SNAP Defense Continues; More Phone Banking; ABAWD Training Tomorrow

We hope folks had a rest-filled and energizing weekend - notwithstanding the clouds, some rain and chilly weather. A couple of updates on the federal front, as well as upcoming trainings and DTA’s updated Online Guide:

AFSCME Letter Opposing SNAP Cuts, Lt Guv Driscoll and MA Senators sign on:

Last Friday, June 13th, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) sent a letter to Congress urging House and Senate Leadership to oppose extreme cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP and public services. Huge thanks to Lt Governor Driscoll, Senate President Spilka, and other Senators for signing on and speaking out.

Recording of Spotlight Forum 6/11 re Women Disproportionately Harmed by the Proposed Cuts to Benefits and Services:

In case you missed it, here’s the YouTube link to the Forum on June 11th where U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA), and House DPCC Chair Debbie Dingell (D-MI) highlighted how women are disproportionately harmed by many of the policies in Republicans’ Big Betrayal, including cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, cuts to food assistance/SNAP, regressive tax policies, and blocking access to reproductive health care.

June Phone Banking Continues o Stop SNAP/Medicaid Cuts - including Wed, June 18th at 11 AM

SEIU, Health Care for All, MLRI and Project Bread are continuing phone banking to voters in Maine and likely other states for the next few weeks. We are calling Senators Monday, Tues and Wed this week. And there’s special phone banking time on this Wed at 11 AM. What’s phone banking? Through SEIU’s Scale to Win hubdialer, we call constituents, share concerns over the proposed federal cuts and “patch” them through to the Senate DC office to talk with staff or leave a message! It is easy and very productive. Register HERE for the remaining June phone banking dates.

MLRI ABAWD Training tomorrow, Tuesday, June 17 @ 2 PM

The first group of MA residents harmed by the 3 month time limit will be terminated starting August 1. Here is MLRI’s ABAWD Guide for Community Organizations. Register here for MLRI’s training tomorrow (June 17) to learn more about how to protect vulnerable adults from termination. Note this training will cover good reasons for not meeting the rules and other topics that build on MLRI’s April training.

DTA’s Updated Online Guide for DTA SNAP and Cash Policy

DTA recently updated the Online Guide. The Online Guide is a policy guide DTA case managers use when reviewing eligibility and approving or denying SNAP and cash (TAFDC and EAEDC) benefits. Many sections have case examples. The Online Guide can be a valuable resource when checking how DTA handles a particular issue or when advocating for clients.

SNAP Coalition, June 24th from 10 to 11:30AM

The next SNAP Coalition meeting is next Tuesday, June 24th starting at 10 AM. The agenda will include federal updates, state budget (FY26) and legislative updates, DTA updates on SUN Bucks, ABAWDs, DTA Assistance Line and more. The Zoom link is here.

Given how much is going on, our July Coalition meeting will be on July 22nd and possibly an August meeting if needed (we usually skip August).