With the goal to help those in need, including single moms and their children, food stamps, now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), began in the United States in the late 1930’s to help people buy and eat nutritious food, be stronger, and make up a more productive society. The Food Stamp Program became a nationwide entitlement program in 1971. This resulted in anyone having the legal right to get SNAP benefits, as long as they met the rules for the program. Number of people in a household and how much income they have are the determining factors for the amount of SNAP benefits a family can receive. Certain tests must be met by households in order to get SNAP benefits, including resource (assets) and income tests.
General Program Requirements
As a single mom you must be a resident of the state of Massachusetts in order to qualify for this benefit program and fall into one of two groups:
- Those with a current bank balance (savings and checking combined) under $2,001.
- Those with a current bank balance (savings and checking combined) under $3,001 who share their household with a person with a disability (a child, your spouse, a parent, or yourself), or with a person or persons age 60 and over.
Application Process
Or by mail or fax: www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dta/food-assistance.html
Special rules apply in order to receive Food Stamps in Massachusetts, if a member of your household is an elderly (age 60 or over) and/or disabled person.
To get more information contact the department of Transitional Assistance for more information at: 800-249-2007
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