SNAP Coalition Follow Up: - Upcoming Trainings, Increase in FPL gross income test, Important sign-on letters!
We have a bunch of follow up items from yesterday’s SNAP Coalition meeting. Over 118 attendees! Huge thanks to both FRAC and DTA for attending and giving excellent presentations. We will follow up separately with federal updates. Here's some key items discussed yesterday.
Feb 8th Training on FindYourFunds.org
FindYourFunds.org has been updated for the tax season! Please share this resource widely. We will have a special second training on Tuesday, February 8 from 10 to 11:30. Click here the Zoom link. (Also, let vnegus@mlri.org know if your network would like a training on connecting families to federal tax dollars.)
The Shah Foundation and MASSCap will share information about FindYourFunds.org and how to connect families to critical federal dollars with the Child Tax Credit, EITC and missed stimulus payments. The second half of the meeting, MLRI will share basic information about helping maximize SNAP for households when the Emergency Allotments end.
SNAP 101 Basic Right Training - Tomorrow, Jan 27th (9:30 AM to 12:30 PM)
There’s still time to register for MLRI’s annual Basic Benefits SNAP 101 training, hosted by the Mass Continuing Legal Education. We sent the wrong link to register last time, our apologies! Here’s the correct MLCE registration link: Be sure to click on “non-lawyer advocate” to get the discounted rate that MCLE charges.
Updated 2022 SNAP Calculators and SNAP At-A-Glance Charts
We have a number of 2022 updates that impact the SNAP math - which you will also learn more about if you join the SNAP 101 training tomorrow!:
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Increase to the 200% Federal Poverty Level (FPL) gross income test: We have updated our SNAP calculators here and our SNAP At a Glance Charts here. The 200% FPL levels are effective February 1st.
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MA minimum wage increase: Yup, the minimum wage has increased to $14.25/hour. Many households remain SNAP eligible even with this increase. And reminder that the vast majority of SNAP households have very limited reporting rules. See this chart in the SNAP Advocacy Guide to learn more.
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The federal mileage rate: Yup, it costs more to drive! The federal mileage rate has increased to 58.5 cents per mile. Remember that SNAP households can claim mileage costs as a deduction for medical expenses (persons age 60+ or disabled) as well as for dependent care costs - child care and adult day care. Note, private travel expenses for SNAP can be self-declared!
SNAP online ordering now includes BJs:
DTA announced that BJs now accepts SNAP for online ordering. For more information on SNAP online ordering, see this DTA page: Mass.gov/snap-online-
We still want to hear from you on problems SNAP households are experiencing using the SNAP online purchasing portals - including problems navigating the portals, delivery issues, surprise fees. Please fill out this SURVEY and let us know what you are hearing.
SNAP Gap/Common Apps Campaign - Medical student and MD sign-on letter:
The SNAP Gap/Common App legislation is rounding the turn to the finish line. After a favorable report from the Joint Committee on Health Care Finance, the legislation H.1290/S.761 is currently in House Ways and Means. Two fantastic Harvard Medical School students - Meghan Mishra and Jordan Kondo - have organized a sign on letter to House and Senate Leadership urging passage of this bill.
The medical students have already gathered 260 signatures from medical students and MDs as of last night. Let's help them exceed 300! Please share this GOOGLE DOC with the medical students and MDs in your life and network. Deadline is Friday, Jan 28th.
Universal School Meals Campaign - Social Media Action Steps Needed:
The following message is from our colleagues at Project Bread: There is only one week until the deadline (2/2/22) for the education committee to vote on pending legislation, including the School Meals for All bill: H.714/S.314. The #FeedKids Campaign is seeking to boost social media to get more grassroots pressure for a positive vote.
Here’s a sample social media post: Our window of opportunity to make free school meals a reality this year could close in one week—please join me and the #FeedKidsMA Coalition by taking action for #SchoolMeals4All TODAY! Make your voice heard: https://p2a.co/jioq9ae
MassHealth sign-on letter to Biden Admin uring retroactive health coverage for all MassHealth beneficiaries:
Federal Medicaid (MassHealth in MA) law requires states to pay for health care that Medicaid-eligible people received up to three months before they applied for Medicaid. Since 1997 the Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) has granted the State's request to waive this requirement - that means denying three month’s of retroactive coverage to most MassHealth beneficiaries under 65. This is wrong! Retroactive coverage saves low income people from devastating medical debt and opens the door to accessing necessary care. It also helps lessen costs for providers, particularly safety net providers that serve a large percentage of low-income patients.
Please sign your organization on to MLRI's comments to the Biden Administration. We want the Biden Administration not to allow MA to waive this protection any longer. All MassHealth beneficiaries should get three months retroactive coverage! Click here to sign on! Deadline is Feb 3! Please email our colleague Vicky Pulos with any questions: vpulos@mlri.org or call 617-357-0700 Ext 318