The income limit is the most important food stamps (SNAP) eligibility requirement in Massachusetts. In this post, In this post, we are going to walk you through the 2023 income limit for Massachusetts food stamps, including how to calculate how much you will receive in SNAP benefits if approved.
Additionally, we will provide information on how to apply for food stamps in Massachusetts.
Lastly, we will answer the most frequently asked questions about SNAP benefits in Massachusetts.
Table of Contents:
- Food Stamps in Massachusetts
- Who is Eligible for Food Stamps in Massachusetts
- 2023 Income Limit for Massachusetts Food Stamps
- How to Apply for Food Stamps in Massachusetts
- Food Stamps in Massachusetts FAQs
Food Stamps in Massachusetts
SNAP (also known as food stamps) offers nutrition assistance to millions of eligible, low-income individuals and families in Massachusetts.
In Massachusetts, the SNAP program is run by the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA).
Once you are approved, SNAP benefits are provided on an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, that is used as a debit card.
EBT cards are accepted at most grocery stores, some farmers’ markets, convenience, big box stores, and some online stores, like Walmart and Amazon.
SNAP benefits generally cannot be used to buy prepared foods, vitamins, alcohol/tobacco, and non-food items (like soap or toothpaste).
Who is Eligible for Food Stamps in Massachusetts?
To be eligible for SNAP in Massachusetts, a household must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Must be a citizen or legal immigrant
- Must be a Massachusetts resident
- Your household income must be less than the food stamps income limits for your household size (see chart below)
- With some exceptions, you must work or participate in an employment and training program
- For most households, resources must be under $2,750 to qualify for SNAP or $4,250 in countable resources if at least one member of the household is age 60 or older, or is disabled
2023 Income Limit for Massachusetts Food Stamps
To qualify for SNAP in Massachusetts, your household income must not exceed 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.
You can find out if you may qualify by using the 2023/2024 table below.
Income limits vary according to household size.
Households that contain no elderly or disabled individuals must meet both the gross (income before deduction) and the net income (income after allowable deductions) limits.
However, households that contain an elderly (age 60 or over) individual or a disabled individual must meet only the net income limits.
See the table below for both the net and gross income limits according to household size.
| Massachusetts Food Stamps Income Eligibility Standards for Fiscal Year 2024 | |||
| Effective October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2024 | |||
| Household Size | Monthly Net Income Limit (100% of FPL) |
Monthly Gross Income Limit (130% of FPL) |
Monthly Gross Income Limit (200% of FPL) |
| 1 | $1,215 | $1,580 | $2,430 |
| 2 | $1,644 | $2,137 | $3,288 |
| 3 | $2,072 | $2,694 | $4,144 |
| 4 | $2,500 | $3,250 | $5,000 |
| 5 | $2,929 | $3,807 | $5,858 |
| 6 | $3,357 | $4,364 | $6,714 |
| 7 | $3,785 | $4,921 | $7,570 |
| 8 | $4,214 | $5,478 | $8,428 |
| Each Additional Household Member: | $429 | $557 | $858 |
How to Apply for Food Stamps in Massachusetts
There are multiple ways you can apply for food stamps in Massachusetts.
Option 1 – Apply Online
The easiest way to apply for SNAP benefits is online through the Massachusetts DTAConnect Portal.
Log on to DTAConnect.com and select “Apply SNAP!”.
If you do not have an account, click on the “Create Your Online Account” link for instructions on how to set up an account.
Option 2 – Apply by Mail or Fax an Application
To apply by mail or fax, download the SNAP application here.
Once you have completed the application, you can submit it by mail or fax.
Instructions on how to do so are included in the application and detailed below:
Fax Application
Fax the completed cover sheet and application to DTA Document Processing Center at (617) 887-8765.
Mail Application
Mail the completed cover sheet and application to:
DTA Document Processing Center
P.O. Box 4406
Taunton, MA 02780
Download the Cover sheet here.
Option 3 – Apply in Person
If you are unable to apply online or by mail, the DTA has offices statewide to assist you with the application process.
You can apply at a local DTA office, with a SNAP outreach partner, or at a community kiosk.
Interpreters are available in over 100 languages.
Option 4 – Apply by Phone
Also, you can apply for SNAP by phone by calling the DTA Assistance Line at 1-877-382-2363 (press 7 to apply for SNAP).
The DTA Assistance Line is open from 8:15 A.M. to 4:45 P.M. Monday – Friday.
Interpreters are available in over 100 languages.
Senior SNAP
If you are age 60 and older, you may be eligible for Senior SNAP in Massachusetts.
Click here to access the Senior SNAP application form.
Food Stamps in Massachusetts FAQs
Here are the most frequently asked questions about Massachusetts Food Stamps:
What is the Phone Number for Massachusetts Food Stamps?
If you need help applying for food stamps in Massachusetts or have further questions about how the SNAP program works, call the DTA Assistance Line at 1-(877) 382-2363.
The DTA Assistance Line is open from 8:15 A.M. to 4:45 P.M.
How Much Will I Receive in Massachusetts Food Stamps?
If you are approved for food stamps in Massachusetts, how much in benefits you get partly depends on the:
- Number of people in your household,
- The total amount of your household’s income, and
- U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Thrifty Food Plan.
The Thrifty Food Plan is a government estimate of how much it costs to provide a household with nutritious, low-cost meals.
In Massachusetts, the average monthly SNAP amount per person is approximately $205.
| Maximum SNAP Benefit Amount by Household Size for Fiscal Year 2024 | |
| Effective October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2024 | |
| Household Size | Maximum SNAP Benefit Allotment |
| 1 | $291 |
| 2 | $535 |
| 3 | $766 |
| 4 | $973 |
| 5 | $1,155 |
| 6 | $1,386 |
| 7 | $1,532 |
| 8 | $1,751 |
| Each Additional Household Member: Add | $219 |
To find out how much you are likely to get in Massachusetts SNAP if approved, use the calculator below.
In the example provided below, we are using a family of 6 to demonstrate how to calculate your food stamps amount.
How Massachusetts Food Stamps Calculator
Here’s how to calculate how much a family of 6 will get in SNAP benefits.
First, we need to start with the household income.
If you have a countable net income, multiply your net monthly income by 0.3 (30 percent).
Round up this amount to the nearest dollar.
Next, take this amount and subtract it from the maximum benefit level for a household of your size.
From the table above, the maximum a household of 6 could receive in food stamps is $1,339
The result is the monthly food stamps benefits for a family of 6.
Here’s an example:
Example: Mary and his family of six (6) have $1,850 in net income after allowable deductions.
To determine the family’s SNAP benefits, take 30% of the “net income” (30% of $1,850) and subtract it from the maximum benefit, as follows:
$ 1,850 Net Income for Mary’s family
x .30 (Multiply by 30%)
$ 555 Countable Income
$ 1,339 Maximum SNAP for 6 persons
-$555 Countable income (round up)
$ 784 Monthly SNAP benefits for Mary’s family
When are Massachusetts EBT benefits deposited?
Massachusetts food stamps benefits are deposited on your MA EBT Card on your scheduled deposit day. Massachusetts EBT Deposit Dates are staggered during the first 14 days of each month.
The day your Massachusetts food stamp benefits are deposited depends on the last digit of your Social Security Number (SSN).
Food Stamp benefits will be made available in your Massachusetts EBT Card account by 3am on your scheduled deposit day.
Here is the Massachusetts SNAP EBT Deposit Schedule for 2023:
| The last digit of your SSN ends in: | SNAP Benefits are available on the: |
| 0 | 1st day of the month |
| 1 | 2nd day of the month |
| 2 | 4th day of the month |
| 3 | 5th day of the month |
| 4 | 7th day of the month |
| 5 | 8th day of the month |
| 6 | 10th day of the month |
| 7 | 11th day of the month |
| 8 | 13th day of the month |
| 9 | 14th day of the month |
How Many People are on Food Stamps in Massachusetts?
| Number of People on Food Stamps in Massachusetts | |||
| As of September 2022 | |||
| September 2021 | September 2022 | Change | |
| Number of People | 973,777 | 1,057,692 | 8.6% |
| Number of Households | 582,155 | 637,110 | 9.4% |
| Total Benefits ($) | $215,382,059.00 | $269,275,163.00 | 25.0% |
United States Food Stamps Statistics for January 2023:
| Number of People on Food Stamps in The United States | |||
| As of September 2022 | |||
| September 2021 | September 2022 | Change | |
| Number of People | 40,846,833 | 41,665,296 | 2.0% |
| Number of Households | 21,402,558 | 21,907,553 | 2.4% |
| Total Benefits ($) | $9,117,810,630.00 | $9,338,989,005.00 | 2.4% |
What stores accept Massachusetts EBT online for delivery?
Currently, there are 19 stores that accept Massachusetts EBT Cards online as payment.
You can use your MA EBT Card and food stamp benefits to purchase approved grocery items and have it delivered directly to your door.
However, your Massachusetts SNAP benefits cannot be use to pay for delivery fees.
Currently, the following stores accept Massachusetts food stamps and EBT Cards online:
- ALDI
- Amazon
- BJs Wholesale Club
- Brothers Marketplace
- Daily Table
- Geissler’s Supermarket
- Hannaford
- McKinnon’s Supermarkets
- Price Chopper Supermarkets
- Price Rite
- Ring Bros. Marketplace
- Roche Bros
- Shaw’s
- Star Market
- Stop & Shop
- Target
- Walmart
- Wegmans
- Whole Foods
What can’t I buy with Massachusetts Food Stamps?
Your Massachusetts EBT card works like a normal debit card. You can your Massachusetts EBT Card and food stamp benefits to purchase eligible food items from most grocery stores.
However, there is a list of items that you cannot purchase with your Massachusetts EBT Card and food stamp benefits.
You CANNOT use Massachusetts SNAP EBT benefits to buy:
- Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, or tobacco
- Vitamins, medicines, and supplements
- Live animals (except shellfish, fish removed from water, and animals slaughtered prior to pick-up from the store)
- Prepared Foods fit for immediate consumption
- Hot foods
- Any nonfood items such as:
- Pet food
- Cleaning supplies
- Paper products
- Household supplies
- Hygiene items
- Cosmetics
Income Limit for Massachusetts Food Stamps Summary
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If you have additional questions about the Massachusetts SNAP or EBT, please leave those in the comments section below. We are here to help you!
Be sure to check out our other articles about Massachusetts Food Stamps and EBT, including:
- How to Check Massachusetts EBT Card Balance
- Restaurants that Accept SNAP EBT in Massachusetts
- Massachusetts EBT Card Discounts & Free Admissions
- Grocery Stores that Accept EBT online
- How to Get 50% off Amazon Prime with EBT
- Eligible Food Stamps Items