Food & Income Security

Headline:

Starting May 12, 2023, DTA will be sending notices to households whose state-funded SNAP benefits were stolen between October 1, 2022 and September 30, 2024 regarding reimbursement.

Last-reviewed: 9am, May 26, 2023

Key Resources:

• Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA)
• Women Infants & Children Nutrition Program (WIC)
• Project Bread
• Filing Taxes (Mass.gov)

The Basics

• All SNAP applicants must have an interview with DTA for their application to be processed. During the pandemic, DTA had a federal COVID option in place to waive this interview for certain applicants. These interviews have re-started for all applicants as of April 7, 2023.
• SNAP households will receive extra state-funded SNAP benefits on April 7, May 2 and June 2, 2023.
• Starting May 12, 2023, DTA will be sending notices (by email, text and/or mail) regarding reimbursement of stolen state-funded SNAP benefits to those whose benefits were stolen between October 1, 2022 and September 30, 2024. More information here.
• Children whose schools participate in the National School Lunch Program will get free school meals statewide during the 2022-23 school year. Learn more here.

The Breakdown

Navigating the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA)

• DTA offices also have Domestic Violence Specialists to help survivors access DTA benefits and services. People can call the DTA Assistance Line at 877-382-2363 and select #2 to be connected with a Domestic Violence Specialist. Learn more from this DTA video.
• DTA lobbies are open for limited services (e.g., getting an EBT card, using a kiosk to use DTA Connect, SNAP Path to Work, SNAP Nutrition Education and other DTA web services). Additional services can be accessed by calling DTA at 877-382-2363 or visiting the DTA Connect website.
• Cash assistance (TAFDC and EAEDC) applicants can request an interpreter if they feel most comfortable speaking in a language other than English. DTAConnect.com and EBT outreach flyers are also available in 6 languages (Chinese, English, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Spanish, and Vietnamese).

Food Security

• DTA re-started application interviews for all SNAP applicants on April 7. SNAP applicants can request to have these interviews in-person or by phone. If an applicant misses this interview, DTA must send out a Notice of Missed interview. Applicants can call DTA to scheduled the interview. If the interview is not conducted within 30 days of the date of the application, DTA will deny the SNAP application.
• DTA will be issuing extra state-funded SNAP benefits for 3 months starting April 7, which will be 40% of what SNAP households were receiving during the pandemic. Care team members can help individuals and families get the most out of their SNAP by claiming deductions. See State-funded Extra SNAP Benefits Toolkit.
• DTA continues to require Recertification paperwork for households at certain times (every 12 months for most households). SNAP households who receive recertification paperwork should complete the same otherwise their SNAP will end. Recertification’s can be completed over the phone, on DTAConnect, or by returning the paper form by mail/fax/in-person.
• Claiming medical expenses can boost SNAP benefits! Eligible SNAP households can self-declare the Standard Medical Expense deduction at any time over the phone or in writing to DTA. The $155 deduction is limited to people ages 60+ and those with a verified disability if their average out-of-pocket medical costs exceed $35/month. Call the DTA Senior Assistance Office at 833-712-8027 for more information.
• Massachusetts residents can now apply for SNAP benefits when seeking subsidized healthcare coverage through a MassHealthConnector application. Approximately 700,000 residents are within the “SNAP Gap,” meaning that they receive MassHealth coverage but are not receiving SNAP benefits. Now, MassHealthConnector applicants can apply for SNAP with a SNAP checkbox on the application.
• SNAP applicants can request an interpreter if they feel most comfortable speaking in a language other than English. DTAConnect.com is also available in 6 languages (Chinese, English, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Spanish, and Vietnamese) and SNAP outreach flyers are available in 14 languages.
• DTA must take away any benefits that have remained unused on a SNAP EBT and P-EBT account for 9 months (274 days). There is no way to get benefits back once they have been taken away.
• DTA continues to provide information regarding “skimming,” a type of theft that can happen anywhere an EBT, credit card or debit card is used. Households whose benefits have been stolen can report fraud to DTA. DTA recommends that clients who receive SNAP, TAFDC or EAEDC benefits re-PIN their EBT cards for protection.  People can call EBT Customer Service (800-997-2555) to change their EBT card PIN. For more information on how to re-PIN, visit mass.gov/ProtectYourEBT (available in Spanish as well).
• Applicants for SNAP benefits can ask to pick up their EBT card at a local office, instead of waiting for it to be mailed. DTA can mail EBT cards overnight in emergency situations like when an applicant is experiencing interpersonal violence (IPV) or homelessness.
• Each DTA office has at least one Client Assistance Coordinator to help people with disabilities access DTA benefits and services, including accommodations. Find more information on this brochure.

Nutrition and Project Bread

• The Fiscal Year 2024 state budget proposal includes making School Meals for All permanent going forward. Learn more and take action here.
• Find nutrition resources by zip code and free, confidential assistance in accessing federal nutrition programs through the FoodSource Hotline at 800-645-8333 or Project Bread.
• Students whose schools participate in the National School Lunch Program will receive free school meals statewide during the 2022-23 school year. Even though meals will be free for all such students, it is important for families to complete the household Application for Free and Reduced Price Meals for the 2022-23 school year. Learn more here.
• Meals on Wheels provides nutritional support to homebound seniors. Find a local nutrition program site.
• People can find updated dietary guidelines, shopping guides, and recipes at myplate.gov.

WIC

• WIC offices are closed to the public. All services are available by phone at 800-942-1007 or people can apply online.
• The Biden-Harris administration has continued action on several fronts to alleviate the nationwide infant formula shortage. Parents and caregivers can contact community resources, including their local WIC office, for help.

The Bottom Line

• Sharing reliable, up-to-date information about the changing resource landscape with families is key to reducing hunger and increasing food security.

Financial Assistance

The Basics

• The extension deadline for filing income tax returns is October 16, 2023.
• DTA is restarting TAFDC Learnfare requirement mandates that any child 6-15 years old who receives TAFDC must attend school regularly. More information on the Learnfare Rule here.
• Many Social Security offices are open for walk-in service. Check the status of a local office on the SSA website. Due to long in-person wait times, the SSA advises people to complete services online or by calling a local office whenever possible. 

The Breakdown

• DTA is restarting TAFDC Learnfare requirement mandates that any child 6-15 years old who receives TAFDC must attend school regularly. To comply with Learnfare rules, a child may not have more than 8 unexcused absences each quarter. Find more information here, including reasons why an absence may be considered excused.
• Some taxpayers may qualify for free preparation assistance through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE), and AARP programs. Find more information on the mass.gov website or findyourfunds.org.
• Older adults and people with disabilities who receive SNAP benefits and have medical expenses greater than $35 and less than or equal to $190 per month are eligible for a $155 Standard Medical Deduction. Learn more in the guidance here, in this DTA Online Guide Transmittal 2022-49 or by calling the DTA Senior Assistance Office at 833-712-8027.
• If cash assistance applications are delayed due to a DTA error (e.g., a paperwork processing delay), applicants have a right to receive a retroactive payment. The retroactive payment should cover any missed benefits dating back to the date they applied.  
• The SSA is prioritizing in-person appointments for people who are applying for a social security number and applicants who must go without basic necessities (e.g., food, shelter) until they get benefits.
• The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) provides eligible households with a $30/month discount on internet services. Any household that receives WIC or whose income is below 200% FPL can apply through their internet service provider. Twenty leading internet providers will offer ACP-eligible households a high-speed internet plan for no more than $30/month. So eligible families can match their ACP benefit with one of these plans to receive high-speed internet at no cost. For additional information, visit the Common Sense guide or getinternet.gov.
• Free., a program offering menstrual hygiene products, is working to end period poverty in Massachusetts. The program has distributed more than 261,844 products to individuals and through partner agencies. Find Free. products here.

The Bottom Line

• Sharing reliable, up-to-date information about the changing resource landscape with families is key to optimizing household income.