Benefits -- general

Federal Shutdown: What to know in Massachusetts Food/Cash Benefits in MassachusettsSNAP:DTA is issuing October SNAP benefits on a normal schedule (between the 1st and 14th of the month). And, DTA is processing applications  as normal. As of now, nothing has changed. Visit Mass.gov/SNAP to…

Three ways to do the SNAP math for MA residents!1. Online SNAP calculator:Here is a link to an online SNAP calculator that you can use right from your browser or mobile device, without downloading anything! 2. SNAP Excel calculator:You can download our Excel…

Use the attached worksheet for  manual SNAP calculations. This worksheet is accurate starting October 1, 2025.  

MLRI's revised and simplified online calculator gives you the monthly SNAP benefits amount a household typically receives based on their countable income and expenses.  Go to the  Massachusetts  Online SNAP Calculator  For a paper worksheet and an Excel calculator,…

Below are links to MLRI's "at a glance" charts for advocates to get a quick "guestimate" on the amount of monthly SNAP benefits by typical households. (These charts are not a substitute for dong the SNAP math in individual cases). : Households with older adults or persons with…

The federal government will shut down at 12:01am Wednesday morning without an agreement between congressional Democrats and Republicans. Most funds for HUD and Rural Development (USDA) rental assistance programs have already been legally obligated through November, so federally-assisted tenants…

Webpage provides infographics on how federal courts have ruled as of 8/14/25 on interim relief (temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions, blocks pending appeal) in the 378 cases tracked by Just Security which challenge the second Trump administration's executive actions. No case tracked…

Materials from the June 11, 2025 Income Maximization training gathered by Legal Services Center, GBLS, MLRI, presented as part of the MLRI/MCLE Basic Benefits Training series.HandoutsAdvocacy Tools for Maximizing Income and Reducing Expenses 2025 (pdf)Benefits and Resources Checklist (pdf)SNAP…

The following are materials are for the March 19, 2025 Immigrants and Public Benefits training. These are the core materials presented as part of the annual Mass Law Reform Institute and Mass Continuing Legal Education Basic Benefits Training (BBT) Series. We've also added some additional…

DTA Local Office ContactsThis directory includes address, phone, and fax information, as well as the names of the directors and assistant directors of each local office.  Note that this is current as of March 2025. There may have been changes since that time.To contact a director by email,…

Low income individuals who are age 65 and over, have a disability or care for someone with a disability and certain children may be eligible for Emergency Aid for Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC) cash benefits. EAEDC is administered by the Department of Transitional Assistance. This FAQ…

Below are the powerpoints and materials from the January 29, 2025 SNAP training, presented as part of the MLRI/MCLE Basic Benefits Training series. Advocates are also encouraged to review the 2024 MLRI SNAP Advocacy Guide also listed below.  We hope to post the 2025 SNAP Advocacy Guide in…

The charts below set forth the annual, monthly and weekly 2025 Federal Poverty Guidelines (based on HHS thresholds).  In addition, the annual, monthly and weekly 115% of poverty, 125% of poverty,  187.5%, 200% of poverty and 300% of poverty amounts are listed. Finally, you can…

Materials from the December 03, 2024 Cash Assistance training, presented as part of the MLRI/MCLE Basic Benefits Training Series: Training Presentation Materials Agenda  Faculty Bios  TAFDC Cash Assistance Program 2024 Training (pdf of slides) TAFDC Basic Rules…

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can help you and your family buy food at supermarkets, grocery stores, and farmers markets. If you are a rideshare or delivery driver - or another type of “gig” worker or self-employed worker - and you need food benefits, here’s what you need to…

Certain low-income immigrants who are legally present may qualify for SNAP (food assistance) benefits. The amount of benefits depends on household income and expenses. Below are FAQs in English, Spanish and Portuguese. State-funded SNAP benefits ended in April of 2024. These fliers were updated in…

MLRI knows that right now it can be very hard to reach DTA by phone. Click here for a list of tips from MLRI on how to get help if you can't get through the DTA Assistance Line.  How do I reach DTA? DTA has one main phone number called the DTA Assistance Line: …

The following chart provides an overview of the income and asset limits for common public benefits, healthcare, and housing assistance programs, and highlight rules regarding the treatment of lump sums from money damages payments and settlements. The chart is primarily intended for use by legal…

What is DTA Connect? DTA Connect is DTA’s mobile app and online portal to see case information for people who have applied for or get DTA benefits. DTA Connect.com also has an online SNAP application.   DTA Connect services are a great way for low income households and community…

This page describes an immigration policy called Public Charge. It is generally safe to get benefits you and your family are eligible for. See Q&As below. This information is not legal advice. If you have questions, contact an immigration attorney. To see which immigrants are eligible for…

EBT card users are having their SNAP and cash benefits stolen following skimming of their card information by thieves. Attached is a flyer describing the issue and sharing information about what victims can do - please feel free to distribute this flyer to your community partners.

On December 10th, the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office (AGO) issued guidance directing local food pantries to suspend practices where food pantry clients are asked for photo IDs or SSNs as a condition of getting emergency food. Attached is the AGO guidance. "The advisory recognizes…

The programs on the linked spreadshett are available to all Massachusetts residents regardless of citizenship or immigration status. Additional benefits are available to US citizens and non-citizens with an eligible immigration status. NOTE that none of the benefits that are available regardless…

The Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) is in charge of issuing Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients up to $150 for moving costs if they meet certain rules.                  Who is eligible for up to…

This report traces policies that take away basic assistance from families for not meeting work requirements back to practices that coerced and exploited the labor of Black families, going back to slavery.  To this day, racist myths underlie assumptions that people do not want to work, and need…

Click Go to Website to see the FAQ on public charge and deportation.

Thousands of MA community college and four-year college students do not have the resources to eat balanced meals while attending school. Over the last 10 years, Massachusetts has implemented a number of policies to qualify more low income students for SNAP,  But - NONE of the Massachusetts…

Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI) has compiled information on the federal government shutdown and specifically what is happening to low income residents who receive or are applying for food assistance, health care, cash assistance benefits, unemployment insurance or housing. This…

Attached are the comments submitted by MLRI to the Department of Homeland Security in response to the proposed public charge regulation.