SNAP Interview Calls:

We have been seeing cases where clients do not receive an interview call  from DTA at the scheduled interview time. The client then receives a "notice of missed interview." 

First, please let us know if you have any clients who do not get an interview call on the date/time in the interview appointment letter.

Having more case examples will help figure out if there is some glitch with DTA's phone system, which Verizon manages. Note, most cell phone customers can create online accounts and see the phone numbers called include the date, time of day, incoming or outgoing and minutes used. If nothing from DTA's 877- number appears on the date the interview call was scheduled, that is very helpful information. (It is not required for your clients to produce a phone call log to flag a case, but it can be very helpful.) As the Commissioner noted at the SNAP Coalition meeting, DTA is very interested in tracking any case examples to drill down on phone line glitches. Again, if you see clients denied SNAP for failure to complete the interview, or sent a "notice of missed interview" (N(OMI) and they were never called by DTA on the date and time scheduled, please flag these cases and pop us an email (we can advise you next steps).

Second, very recently DTA started doing automated outbound interview calls. This means that DTA workers will no longer need to manuallydial and place calls to interview clients. Instead, DTA's computer system (BEACON) will automatically call the phone number. If the client picks up they will be asked to press a number if they can accept the call, and then be connected to a worker. DTA told the Coalition on Tuesday that the wait to connect to a worker has been very short so far-but please let us know what you are seeing.

Note: if the client does not pick up the call, they will be left a message and DTA will call back after 2 minutes. If the client does not pick up after two tries, BEACON will automatically send a Notice of Missed Interview (NOMI).

We think this could be a very helpful change, but we need to hear how it is going so we can give DTA feedback and make sure any issues are fixed.

Upcoming SNAP 101 Trainings:

*PLEASE NOTE- a previous eblast incorrectly stated the Falmouth training is on Nov 9-it is actually next Wednesday, Nov 2!

Register today for a free SNAP 101 Training offered by MLRI and the Greater Boston Food Bank

Wednesday, November 2nd from 1:30 - 4 PM, Falmouth Service Center, Falmouth MA​. CLICK HERE to register

Friday, December 9th, from 1 PM to 3:30 PM, Beverly Bootstraps, Beverly MA. CLICK HERE to register

Flier attached. Please contact Christa Mayfield at the Greater Boston Food Bank with questions:cmayfield@gbfb.org

SNAP Eligibility for Residents of Substance Abuse Facilities

This week DTA sent a Blurb #56 (attached) to about SNAP eligibility for clients living in substance abuse facilities.  Residents of a drug or alcohol treatment center ARE eligible to participate in SNAP.

We are posting these as well on www.MassLegalServices.org

Also, clients who fill out an ABAWD Medical Report Form showing they participate in a drug or alcohol treatment or counseling program are exempt from the ABAWD time limit and work requirement.