Financial Assistance and Other Food Support

Food Stamps, Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA)

If you get SNAP and you work, and you lose hours or have to stop work, report your lower hours to DTA as soon as you can, so they can adjust your SNAP benefit amount.

To apply for SNAP or check your account:

1. Visit www.DTAConnect.com or download the DTA Connect Mobile app to submit documents, check your balance, and more.
2. Apply online through Mass.gov.
3. For additional help, call Project Bread.  Can assist callers apply for SNAP in over 160 languages. Read more on their flyer.
   1-800-645-8333
   Monday - Friday: 8AM to 7PM
   Saturday: 10AM to 2PMor reach hotline counselors by instant message through www.gettingsnap.org
4. WATCH CDC Housing & Basic Needs Clinic - Contact the clinic for assistance in applying or updating your application. Contact Suzi at WATCH by leaving a message at 781-891-6689 ext. 203 and you will get a return call as soon as possible.

Pandemic EBT (P-EBT)

UPDATE -- Since P-EBT was created to replace school meals, students who return to in-person learning will not get P-EBT funds for the months that they are in school in-person.

P-EBT cards provide additional money for families to purchase food while their children’s schools are closed. P-EBT cards are distributed to families whose children receive free or reduced meals or attend a school where every child receives free meals.

Look for a notice in the mail from the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) in May. Families not already receiving DTA benefits will get mailed their card separately from the notice. If you have not received your card by late May, call Project Bread’s FoodSource hotline at 800-645-8333.

Received your card? Set it up now! Call Massachusetts’ EBT hotline (800) 997-2555 Create a PIN: use the last 4 digits of your child’s case number that was provided on the notice you got in the mail and the child’s date of birth (using the 2 digit month + 2 digit day. Example: 04/06) Use it like an EBT card for purchasing groceries from approved retailers.

Where can P-EBT be used? P-EBT can be used anywhere that SNAP is accepted, such as grocery stores or smaller corner stores (look for signs that say “We accept EBT here”). Starting May 29th, Massachusetts residents who receive SNAP benefits can use their EBT card to buy food online from Amazon and Walmart .

What can be purchased with P-EBT? P-EBT acts similarly to SNAP benefits. You can purchase most fresh, canned, and frozen foods. P-EBT cannot purchase items such as diapers, cleaning products, paper goods (toilet paper, paper towels, etc.), supplements/medicines, prepared meals or restaurant food, pet food, alcohol or recreational marijuana.

Questions? Call Project Bread’s Hotline Number at: 1-800-645-8333 Flyers on P-EBT in multiple languages

These cards cannot be donated, but you are able to use this card to purchase food (pantry staples are most helpful!) and then donate the food.

Have more questions? Project Bread's Facebook page has a lot of great information about P-EBT. Also map-ebt.org answers many frequently asked questions.

WIC Offices, Waltham

WIC continues to offer services over the phone to pregnant, postpartum, breastfeeding, non-breastfeeding women and kids up to the age of 5. The offices are still closed until further notice, but WIC benefits are even easier to get at this time, because participants do not have to go into an office for their appointments. Everything is done remotely and they get their benefits downloaded onto their WIC card. Anybody can go shop for WIC families if they are not able to go to the store.

To enroll participants please go online or call our offices:

• Waltham: 781 642-7194​
• Framingham: 508 620-1445

Like our Facebook page for updates and resources.

All our staff are safely working from home and able to:

• Enroll new participants
• Re-enroll families who have been on WIC before
• Do nutrition consultations over the phone
• Download food and formula benefits remotely onto WIC cards
• Offer virtual breastfeeding classes
• Help participants to apply for SNAP benefits and MassHealth and make referrals to programs that can help families with other needs.

Project Bread FoodSource Hotline

If you or someone you know living in Massachusetts needs food assistance, please refer them to Project Bread's FoodSource Hotline, toll-free and confidential, at 1-800-645-8333. Monday-Friday: 8am-7pm. Saturday: 10am-2pm.

Counselors can assist callers with: Information, eligibility, and over-the-phone application assistance with SNAP, school meal site information, summer meal site information, and local community resources, such as food pantries and meal services.

Counselors can assist callers in 160 languages and there is a dedicated line to assist the hearing-impaired community at  TTY: 1-800-377-1292. More information can be found, here. This service is available to all Massachusetts residents.

Family Table at Jewish Family and Children's Services

For assistance with food access and referral to services call the Family Table at 781-693-5593. They also provide assistance applying for and using SNAP benefits. To contact, please email them at SNAPhelp@jfcsboston.org or call the JF&CS Bet Tzedek Intake Line at 781-693-1333.