ABAWDs/terminations, SUN Bucks apply by 9/1, PFML Guide

We hope you have had some time off to enjoy this summer with loved ones. We do not have a SNAP Coalition meeting in August. Our next Coalition meeting will be on Tuesday, September 23 from 10-11:30. If there is reason to have a special Coalition meeting before then, we’ll let you know!

In the meantime, please continue to reassure clients that when it comes to the harmful Republican megabill, nothing has changed and DTA is waiting on federal guidance before taking any action. See Mass.gov/DTA alert. And, check out this podcast interview with the Merrimack Valley Food Bank speaking powerfully to the harms the megabill will bring to their communities and their work.

Adults Cut-Off Due to 3-Month Time Limit/ABAWD Work Rules

1) Identify clients who were terminated (cut-off): On August 1st DTA began terminating SNAP benefits for adults (“ABAWDs”) subject to the 3-month time limit. The rules in place currently impact adults ages 18-54 who are not exempt from or meeting the rules (to learn more, see MLRI’s Guide on the ABAWD Work Rules here). As noted above, DTA is waiting for federal guidance before taking action to implement the vast expansion of the time limit to include adults up to age 65, families with children 14+, veterans, and others.

Please let us know if you have heard from any clients cut-off due to the ABAWD Work Rules. You can use this form, or email Vicky - vnegus@mlri.org. We need examples to advocate for improvements now and in the future when DTA implements the expanded time limit. For example, we are very worried many ABAWDs can’t reach DTA for help with an exemption. In July, 76% of calls trying to reach a DTA worker were blocked (automatically disconnected) due to high call volume.

2) Become a volunteer site: Organizations who wish to host ABAWDs seeking to meet the work rules through volunteering can fill out DTA’s Volunteer Site Form. DTA has a list of host organizations on SNAPPathToWork.org here.

Sept. 1 deadline to apply for SUN Bucks!

SUN Bucks is a $120 food benefit per eligible school aged child. If a family hasn’t heard from DTA about SUN BUcks - hasn’t gotten any SUN Bucks texts, notices, or a SUN Bucks card - encourage them to apply by September 1! Apply online at DTAConnect.com, or download a paper application here.

Note any family with kids ages 6-16 - or any age if they are enrolled in an NSLP school - who applies for SNAP before September 1, 2025 (and is approved for any amount) should also be automatically issued SUN Bucks! For more information see Mass.gov/SUNBucks.

New Advocacy Guide on Paid Family Medical Leave

With kudos to our colleagues at Greater Boston Legal Services, please check out and share this new Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Advocacy Guide! PFML pays about 80% of a worker's average weekly wage and protects their job while they take up to 26 weeks of leave each year to care for their health, for their family's health, or to bond with a child. PFML can be used by workers for medical conditions of all kinds and the benefit is very flexible. Workers are able to structure their leaves in different ways. For workers injured in the job PFML can be combined with Workers Compensation. 85% of PFML applications are approved. Almost all Massachusetts workers can qualify and there are no work authorization requirements for the program.