Updates on the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) from DTA - Suspension of HIP Nov 21st til Spring

FoodSNAP
09/14/18
Greetings SNAP Coalition Members:

See email below just in from DTA regarding the funding and winter status of the HIP program.  We will pass on any fliers when received.  For more information on HIP, see: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/healthy-incentives-program-hip
 
Please note, while the HIP program will be suspended during the winter season, there are a number of other benefits that are triggered with receipt of SNAP and still worth highlighting for low income SNAP households in your SNAP outreach work.  
See MLRI's fliers in multiple languages HERE
 
 
PB
 
 
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Craven, Sara (DTA) <sara.craven@state.ma.us>
Date: Fri, Sep 14, 2018 at 3:13 PM
Subject: Important HIP Update
To: DTA-DL-SNAP Outreach Providers <DTA-DL-SNAPOutreachProviders@massmail.state.ma.us>, "'Pat Baker' (pbaker@mlri.org)" <pbaker@mlri.org>, "Victoria Negus (vnegus@mlri.org)" <vnegus@mlri.org>, "Ginsburg, Lizbeth" <LGinsburg@gbls.org>
Cc: "Jones, Bradley (DTA)" <bradley.jones2@state.ma.us>

 

Good Afternoon,

 

I wanted to share some important information regarding the HIP program with you.

 

Since the program began in April, 2017, over 47,000 SNAP households have earned about $6,100,000 in incentives from purchasing fruits and vegetables at farmers markets, farm stands, CSA’s and mobile markets!
 

HIP will be operating on a seasonal schedule to enable clients to use their benefits during the peak growing season. This means that HIP will end at close of business the day before Thanksgiving - Wednesday, November 21 - for the 2018 season. We anticipate beginning again in the spring of 2019.

 

Flyers in multiple languages to assist with communicating this update will be available to you shortly. HIP clients will also be made aware of this update.

  

 

Thank you, 

 

Sara Craven

Director of the Ombudsman Unit

Department of Transitional Assistance