As part of the Families First Coronavirus Act of 2020, Massachusetts obtained a waiver from FNS to issue SNAP emergency allotments to certain SNAP households each month. The SNAP emergency allotments brought eligible SNAP households up to the maximum benefit level for their household size or a minimum SNAP emergency allotment of $95 per month.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, enacted by the federal government, ends the SNAP emergency allotments effective February 2023, separating them from the end of the federal public health emergency. Most households will receive their last SNAP emergency allotment for the month of February on March 2, 2023. SNAP households who are approved for SNAP towards the end of February and miss the March 2, 2023 SNAP emergency allotment issuance will still receive their February SNAP emergency allotment at a later date. After the SNAP emergency allotment for February 2023 applications are issued, there will be no additional SNAP emergency allotments going forward.
The Department is utilizing various means of communication to notify clients and outreach partners about the sunsetting of SNAP emergency allotments.
A new website was launched: www.Mass.gov/ExtraCOVIDSNAP. The website provides information on maximizing benefits, addresses frequently asked questions, and provides additional resources
A notice was sent to all active households who receive SNAP emergency allotments. The following were enclosed in the mailing:
the Federal Extra COVID SNAP Ending flyer
the Out-of-Pocket Medical Expenses form for households with an elderly/disabled member, not at the maximum monthly SNAP benefit amount, and not already receiving a medical expense deduction
Emails sent to clients with an email address in BEACON
Robo calls and text messages to households encouraging eligible households to report:
Medical expenses
Dependent care expenses
Shelter expenses
Social Media outreach on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook
With these benefits ending, all households will experience a minimum loss of a $95 per month supplement in extra SNAP, with other households seeing a more significant loss. Households with children will experience the highest benefit loss based on the termination of SNAP emergency allotments.
It is important that at each interaction with clients, staff review the current SNAP monthly benefit amount for their household size. If the household’s regular monthly SNAP benefit amount is not at the maximum benefit for their household size, staff must explore all potential deductions to maximize their SNAP benefits. At each interaction with a client, you must check with each client if:
Their shelter and/or utility costs have increased
Someone in the SNAP household is elderly/disabled and may have unreported medical expenses
Reminder |
Medical expenses in the SMD range are self-declarable and a telephonic signature can be accepted at the time of the call. See Standard Medical Deduction Waiver for more information. |
There is any child or elderly/disabled adult care costs
Reminder |
In order for the household to be eligible for the dependent care deduction, the parent/guardian/caretaker must be working, looking for work, or in school. |
Additionally, interaction with the client is an opportunity provide information on how they can maximize their SNAP benefits by purchasing fruits and vegetables from HIP farm vendors. Depending on their household size, each household may be able to get up to $40, $60, or $80 per month in fruits and vegetables. See HIP Operations for more information on HIP.
Staff must also familiarize themselves with the www.mass.gov/extraCOVIDSNAP website including the additional resources cited as a point of reference when assisting clients.
Staff must continue to refer to Standardized Procedures for SNAP Emergency Allotments when reviewing calculations for SNAP Emergency Allotments.