About SNAP
The Benefits of SNAP
Project Bread's FoodSource Hotline
1.800.645.8333
Food assistance in 180 languages
Hotline Hours
Mon-Fri
8am-7pm
Sat
10am-2pm
The Benefits of SNAP
Going beyond just making ends meet
You may think of SNAP (formerly Food Stamps) only as monthly funds for food shopping, but there are numerous benefits to SNAP that help recipients access a nutritious diet while spending less of their household budget on food, utilities, and more.
Funds for Food
All SNAP recipients receive monthly funds for groceries and farm fresh produce
Once you are enrolled in SNAP and your application is fully processed, you will receive benefits (funds) on your EBT card each month that you can use to purchase food:
- Your monthly SNAP benefits can be used to purchase any eligible groceries.
- Your monthly HIP Incentive helps you purchase more fresh, local produce by reimbursing your SNAP benefits that you spent on produce at designated HIP vendors (up to your monthly limit).
SNAP boosts your food budget and lets you food shop on your own terms
Monthly funds for groceries
SNAP Benefits
People enrolled in SNAP will receive benefits (monthly funds) each month on an EBT card that can be used just like a debit card for grocery shopping — just swipe at the register and enter your PIN. These monthly funds are intended to supplement — add an extra amount — to your household food budget.
Find where SNAP is accepted in stores and where it is accepted online.
You can buy any food item with SNAP benefits except alcohol or prepared meals sold hot and ready to eat. You can even buy seeds or plants for growing food. Learn more about using your EBT card.
How to buy more fresh produce with SNAP
Use your HIP Incentive
People enrolled in SNAP are also automatically enrolled in HIP, which stands for the Healthy Incentives Program. The goal of HIP is to help SNAP recipients purchase more fresh, local produce each month.
Each SNAP dollar you spend on a HIP eligible purchase at a designated HIP retailer, you can earn back onto your EBT card, up to the monthly cap based on your household size.
Monthly HIP caps:
- 1-2 person household size: $40
- 3-5 person household size: $60
- 6+ person household size: $80
Find a HIP retailer where you can make HIP eligible purchases or you can call Project Bread's FoodSource Hotline to speak to a counselor about how and where you can use HIP at 1-800-645-8333.
SNAP helps you go beyond just making ends meet
Benefits to ease household budgets
Discounts & Savings for SNAP Households
The programs below offer SNAP recipients with additional savings opportunities to help ease household budgets.
Discounts & Savings Opportunities
-
Learn More
Gas and Electric Utilities
As a client of SNAP, you can receive discounts on your utility bills. The utilities must be registered in your name, and you can apply to your utility company for the discount.
-
Apply
Internet Service
SNAP recipients receive a discount of up to $30 per month on their broadband internet service through the Affordable Connectivity Program. You can also receive a one-time $100 discount on a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer.
-
Find Locations
Admission to Museums & More
With your EBT card, you can receive discounts at several museums and cultural organizations across the state. All you have to do is present your EBT card.
-
Purchase Pass
MBTA Youth Pass
If you are a young adult 18 to 25 years old and receive SNAP, you can purchase a discounted MBTA Linkpass for unlimited rides on the subway and local buses, as well as single passes. MBTA passes are available to residents of Boston and surrounding areas. Teens 12-17 years old in SNAP households may also be eligible for MBTA passes.
-
Learn More
Boston's Bike Share Passes
If you are over 16 and on SNAP, you can purchase reduced passes to metro Boston's bike share program.
-
Learn More
SNAP Path to Work
SNAP Path to Work provides Massachusetts SNAP clients with the skills, training, experience, education and employment supports needed to find and keep good paying jobs.
Benefits of SNAP for Households with Children
These additional benefits for SNAP households with children will help to boost your household food budget and save you money on groceries!
Kids will get Free School Meals
Once you - or a child in your household - is enrolled in SNAP, all the children in your household will automatically qualify to receive free school meals! In addition to providing children with daily nutrition, free school meals (breakfast and lunch) free up family budgets, allowing households to save up to $1,000 a year, per child!
Children eligible for P-EBT Benefits will get additional funds on their EBT card
Children in SNAP households ages 0-5 and students grade K-12 have been eligible for Pandemic EBT( P-EBT) benefits, additional funds on your EBT card for food. Being enrolled in SNAP will make each of the children in your household eligible to receive these additional EBT funds if they meet the other requirements when the program is operating.
Women, Infants, & Children Nutrition Program (WIC)
Women, Infants, & Children Nutrition Program (WIC) The WIC program is an additional program to get groceries. You must be pregnant, breastfeeding, postpartum, or a child 5 years old or younger to apply. There are also other qualifications as well. If you qualify for WIC, you will receive a separate WIC card. You can be enrolled into both SNAP and WIC at the same time. WIC also has other benefits in addition to receiving groceries such as breastfeeding support and referrals to healthcare. You don't need to be a client of SNAP to apply for WIC.
SNAP-Ed
SNAP Nutrition Education
SNAP Nutrition Education (SNAP-Ed) is an obesity prevention and nutrition education program that provides resources for you to eat and be healthy.
SNAP-Ed promotes the "Healthy Foods, Healthy Moves, and Healthy You" initiative for individuals and families to learn about healthy food choices and develop physical activity habits consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Their user and mobile friendly website, MASNAPEd.org is available in eight languages, including English, Chinese Traditional, Filipino, Haitian Creole, Indonesian, Portuguese, Spanish, and Vietnamese. The website includes:
- nutritious and culturally appropriate recipes
- cooking videos
- tips for shopping on a budget
- a tool to find local physical activities
Find out if you are eligible today!
Project Bread's counselors are ready to help you discover if you qualify for SNAP, and can help you apply. Start a Live Chat below to talk to a counselor online or call Project Bread's FoodSource Hotline at 1-800-645-8333.
Project Bread is an official SNAP Outreach Partner of The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA).
As a SNAP Outreach Partner of DTA, Project Bread's role is to make it easier for people in Massachusetts to get SNAP and help anyone having trouble applying.