You can buy any edible food except hot foods prepared for eating immediately. You can also buy seeds and plants to grow food. You cannot buy non-food items such as alcohol, pet food, vitamins, or grooming products. 106 C.M.R. § 360.100. You do not need to have cooking facilities to get SNAP/food stamp benefits.
You may be able to use your SNAP/food stamp benefits to get prepared meals (at special facilities, or delivered by Meals on Wheels) if you are elderly, disabled, homeless, or living in a facility that serves meals. 106 C.M.R. § 360.120. You cannot use SNAP/food stamps at restaurants.
DTA has information on how to use your EBT Bay State Access Card, and USDA has helpful information on what you can buy with SNAP/food stamp benefits.
Advocacy Reminder
- You cannot use SNAP/food stamps to buy soap, toilet paper, tobacco, or anything else that is not food. However, if you are elderly or disabled, you can claim as a deduction from your income what you spend on prescribed over-the-counter drugs, pet food for a seeing eye or hearing dog, as well as other medically related expenses. 106 C.M.R. § 364.400(C). See What medical expenses can I claim if I am elderly (60+) or disabled?
Produced by Patricia Baker, Laura Gallant, Deborah Harris, Rochelle Hahn Massachusetts Law Reform Institute Last updated January 2011
