SNAP Benefits
Articles and Spotlights
Qualify for the Maximum
SNAP Benefit
The current maximum SNAP benefit for one person is $292 per month. Disappointedly, the Federal Government raised the monthly SNAP benefit by only $1 on 10/1/24 even though inflation indicates the increase should be more. Nonetheless, don't settle for anything less than the maximum SNAP benefit.
* INQUIRE ON HOW TO QUALIFY FOR THE MAXIMUM SNAP BENEFIT *
SNAP
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Pilot
CSAs are programs in which an individual pays a farm for a membership that entitles them to a "share" of the farm's harvest - commonly a set quantity of raw foods made available to the member for pick-up on a periodic (typically weekly) basis. Since many CSA farmers are also vendors at farmer's markets, the markets may serve as a pick-up point.
* THE SNAP CSA PILOT OFFERS A WAY FOR SNAP CLIENTS TO BUY A WEEKLY BASKET OF PRODUCE VIA AUTOMATIC, RECURRING MONTHLY SNAP PAYMENTS *
SNAP Household Misfortune
If you lost food you bought with your SNAP benefits because of a fire, flood, loss of electricity, broken refrigerator / freezer or other disaster, the Department of Transitional Assistance may be able to replace your benefits.
* THE DTA WILL REPLACE UP TO ONE MONTH OF SNAP BENEFITS. YOU HAVE 10 DAYS AFTER THE LOSS TO REPORT IT. THE SNAP REPLACEMENT FORM CAN BE UPLOADED TO THE DTA WEBSITE. *
EBT Card to Culture
The EBT Card to Culture program is a joint venture between the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and many of the best cultural institutions across the Commonwealth. EBT Card to Culture allows those receiving benefits from DTA to access museums, performances, and other cultural programming at a reduced or free cost.
* ENJOY FREE AND DISCOUNTED ADMISSIONS TO MANY OF THE COMMONWEALTH'S MUSEUMS AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS. *
MA SNAP Restaurant Meals Program (RMP)
The SNAP Restaurant Meals Program allows older adults (60+), homeless individuals, and people with disabilities to buy food at authorized restaurants and food trucks using their SNAP EBT card.
* RESTAURANTS AND FOOD TRUCKS HAVE BEEN SELECTED ACROSS THE COMMOMWEALTH. CHECK TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS OR FOOD TRUCKS NEAR YOU. *
SNAP
Online Purchasing Program
MA residents who receive SNAP benefits can use their EBT card to buy food online from Amazon, BJs, Daily Table, Geissler's Supermarket, Shaw’s, Star Market, Stop & Shop, and Walmart, ALDI, Big Y, Brothers Marketplace, Hannaford, McKinnon's Supermarkets, Price Chopper, Price Rite Marketplace, Roche Bros., Stop & Shop, Sudbury Farms, Wegmans and more via Instacart.
* THE SNAP ONLINE PURCHASING PROGRAM OFFERS THE FLEXIBILITY TO SHOP FROM HOME WITH CONVENIENT DELIVERY *
SNAP Benefits and
Adult Family/Foster Care (AFC)
If you are an AFC caregiver, you have the choice to include or exclude AFC members in your SNAP household. If you do not include the AFC member in your SNAP household, the AFC stipend and the AFC member's income is not included in your household SNAP calculation.
* TYPICALLY AN AFC CAREGIVER QUALIFIES FOR A HIGHER SNAP BENEFIT BY EXCLUDING THE AFC MEMBER FROM THE CAREGIVERS HOUSEHOLD. AFC MEMBERS CAN NOT APPLY FOR SNAP ON THEIR OWN. THEY MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE AFC CAREGIVER'S HOUSEHOLD *
Baystate CAP
(Combined Application Project)
Bay State CAP was developed through the cooperative effort of the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), the Social Security Administration and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Bay State CAP Program enrolls Supplemental Security Income (SSI) applicants and recipients in SNAP using information gathered by SSA during the application or the redetermination of eligibility for SSI benefits.
* SSI RECIPIENTS MAY QUALIFY FOR SNAP AT THE AGE OF 18 RATHER THAN THE TYPICAL AGE OF 22. INQUIRE ON HOW TO DO THIS. *
SNAP Sunset of Replacement
of Stolen Benefits
SNAP benefits that are stolen via card skimming, card cloning, and other similar fraudulent methods on or after 12/21/24 are no longer eligible for replacement using Federal funds. SNAP state agencies can choose to replace stolen benefits using state funds.
* ALONG WITH NOTIFYING SNAP BENEFICIARIES OF THIS CHANGE, MASSACHUSETTS AND OTHER STATES NOTIFIED SNAP BENEFICIARIES HOW TO PROTECT THEIR BENEFITS BY ROUTINELY CHANGING THEIR PIN AND KEEPING THEIR CARD LOCKED WHEN NOT IN USE *