Home » 2012 Food Stamp/ SNAP Advocacy Guide » SNAP Part I -- Application and Proofs

09. Can I get emergency food stamp/SNAP benefits?

Yes! If your income, cash, and savings are very low, you can get emergency, or "expedited," benefits. The SNAP rules require DTA to screen all applicants for expedited service. 106 C.M.R. § 365.800. If you are eligible for expedited service, DTA must get you your benefits within seven (7) days after you apply. 

You are eligible for expedited service if:

  • you have $150 or less in gross income for the month and $100 or less in cash and savings, or
  • your rent (or mortgage) plus the utilities (using the Standard Utility Allowance for your household) are higher than your combined gross monthly income and cash and savings, or
  • you are a migrant household with $100 or less in cash and savings. 106 C.M.R. §§ 365.810-365.830.

If you meet one of these criteria and you provide proof of identity (who you are), you can get your benefits within 7 days. 106 C.M.R. § 365.830. If you do not have other proof of identity, your social security number (SSN) is sufficient proof of identity if DTA is able to confirm it through the State Verification and Exchange System (SVES). To get SNAP benefits for more than one month, you will have to provide proofs of all the other eligibility factors. 106 C.M.R. § 365.850(B). See Question 7 (What proofs (verifications) do I need?).

Example:  Stella earns $200 a week pre-tax earnings at her part time job, for a total monthly income of $866 (weekly x 4.333). Stella pays $400 rent and pays for electricity, including for air conditioning, separately. Her total shelter costs are $994 (rent of $400 plus the $594 heating/cooling standard utility deduction). Because her gross income is less than her shelter costs, Stella is eligible for expedited SNAP if she applies.  

Expedited SNAP are not extra benefits—they are just a way to get your first month’s benefits faster. The amount you get in expedited SNAP benefits is based on the income you have already received (or anticipate receiving) in the thirty days prior to application. DTA counts income even if it comes from a terminated source, such as the last paycheck from your former employer. 106 C.M.R. § 365.840. Regular, ongoing SNAP benefits do not count income from a terminated source.

Advocacy Reminder

  • If you need expedited SNAPbenefits, it may be faster to apply in person at the local DTA office. Although DTA has a legal obligation to provide you with expedited issuance within 7 days of your application, sending the EBT card by mail and potential phone tag to screen you for expedited benefits can cause delays. If you go to the DTA office in person, you should be screened for expedited that same day. If you cannot go to DTA, be sure to give enough phone numbers on your application for DTA to reach you (including helping agencies that can reach you).
  • If DTA tells you that you can only get expedited SNAP benefits once, contact Legal Services. DTA cannot refuse to give you expedited benefits a second time if you reapply and need them as long as you verified all the eligibility factors the last time you applied, or it's been at least a year since your last expedited benefits.
Additional Policy Guidance on Expedited Benefits
  • Expedited benefits can be issued more than once if the applicant previously verified required information, or if more than a year has elapsed since receipt of expedited. DTA Transitions (Dec. 2010).
  • Even though asset test is eliminated for most "categorically eligible" households under 200% FPL, households seeking expedited benefits must give DTA information on the amount of liquid assets available. DTA Transitions (July 2008)
  • Expedited benefits should not be denied for lack of proof of identity if DTA can verify SSN through State Verification and Exchange System (SVES). DTA Transitions (May 2007)
  • Worker should screen for expedited at time of first contact with applicatn— either in person or by phone. Date of contact is start date of 7-day period for expedited. DTA Field Operations Memo 2006-30 (July 10, 2006)
  • Instructions to speed up processing SNAP benefits for homeless applicants who are not otherwise expedited. DTA Field Operations Memo 2000-35 (Dec. 19, 2000)
  • Proof of non-citizen status is not required for expedited benefits; declaration of applicant is sufficient. DTA Transitions (Dec. 1997)
  • See also BEACON User's Guide, Ch. IV-A, pp. 9-10, on DTA workers screening for expedited and calculation of income in month of application.