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

11. What if I do not speak English or I am deaf?

If English is not your primary language, DTA must provide you with a bilingual DTA worker (or communicate through a translation service), upon request. Appendix C contains a sample DTA interpreter request for to be used by DTA staff to request interpreter services if the case manger is not bilingual and/or no DTA interpreter is available.

If you are deaf or hard of hearing, DTA must communicate through interpretation services. 106 C.M.R. § 360.510. The Recipient Services Unit can be contacted by TTY at 617-348-5599 or 1-888-448-7695 for questions about application status and eligibility. Case information can also be found online using My Account Page. See Question 13 (Is there a quick way to check the status of my application or my benefits?).

Both the printed and online SNAP applications ask if you need support services or have a special situation for which you need interpretation services. You should indicate that you are hearing impaired and/or you need interpretation, CART, or sign language interpretation to communicate with your case manager.

When you communicate with DTA by phone, the worker or receptionist should do a three-way call with you and the interpreter or tele-language service to ensure you are able to communicate with DTA and receive the same services as English-speaking clients.

Under federal law, DTA is required to send written notices and materials to you in your primary language, if you do not speak English. DTA currently translates its notices and forms only into Spanish. The failure of DTA to send notices in your primary language could violate federal food stamp law. Contact an advocate for assistance.

Advocacy Reminders

  • By federal law, DTA must provide you with an interpreter if you need one. DTA should not tell you to bring your own interpreter. See Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000d. DTA should not tell you to have a family member interpret for you. The 2008 Farm Bill codified the regulatory requirements in the food stamp statute. (See Section 4118, Public Law 110-246, June 18, 2008.)
  • Federal food stamp law also requires DTA to have written materials in languages other than English if there are at least 100 households in the area served by the welfare office that speak that language. 7 C.F.R. § 272.4(b)(3). A written notice reducing or stopping your benefits is not valid if it is not in your primary language, you do not read English, and there are 100 or more households in the area served by the welfare office that speak your language.
  • For more information on the federal and state government's duties to persons with limited English proficiency (LEP), see the LEP website and the Civil Rights Division’s Coordination and Review Section on the US Department of Justice website.
  • For SNAP eligibility and benefits information in 35 languages, see the SNAP section of the USDA Food and Nutrition Service website.
Additional Policy Guidance on Language Access Requirements
  • Reaffirms DTA obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Field Ops Memo 2010-30 (July 1, 2010).
  • Reaffirms DTA obligations to meet its Title VI obligations to provide bilingual services to LEP clients.
  • Workers must use the tele-language line if bilingual staff is not available. Workers should use three-way calling with phone clients (not require them to come in). DTA cannot turn a client away or tell them to come back due to a lack of interpreters. Children under age 12 not allowed to interpret; older children only for setting up appointments; interpreter should be offered even if English-speaking family member or friend accompanies client to DTA. DTA Field Operations Memo 2008-16 (Apr. 1, 2008).