Share
            

New SNAP Work Requirements & Exemptions

As a result of new federal requirements, many SNAP recipients are now required to work or volunteer for a specific number of hours per month. If they do not comply, they may have their benefit amount reduced, or lose access to SNAP for a period of time, or permanently.

DTA SNAP workers are trying hard to ensure that all eligible clients receive the full amount of benefits to which they are entitled. They are attempting to identify SNAP cases that qualify for exemptions or exceptions using information they already have. In some cases, you may have to report changes or updates to your circumstances, especially if they involve things, such as an illness or incident that kept you from working.

This page on the DTA website includes all information you need to know about SNAP work rules.
SNAP General & ABAWD Work Rules and Exceptions
SNAP Work Rules FAQ
Where to Volunteer
Ways to Contact DTA
Job Opportunities

FAQs and Info

Who Must Comply

  • Some people getting SNAP age 16 to (and including) age 59 must follow the General Work Rules.
  • Some adults getting SNAP between the ages of 18 through (and including) 64 must also meet the Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) Work Rules.

DTA will send you a letter telling you if and when you have to meet the rules.

Below, you can learn if you are exempt from the rules or how to meet them if you are not exempt. You can also further your employment and training goals through DTA Pathways to Work programs even if you do not have to meet the SNAP Work Rules.

General Work Rules

  • You must accept any job offer, unless there is a good reason you can’t.
  • If you earn more than $217.50 per week (before taxes): You can’t quit your job unless you have a good reason or got another job earning $217.50 or more per week.
    • This rule does not apply to you if you are self-employed or an independent contractor.
  • If you work 30 or more hours per week: You can’t reduce your hours without a good reason, if reducing your hours means you make less than $217.50 per week.
    • For example, if you earn $16 an hour and you work 30 hours per week, you can’t reduce your hours below 14 hours per week.

Exemptions from General Work Rules

  • Are younger than 16 or older than 59
  • Are 16 or 17 years old and are not the head of your SNAP household (the person whose name is on the EBT card and on notices sent by DTA)
  • Receive TAFDC or EAEDC benefits
  • Are pregnant and within 120 days of your due date
  • Have a hard time working because of a health problem that substantially reduces or prevents you from working.  This could be mental, physical, sensory, learning, intellectual, cognitive or developmental.
  • Receiving services ever received services in the past from Mass Commission for the Blind, Mass Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, or the Department of Developmental Services.
  • Actively participating in services from Mass Department of Mental Health or MassAbility and your illness/disability is expected last 90 days or more
  • Earn $217.50 per week (before taxes), or you make less than this but work 30 or more hours per week.
  • Go to school, college, or a training program at least half-time.  This includes training programs, business or technical schools, trade or vocational schools, etc.
  • Applied for or get unemployment
  • Care for a child under age 6 or an individual (adult or child) that needs your care (this person does not need to live with you or be related to you)
  • Are participating in a substance use treatment program

If any of the items above apply to you, let DTA know.

  • You can report it during your application or recertification interview.
  • Or, send DTA a written statement through DTAConnect
    • Write a note to DTA explaining your change. Take a photo with your phone. Upload it in the app.
  • or call the DTA Assistance Line
    • We understand that call volumes are very high and many calls go unanswered. If your call is answered, you can request a call back from a DTA SNAP worker, which will usually be returned within 24 to 48 hours.
  • or report it in person at the DTA Office or the DTA Satellite Office at Worcester Community Action Council
  • DTA will let you know if they need any more information.

ABAWD (Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents) Work Rules

If one or more of the exemptions below apply to you, you do not have to meet the ABAWD Work Rules. If none of the exemptions apply, then you may need to meet the ABAWD Work Rules. DTA will send you a notice if you must meet these rules.

You are exempt from the ABAWD Work Rules if you:

  • Are exempt from the General Work Rules
    • (with the exception being that you are only exempt from the General Work Rules due to being 59 years old or older.  If you are between the ages of 59 through (and including) 64, you may need to meet the ABAWD Work Rules)
  • Are under age 18 or age 65 or older
  • Can’t work at least 30 hours per week due to a physical or mental health problem. This could be mental, physical, sensory, learning, intellectual, cognitive, developmental, substance dependency or as a survivor of domestic violence, sexual harassment, sexual assault or stalking.
  • Live with a child under age 14, even if that person does not receive SNAP
  • Are pregnant (any stage of pregnancy)
  • Are an American Indian or Alaska Native (as described in the Indian Health Care Improvement Act)

If any of the above conditions apply to you, inform DTA as soon as possible using any of the methods below.

Good Cause Exceptions

If you have a good reason for not being able to follow the new ABAWD or General Work rules, you should notify DTA as soon as possible. They may be able to stop any changes to your case, or restore your reduced or lost benefits if necessary. Examples of Good Cause exceptions include:

If you are not exempt from either the General or the ABAWD Work Rules but you have a good reason for not following these rules, tell us.  Examples of good reasons include:

  • Getting sick
  • Transportation issues
  • No available childcare
  • Family crisis or emergency (such as a death, health emergency, or domestic violence)
  • Unreasonable employment situation or employment offer

You can upload a written statement through DTA Connect or call the DTA Assistance Line to tell DTA about the reason why you did not follow the rules. They will let you know if they need any more information.

DTA Video Explainers

DTA has a DTA YouTube Channel where they post many helpful videos for people who learn best with visual help. The videos are posted in many languages, including ASL. We’re linking videos about new SNAP work requirements here in some of Worcester’s most common languages. DTA is working to add more languages to their series in order to reach as many people as possible. You’ll find more languages as they’re added at the DTA Work Rules page.

Places to Volunteer

Need help finding volunteer hours? These community organizations You’ll find a list of organizations looking for volunteers at our Volunteer at a Local Nonprofit page. It includes links to the volunteer signup page on the organization’s website. In addition, a number of local organizations are making a  special effort to accommodate adults who have to fill their volunteer hours for SNAP reporting. We’ll keep an updated list of those here.

El Buen Samaritano - EBS

El Buen Samaritano needs 20 to 50 volunteers every Friday to help set up for their weekly food distribution. There’s no need to register in advance. Just show up ready to work and check in with Mari or an EBS staffer. Mari will sign off on your paperwork so you can submit your proofs.

Address:

39 Piedmont St. Worcester, MA 01610
P: 774-253-1619
C: 508-304-1501
info@ebsamaritano.org

Community Harvest

Community Harvest runs two farms that donate fresh produce to local food pantries and to Worcester County Food Bank. The Grafton farm has drop-in hours for individual volunteers during the growing season They encourage SNAP recipients who need to fulfill work hours to drop in at the farm for as many hours as they want.

Address:

37 Wheeler Rd
North Grafton, MA 01536

Hours: Monday to Saturday 9am to 12 noon

During the season, individual volunteers help whenever they are able without needing to schedule a visit. We are open Monday through Saturday from 9 am to noon (excluding holidays) for Drop In volunteering May through mid-October. All ages are welcome, volunteers under the age of 16.5 must be accompanied by an adult.

We are a working farm! All activities take place outside. Wear seasonally appropriate clothing that you won’t mind getting dirty, closed toe shoes, and a hat. Wear sunscreen and carry a refillable water bottle.

Register here one time to become a drop in volunteer.

Are you an organization with volunteer opportunities for SNAP recipients subject to the new rules? Please fill out and submit the form below. We’ll check in to verify the info and add it to this page within a couple of days.

More Options to Contact DTA/SNAP

Official DTA Contact Information

DTA hosts a full How to Guide on how to contact them on their website. Just click the button above to access it. We’re including some of the most relevant info below.

Mail

Mail your documents and completed cover sheet to: DTA Document Processing Center, PO Box 4406, Taunton, MA 02780.

Fax your documents and completed cover sheet to: DTA Document Processing Center, (617) 887-8765.

in Person

Worcester DTA has two options if you want to drop off documents or talk to a caseworker in person.

The main DTA Office is located at SW Commons Plaza (the old Fair Plaza.

  • There is plenty of parking if you drive.
  • For those who don’t drive, WRTA route 12 has a stop directly in front of the office. The RTA Trip Planner helps you plan your route from start to finish.
  • In addition to speaking directly to a caseworker, the main office also has two self service kiosks set up to help people access the self serve options. DTA currently has 2 interns available to assist people who need assistance with the touch screen kiosks.

Self Serve Kiosks

In order to make their services more accessible, DTA has installed a number of stand-alone kiosks throughout Worcester. Most of these are not staffed by DTA, but may have SNAP outreach workers available to assist clients. Locations include:

SNAP Outreach Workers

An increasing number of organizations around Worcester and the surrounding towns now have a SNAP Outreach Navigator on staff. SNAP Outreach Navigators are specially trained to help you apply for SNAP, upload documents, and troubleshoot your case. In many cases, they can resolve your issues on the spot. If they can’t, they can assist you with next steps, including escalating your case to the attention of a DTA caseworker.

Find a current list of SNAP Outreach Partners on our Apply for SNAP page.

Job Opportunities

Are you looking for a job working with a local nonprofit working in the food security or food access area? These local organizations are looking to fill vacant positions.