For all low-income families
- If you pay for the care of any child under 18 or disabled adult, your family can get more SNAP benefits! SNAP used to be called Food Stamps.
- Every $3 you spend on childcare may increase your SNAP benefits by $1 – up to the maximum SNAP amount for your household.
- You can claim anything you spend on dependent care when:
- You are working, or looking for a job;
- You are attending school or work-related training;
- You are doing volunteer work or another activity that the SNAP Employment/Training (E&T) Program requires.
What can I claim as expenses?
Child care or Adult care |
All child or adult care expenses that you are responsible for paying. Include co-payments; |
Out-of-school activities for any child under 18 |
Any supervised activity, including before and after school, school vacation, summer camps, YMCA, and Boys/Girls Club fees; |
Mileage
|
If you drive your child to or from child care, camp or a school program; |
Public Transportation Costs |
If you or your child takes a bus, subway or train to or from child care, camp or a school program. |
Is there a limit or cap on the expenses I can claim?
No. You can claim the full amount of costs you pay.
Example:
A mother has two children. She earns $1800/month and pays $600 rent plus heat. She will get $274 in SNAP. If she spends $300/month for childcare and travel to and from childcare, her SNAP will go up to $364/month.
How do I claim child care expenses?
You can "self declare" these expenses. Write them down on your application or recertification form, or give your DTA worker a signed statement. You can use this sample form. DTA should ask for proofs only if the information you provide is questionable.
Produced by Massachusetts Law Reform Institute Last updated August 2011
