End of SNAP Extra Benefits, Upcoming P-EBT Benefits & DTA Interim Reports
Our next Coalition meeting will be on Tuesday June 27 from 10-11:30. After that, we will combine our July and August meetings into one August meeting on August 1 from 10-11:30. The Zoom link for both meetings is here.
State funded SNAP boost ended, how to maximize SNAP benefits
June 2 was the final state funded SNAP boost. Starting with the June SNAP issuance, all households will get their normal SNAP amounts between the 1st and 14th of each month (depending on the last digit of the head of household’s Social Security Number). To learn more about maximizing SNAP benefits by telling DTA about child support paid along with shelter, child care, and medical costs, see DTA’s information here.
The SNAP “emergency allotments” were a significant pandemic relief for low-income families that played a large role in driving down food insecurity over the past few years. MLRI has a 2 page overview of the cut’s harmful consequences- families told us the cut meant they had to buy fewer healthy foods and trade off paying necessary bills or for food. Greater Boston Food Bank's recent report also speaks to the harm of cutting SNAP. And, here is a powerful graph from the U.S. Census Bureau illustrating their impact by showing food insufficiency between states that ended the boosted payments early and states, like Massachusetts, that did not:
Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) benefits will be issued on June 25, July 25, and August 25
Over the next three months, DTA is issuing P-EBT food benefits to eligible households in the following ways:
K-12 students
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On June 25th, school year P-EBT will go out to eligible K-12 kids who missed school days between September 2022 and early May 2023 for COVID-related reasons. The amount of P-EBT is based on the number of COVID-related absences that schools reported to the state (DESE). If a family thinks the amount of P-EBT is too low, they need to give their school a form to correct under-reported absences. Learn more, including how to ask for an adjusted amount, on MAp-EBT.org here.
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On July 25th, DTA will issue Summer P-EBT benefits to eligible K-12 kids in school during SY22/23. Summer P-EBT is for children enrolled in a CEP (community eligibility program) school or who are eligible for free/reduced price school meals through the National School Lunch Program. The Summer P-EBT amount is $120/child.
DTA will be sending notices to families. These notices should explain how the P-EBT benefit will be issued. Here’s what you need to know:
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The P-EBT benefit will be put on the household’s SNAP EBT card if the child was part of a SNAP household when the child was first issued P-EBT benefits (this could be a few years ago).
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The P-EBT will be put on a P-EBT card in the name of the child if the child was NOT part of a SNAP household when the child was first issued P-EBT. This is true even if the child’s “SNAP status” has changed since they first got P-EBT.
To get a replacement EBT card, folks can call the DTA Assistance Line, use DTAConnect (if their case is still open), or go to a local DTA office. To get a replacement P-EBT card, families need to request a new P-EBT card on DTAConnect.com here.
Kids under 6 on SNAP
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On August 25th, DTA will issue P-EBT to children who were under 6 years old (ages 0-5) and getting SNAP between September 2022 and May 2023. These food dollars are put on the household’s SNAP EBT card. If the family is no longer on SNAP and needs a new EBT card, they can call the Assistance Line, use DTAConnect (if their case is still open), or go to a local DTA office.
To learn more, visit MAp-EBT.org.
Interim Reports: What are they & who has to do them to keep SNAP?
“Interim Reports” are reporting forms that some SNAP households must complete about 6 months after they apply to keep their SNAP benefits going. During the pandemic, DTA waived the Interim Report for the vast majority of SNAP households. Since mid-April DTA has been sending out Interim Reports again to some people.
If DTA sends someone an Interim Report, the household must complete it to keep their SNAP case open! The Interim Report can be done over the phone or on DTAConnect, or by returning the paper form through DTA Connect, by mail/fax, or in person at a DTA office.
Most households do not have to do an Interim Report. The only SNAP households who have to do an Interim Report are “Simplified Reporting” households who meet certain rules (namely, who have no income/aren’t homeless and those with income within $200 of the gross income test). To understand who is on Simplified Reporting, see DTA’s overview of the certification/reporting categories here. For the details of this policy change and who is subject to it, see DTA’s overview here.
Remember: If the SNAP household does not complete the Interim Report, DTA must send a termination notice before their SNAP is cut-off with information on how they can fix the problem. Please let MLRI know if you see any issues with Interim Report or other issues where DTA incorrectly handles a SNAP case..
DTA Announces SNAP/Restaurant Meal Program - to go live in the Fall