Impact of the Federal Government Shutdown on SNAP Benefits

Instead of getting SNAP in February, you should have got it early – between January 17 and 20th

In Massachusetts, households get SNAP (Food Stamps) between the 1st and 14th of each month. If you got SNAP on your EBT card early, you do not need to call the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) unless you have a question or need to tell them something about your case.

DTA will not be issuing SNAP again in February

If you got SNAP on your EBT card early, you will not get SNAP again in February. Keep this in mind when you are making decisions about buying food. SNAP will stay on your card until you decide to use it!

If DTA needs paperwork to approve your SNAP or keep your SNAP case open, get it to DTA as quickly as possible

Due to the shutdown and directions from the federal government, it is important that you send DTA missing paperwork as quickly as possible. The fastest ways to get paperwork to DTA are:

• Upload documents on DTAConnect.com
• Take a picture on your smartphone and send through the DTA Connect app
• Go to a local DTA office

If you did not get SNAP on your EBT card between January 17 and 20th or you have questions for DTA, call 1-877-382-2363. There may be long wait times.

More Information

• The shutdown has NO impact on SNAP eligibility rules or on DTA's issuance of cash assistance benefits.
• Retailers will continue to accept SNAP during the shutdown.
• If the shutdown continues through February, we do not yet know what will happen to SNAP in March.
• When the shutdown ends, SNAP will go back to normal.

For up to date information from DTA on the shutdown and its impact on SNAP, see DTA's website:

For help with food resources in your community, call Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline: 1-800-645-8333

Get the flier as a PDF file in English or in Spanish