What's new at MLS

As you know, the new computer eligibility system is still broken & MassHealth continues to refine the "work-arounds" to provide benefits in the meantime. Until recently most non-citizens who do not have an eligible immigration status, applied for benefits after Jan. 1, 2014 & were…

Tomorrow the Governor releases his proposed budget for the next fiscal year.  Meanwhile, the health coverage landscape gets ever more confusing. Attached and reprinted below is our best effort to describe the Jan 1 transition with links to information from MassHealth & the…

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…

USDA has released some very useful demographic information for your advocacy work, a cautionary alert about SNAP scammer,  and two upcoming Webinars for Spanish speakers.  Check it out!  1) SNAP Demographics by Congressional Districts: Using SNAP program data and information…

TO:  Food SNAP Coalition Members FR:  Pat Baker Happy Veterans Day and Happy 11-11-11.  We wanted to be sure you saw today's Globe editorial exhorting local cities and towns to reach out to local veterans and their families in financial need and help them access…

We received a copy of the email below llate last week announcing a change in the guard at DTA. Julia Kehoe will be moving over to EOHHS to take on a new Senior Policy Development position and Daniel Curley of the Justice Resource Institute will be taking the DTA helm. EOHHS Secretary Dr. Bigby's…

This is late breaking news, and many of you may not have even known trouble was brewing.  Late last night the U.S. Senate voted DOWN a proposal to cut SNAP benefits including BOTH our Massachusetts Senators John Kerry and Scott Brown!! The vote was 41 Yes to 58 Nays on one very harmful amendment.…

Sending Client Documents to DTA Boston Web SNAP Unit – Secure Email OptionFollwing recent discussions with the Boston Centralized Web Unit about ways to improve SNAP application processing, agencies that serve clients in theBoston Web Unit catchment areas have the opportunity to set up secure…

A number of changes in "SNAP math" went into effect October 1st to implement the annual cost of living adjustments (COLA). The gross, net and 165% income eligibility standards have increased slightly (note that the 200% level has remained the same; this generally changes in the spring, not…