While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the LIHEAP program and compiled a guide and the following answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as Food Stamps, helps eligible low-income individuals and families buy the food they need to stay healthy in the form of monthly benefits.
SNAP uses Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards to distribute the benefits.
The Massachusetts SNAP food assistance program is administered by the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA). Learn more about SNAP on the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance website here.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, SNAP benefits can be used to purchase approved food items. These include:
See a more comprehensive list of what you can buy with SNAP benefits here and a list of approved snacks and meal supplements here.
There are also food items that cannot be purchased with SNAP benefits, including alcoholic beverages and hot prepared food. See a comprehensive list of what you cannot buy with SNAP benefits here.
SNAP provides monthly benefits, known as an allotment, to eligible households. The allotment amount you can receive is based on 1) the number of people in your household and 2) your household income.
To calculate your allotment amount, multiply your household’s net income by 0.3 and then subtract that number from the federal maximum monthly benefit amount in the table below.
| Household Number | Federal Maximum Allotment Per Month |
| 1 | $291 |
| 2 | $535 |
| 3 | $766 |
| 4 | $973 |
| 5 | $1,155 |
| 6 | $1,386 |
| 7 | $1,532 |
| 8 | $1,751 |
| Each additional household member | +219 |
You have one year (365 days) to use your allotment or the benefits on your EBT card will be canceled.
To learn more about your benefit amount in Massachusetts, click here.
To qualify for SNAP in Massachusetts, you must meet the following requirements:
Learn more about Massachusetts’s income limits and other eligibility criteria here.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Massachusetts Food Stamps program, helps families buy the food they need to stay healthy. If you are in need of food assistance and wish to apply to SNAP, complete the following three steps:
Learn about the income limits and personal eligibility requirements to receive SNAP benefits here.
Find a list of what you need to apply on the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) website here. You can also view a copy of the application here to see what information is required.
To apply for SNAP online, create an account on Massachusetts’s DTA Connect website here and fill out the SNAP application.
To apply for SNAP in person, click here to find the nearest Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance office location.
To apply for SNAP by fax, fill out the SNAP Benefits Application found here, download the DTA cover sheet here, and send it with copies of your necessary documents to 1 (617) 887-8765.
To apply for SNAP by mail, fill out the SNAP Benefits Application and DTA cover sheet and send it with copies of your necessary documents to the following address:
DTA Document Processing Center
P.O. Box 4406
Taunton, MA 02780
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance at 1 (877) 382-2363.
Depending on your method of application, you can check your application status in the following ways:
If you applied for SNAP online, by mail or by fax, you will be contacted to schedule an interview over the phone or at your local DTS office. Your interview will determine if you are eligible for SNAP benefits.
After the interview, you will receive a notice in the mail from the Department of Health and Welfare with your determination and benefit amount. You will then receive your EBT card in the mail after you apply for benefits. In some cases, you may receive your EBT card before a decision has been made.
If you applied in person at a local Division of Welfare office, you will receive your determination and EBT card on the same day so long as you provide all the required information and documentation.
If documents are missing from your application, or the Department of Health and Welfare needs more information from you to finish processing your request, you will need to provide the information or documentation before your application can be processed.
Once you receive your EBT card, you can use it to purchase items that are approved by SNAP at groceries and retail stores that accept EBT transactions. Learn about what you can purchase with SNAP here.
SNAP benefits are replenished each month that you are a member of the program. To check the balance of your EBT card, call the number on the back of your card or 1 (800) 997-2555. You can also check your balance online here or by using the DTA Connect mobile application.
If you do not agree with the benefit decision given to you by the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance, you can appeal your decision in person, by mail, or by fax within 90 days of receiving your determination letter.
All appeal requests must be written. You may use the Department of Transitional Assistance Appeal Form that is attached to your determination letter or you may write your letter on a piece of paper. Your appeal request must include:
To file an appeal in person, visit a local Department of Transitional Assistance office. You will need to speak with a representative and provide your appeal request. Find your nearest location here.
To file an appeal by mail, mail your appeal request to:
DTA Hearings
P.O. Box 4017
Taunton, MA 02780
To file an appeal by fax, fax your appeal request to 1 (617) 348-5311.
You can check the balance of your EBT card by calling the number on the back of your card or 1 (800) 997-2555. You can also check your balance online here or by using the DTA Connect mobile application.
Learn more information about EBT cards and how to use your benefits on the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance EBT card page here.
If you have not received your EBT card within 10 days of receiving your approval notice, call 1 (877) 456-1233 for assistance.
If you have lost your EBT card and require a replacement, call Massachusetts’s EBT customer service number at 1 (800) 997-2555. You can also request a replacement online here.
For more answers to common questions related to EBT cards, click here.
For help with obtaining SNAP benefits, or for any further questions about your application, call the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) at 1 (877) 382-2363.
You can also visit or call a local DTA office for further assistance. Find your nearest location here.
Offices and services are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Food Stamps program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Food Stamps Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, requirements for program eligibility, and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.
Last Updated: February 2, 2024
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Massachusetts Food Stamps program, helps families buy the food they need to stay healthy. If you are in need of food assistance and wish to apply to SNAP, complete the following three steps:
Learn about the income limits and personal eligibility requirements to receive SNAP benefits here.
Find a list of what you need to apply on the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) website here. You can also view a copy of the application here to see what information is required.
To apply for SNAP online, create an account on Massachusetts’s DTA Connect website here and fill out the SNAP application.
To apply for SNAP in person, click here to find the nearest Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance office location.
To apply for SNAP by fax, fill out the SNAP Benefits Application found here, download the DTA cover sheet here, and send it with copies of your necessary documents to 1 (617) 887-8765.
To apply for SNAP by mail, fill out the SNAP Benefits Application and DTA cover sheet and send it with copies of your necessary documents to the following address:
DTA Document Processing Center
P.O. Box 4406
Taunton, MA 02780
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance at 1 (877) 382-2363.
Depending on your method of application, you can check your application status in the following ways:
If you applied for SNAP online, by mail or by fax, you will be contacted to schedule an interview over the phone or at your local DTS office. Your interview will determine if you are eligible for SNAP benefits.
After the interview, you will receive a notice in the mail from the Department of Health and Welfare with your determination and benefit amount. You will then receive your EBT card in the mail after you apply for benefits. In some cases, you may receive your EBT card before a decision has been made.
If you applied in person at a local Division of Welfare office, you will receive your determination and EBT card on the same day so long as you provide all the required information and documentation.
If documents are missing from your application, or the Department of Health and Welfare needs more information from you to finish processing your request, you will need to provide the information or documentation before your application can be processed.
Once you receive your EBT card, you can use it to purchase items that are approved by SNAP at groceries and retail stores that accept EBT transactions. Learn about what you can purchase with SNAP here.
SNAP benefits are replenished each month that you are a member of the program. To check the balance of your EBT card, call the number on the back of your card or 1 (800) 997-2555. You can also check your balance online here or by using the DTA Connect mobile application.
If you do not agree with the benefit decision given to you by the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance, you can appeal your decision in person, by mail, or by fax within 90 days of receiving your determination letter.
All appeal requests must be written. You may use the Department of Transitional Assistance Appeal Form that is attached to your determination letter or you may write your letter on a piece of paper. Your appeal request must include:
To file an appeal in person, visit a local Department of Transitional Assistance office. You will need to speak with a representative and provide your appeal request. Find your nearest location here.
To file an appeal by mail, mail your appeal request to:
DTA Hearings
P.O. Box 4017
Taunton, MA 02780
To file an appeal by fax, fax your appeal request to 1 (617) 348-5311.
You can check the balance of your EBT card by calling the number on the back of your card or 1 (800) 997-2555. You can also check your balance online here or by using the DTA Connect mobile application.
Learn more information about EBT cards and how to use your benefits on the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance EBT card page here.
If you have not received your EBT card within 10 days of receiving your approval notice, call 1 (877) 456-1233 for assistance.
If you have lost your EBT card and require a replacement, call Massachusetts’s EBT customer service number at 1 (800) 997-2555. You can also request a replacement online here.
For more answers to common questions related to EBT cards, click here.
For help with obtaining SNAP benefits, or for any further questions about your application, call the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) at 1 (877) 382-2363.
You can also visit or call a local DTA office for further assistance. Find your nearest location here.
Offices and services are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Food Stamps program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Food Stamps Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, requirements for program eligibility, and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.
Last Updated: February 2, 2024