Warm welcome to DTA Commissioner Kershaw:, Treatment of US Census income; Min wage impact on SNAP; EITC outreach, upcoming events

Today is the 6th Day of 2020 - Happy New Decade!  Hope you are all rested up from the holidays for the battles that lie ahead in SNAPland!  And remember to use the hashtag, #HandsOffSNAP  

 

We are writing with a couple of important updates and announcements.

• New DTA Commissioner Amy Kershaw. Effective January 2nd, EOHHS Secretary Mary Lou Sudders appointed Associate Commissioner Amy Kershaw as the new DTA Commissioner. Commissioner Kershaw has worked with DTA predecessor, Jeff McCue, for a number of years on DTA cash benefits program (TAFDC, EAEDC) and employment services. She previously worked with both the Department of Children and Families and Depart of Early Ed and Care and knows a lot about the core programs administered by DTA.  A warm welcome from the SNAP Coalition to Commissioner Kershaw!  We look forward to welcoming Commissioner Kershaw in her new role at our 2020 SNAP Coalition meetings. (note, Jan 28th is the first 2020 meeting, see below).

• US Census income is non-countable. We are delighted to report that DTA pursued and received USDA approval to NOT count U.S. Census earnings as income for SNAP or cash benefits. Attached is the cover page to DTA's Online Guide Transmittal 2019-98 sent to all DTA staff on 12/26 announcing the policy. Hats off to Brittany Mangini, DTA Director of Food Security and Nutrition, for her advocacy on this front! Click HERE for info on Census jobs.

• SNAP and the $12.75 new minimum wage. Thankfully, NO, there is still no huge "benefits cliff" in SNAP b/c MA still has the federal option to use a 200% FPL gross income test. We've gotten a number of questions about how the increased min wage impacts SNAP benefits. Thanks to our fantastic AmeriCorp member, Ananya Bhasin, we've updated the "At a Glance" chart with the SNAP math on how the min wage increase to $12.75/hr affects SNAP.  See PDF attached and link to chart here:  https://www.masslegalservices.org/content/glance-snap-benefit-chart-working-families

• DTA mailing on the EITC and EIC. Attached is a mailing going out to SNAP and cash households (in English and Spanish) about the federal earned income tax credit (EITC) and Massachusetts earned income credit (EIC).  The DTA mailing also includes information on where to go to get free tax filing help and info on child care. See also Mass CAP's webpage, free tax prep services in MA: https://www.masscap.org/freetaxprep/  Please encourage families to file for the EITC and EIC and remember:  the EITC and EICs are NOT countable income for SNAP or cash benefits.

• Upcoming Basic Benefits Trainings in 2020.  MLRI still has six more basic benefits trainings in the queue for 2020 including our popularTenants Rights, Jan 21st; SNAP/Food Stamps Advocacy 101 on Feb 5th (AM) and Utilities Advocacy for Low Income Households, also on Feb 5th (PM). To see all the 2020 MLRI hosted trainings at MCLE and register, click here.  Be sure to select the "non-lawyer advocate" category in the registration field to get the $35 registration fee for non-profits.