What's new at MLS

DTA has issued new guidance, Operations Memo 2014-24, that changes how DTA confirms information they get about a SNAP or cash recipient's new job, an increase in wages or a problem with a Social Security number (SSN).  DTA typically gets wage information from the…

  The NEXT Boston-based SNAP Coalition Meeting is Tuesday, March 25th from 10 to Noon at St Francis House in Boston. The Coalition meeting will include discussion of the Farm Bill and Massachusetts "H-EAT program".  A more detailed agenda will follow.  Meanwhile, we…

At 2:35 PM today, the United States Senate voted to pass the "Farm Bill" or Agricultural Act of 2014. The Act includes $8.6B in cuts to the SNAP program, cuts which can potentially affect up to 125,000 Massachusetts SNAP households, many of whom are seniors and persons with disabilities,…

Please note, the NEXT SNAP Coalition meeting in Boston is Tuesday, January 28th from 10 AM to Noon.    DTA and the eNotification pilot in Massachusetts:   DTA has started the process of collecting both email addresses and written permission…

We are continuing to receive calls and emails about the Massachusetts EBT photo policy from community partners and individual recipients. This email is to give you a brief update on the EBT photo card implementation and to ask you to continue to flag EBT card cases, even if…

We just received word from the Commissioner's office that they have agreed to issue overnight EBT cards to any SNAP recipients whose EBT photo card did not reach them and their current blue card is not active or the envelope was returned to DTA by the postal service as undeliverable. As you…

At the SNAP Coalition meeting on Tuesday we heard from DTA that the Social Security Administration (SSA) is currently updating databases that DTA workers use to verify Social Security (also called RSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The update will continue through…

1.  Changes to Virtual Gateway SNAP/MassHealth Combo Apps due to Health Care Reform:  We are writing to let SNAP Coalition Members know that the MassHealth Virtual Gateway (VG) portal will be converting to the new health care exchange portal or ConnectorCare system…

DTA has just issued guidance implementing the new EBT Photo card requirements: Operations Memo 2013-57A and Operations Memo 2013-58A. The bulk of the Photo EBT card changes and guidelines are detailed in Operations Memo 2013-57. This email summarizes the key information you should know as Ops…

See email below from the BHA announcing an important community forum on the ARRA cuts. According to ABCD staff, attendees will view MLRI's short ARRA cuts YouTube videos (English and Spanish) as well as receive materials produced by DTA, MLRI and Project Bread materials that explain the cuts, help…