued Photo EBT Cards with a picture of the head of household - but MANY People are EXEMPT.  If you receive SNAP or DTA cash benefits, you may need to have a photo EBT card.…

DTA SNAP Program Informational Brochures

DTA
DTA SNAP Program Brochure - sent to  new SNAP applicants describing basic eligibility rules, rights, reporting responsibilities, household composition rules, student eligibilty and more.   Brochures in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Hatian Creole.

OLGT 2016-35: SNAP – Outbound Auto Dialer Calls from the DTA Assistance Line

DTA
Scheduled for August 11, 2016, the DTA Assistance Line will be equipped with the functionality to place automated outbound calls. SNAP clients with scheduled telephone appointments will receive a phone call at their scheduled appointment time. This functionality will be…

OLGT 2016-33: SNAP Residents of Institutions

DTA
Residents of institutions that provide more than 50% of three meals daily are ineligible for SNAP benefits. However, there are five exceptions to this rule. When a client verifies his/her residence and it falls under one of the five exceptions, the client must not be denied SNAP…

OLGT 2016-18: SNAP – Community Supported Agriculture

DTA
The Department, in collaboration with Project Bread and local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) partners, developed a CSA program initiative for client participation during the 2014 and 2015 CSA Seasons. Under this initiative, SNAP clients purchased CSA shares on a monthly basis…

OLGT 2016-18: Cross Programs – Unaccessed Benefits on EBT Cards

DTA
This Online Guide Transmittal updates several pages in the EBT book and clarifies the following processes of moving and storing benefits on EBT cards: Effective October 2014, SNAP benefits are no longer moved offline after 6 months. Effective February 2016, SNAP benefits are…

MLRI Comments on National Directory of New Hires (NDNH)

Deborah Harris and Victoria Negus
Comments on the Interim Final Regulations implementing section 4013 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 regarding SNAP state agencies’ use of the National Directory of New Hires (NDNH).

MA SNAP Crisis: Local and State Letters and Recommendations to Governor Baker, EOHHS and USDA

MLRI
Below are copies of letters sent to the Baker Administration and USDA about the current MA SNAP Crisis. Please consider writing a letter from your organization to USDA and the Baker Administration to share what you are seeing in your community and urge USDA and the Baker Administration to STOP the…

PPER Email 2015- 13: SNAP Reinstatement and Updating the Interview Page on BEACON

DTA
To ensure that appointment letters are not automatically sent in error, when an interview is not required, it is important that the Interview page in BEACON be updated to reflect the fact and reason that an appointment is not needed. When reinstating a SNAP case that closes at Interim Report (IR)…

PPER Email: 2015-14 SNAP - When Day-30 Falls on a Saturday, Sunday or Holiday

DTA
SNAP applications must be approved or denied before day-30 when the client has met all eligibility requirements. To ensure that benefits are issued timely when day-30 falls on a Saturday, Sunday or a holiday, the benefit must be authorized and issued on the next business day. Effective with…

PPER Email 2014- 40 SNAP Recertifications and Interim Reports Deemed Urgent

DTA
Information about processing of documents considered "urgent," including: "When a completed SNAP Recertification or Interim Report that meets the requirements for Urgent processing is mailed directly to or dropped off at the TAO the document must be registered and designated as…

Ops Memo 2014-09: Expunged and Offline EBT Benefit Restoration Requests

DTA
Overview Operations Memo 2014-8 explained new procedures for managing high balance EBT accounts. This Operations Memo describes the processes for clients to request that their offline or expunged benefits be restored and for the approval or denial of such requests. With BEACON Build 46.1,…

DTA Food Stamps/ SNAP Regulations and Index

DTA
Click the "Go to Website" link below to access 106 C.M.R. 300-367, the Massachusetts Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps).  Also attached is an index of of these regulations, prepared by MLRI.

Ops Memo 2014-02: 2014 Social Security/SSI Benefit Adjustment for TAFDC, EAEDC and SNAP

DTA
Overview Effective January 2014, Social Security benefits and federal SSI payments increased by 1.5 percent. This is sometimes called a Cost of Living Adjustment or COLA. The base level Medicare Part B Premium remains at $104.90. The Medicare Part B Penalty Premium is identified in the 2014…

Ops Memo 2013-55: MA Photo EBT Card Requirement

DTA
MLRI Overview of EBT Photo Policy: In August of 2013, the Massachusetts Legislature passed Chapter 65 of the Acts of 2013 requires that certain EBT cardholders be issued EBT cards with photographic images. DTA Operations Memo 2013-55 (pdf below) is the initial memo announcing this change and…

Ops Memo 2013-54: SNAP Benefit Decrease due to End of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)

DTA
In April 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), commonly known as the Stimulus package, helped improve food security for many people affected by the recession. The extra benefits provided by ARRA will end on October 31, 2013. All SNAP benefits will be recalculated using the new…

Ops Memo 2013-53: SNAP - Fall 2013 Heat and Eat (H-EAT) Program Update

DTA
Background The Heat & Eat Program is a partnership between DTA and the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). Under this partnership, eligible SNAP households are identified and selected for the Low Income Heat and Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) twice each year, Spring and…

Ops Memo 2013-51: SNAP: Annual Cost-of-Living (COLA) Changes and Initial Communication Regarding November Benefit Decrease

DTA
Overview The annual SNAP COLA will be processed during the weekend of September 21, 2013. This is a mass change affecting the entire SNAP caseload. This recalculation will impact the household’s monthly benefit for October. The following elements of the COLA will change effective October…

FYI September 2013: Fuel Assistance 2013 and Repayment History Letter

DTA
FYI Fuel Assistance 2013 The Fuel Assistance Program begins accepting applications for fuel assistance on November 1, 2013. TAOs will receive a supply of Fuel Assistance brochures in October for clients who are interested in applying for fuel assistance and in how the program works. The…

DTA's 2013 Training Manuals on the SNAP (Food Stamp) Program

DTA
MLRI recently got copies of DTA's current SNAP Benefits Training Manuals which you may find useful to both understand how they are training SNAP case managers, and for training new interns or volunteers (DTA includes some helpful exercises in each section).  If you find inaccuracies in the training…

Ops Memo 2013-33: TAFDC, EAEDC, and SNAP: Statewide Implementation of the Work Number Employment Verification Service

DTA
Overview As of July 22, 2013 the Department will implement Equifax Workforce Solutions’ subscription employment verification service called “The Work Number” statewide. The Work Number (www.theworknumber.com) is a fee-for-service Internetbased resource for verification of…

Rebuttal to Recent Press Reports of SNAP/Food Stamp Waste: No Recipient Fraud or Fault in SNAP Overpayment

MLRI
Recent news reports suggest ongoing waste of taxpayer dollars and mismanagement by DTA of the SNAP (food stamps) program, including a $27M overpayment of federal funds. Here’s what you need to know. • There was NO fraud and NO fault on the part of SNAP recipients involved. All of the…

USDA SNAP/ Food Stamps Quality Control Handbook

USDA
Quality Control: The SNAP Quality Control System measures the accuracy of State eligibility and benefit determinations. Data collected by quality control are also used for program improvement and analysis. Click the "Go To Website" link below to access the FY 2013, FNS-310 Quality…

Governor Patrick Letter to Congress Opposing Cuts to SNAP

Governor Deval Patrick

Food SNAP Coalition Recommendation re FY2013 Budget Admin Funding

MLRI
Food SNAP Coalition letter to House Ways and Means in support of administrative funding for front line DTA staff in FY2013 state budget.

Ops Memo 2011-50: SNAP - October 2011 Annual Cost-of-Living and Standard Utility Allowances (SUAs) Change

DTA
COLA changes for the SNAP program.

Food SNAP Coalition: "Fork Ready Stimulus" Proposal to Governor Patrick FY2010 Budget

Food Stamp Improvement Coalition
Attached is a letter to Governor Patrick, EOHHS Secretary Bigby and the Governor's Director of Infrastructure Investment, Jeffrey Simon. Yesterdays' Boston Globe highlighted the crisis faced by DTA in processing an overwhelming increase in Food Stamp applications.  The CORE recommendations -…

Food Stamps Sources of Law

Chart with sources of state and federal law, and links to useful practice information.