Boston, MA (March 29, 2023) – The Massachusetts Law Reform Institute applauds the state legislature’s passage and Governor Healey’s enaction of the FY23 supplemental budget, which includes critically important provisions for low-income Massachusetts residents facing food insecurity and housing instability. 

First, we commend the legislature for passing the Governor’s proposed “off-ramp” for SNAP households whose extra federal COVID SNAP benefits ended this month. These state dollars – representing 40 percent of what 1 in 7 Massachusetts residents have been receiving during COVID – will significantly blunt the harm of the payments ending during a time of continued inflation. The Commonwealth must continue to build on this critical funding by ensuring more of our lowest-income families can put food on the table. 

Second, the supplemental budget provides $2 million to replace stolen SNAP benefits for households victimized by EBT card skimming. This provision will supplement the limited relief provided by Congress in December that directed states to use federal funds to replace up to two-months-worth of SNAP benefits stolen on or after October 1, 2022. Thousands of SNAP households in Massachusetts – whom MLRI represents in a class action lawsuit – had benefits stolen before October 1, or  are suffering after more than two months were stolen. We are grateful that Massachusetts is leading the nation in stepping up to fill the gap left by Congress. 

While all consumers are at risk of being skimmed, SNAP consumers are particularly vulnerable because the EBT card only has a magnetic stripe – an inferior and outdated card technology largely replaced in the financial marketplace by chip cards. MLRI looks forward to continuing to work with the Healey-Driscoll Administration, the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), and the federal U.S. Department of Agriculture to ensure chip EBT cards are promptly rolled out in Massachusetts – better protecting 640,000 low-income households in the checkout line. 

Third, we applaud Governor Healey for her leadership in proposing funding to allow school districts to continue universal school meals through the 2023-2024 school year for Massachusetts children. Ensuring children are fed and ready to learn is critical for the future of the Commonwealth. At the same time, we strongly urge the Governor and General Court to recognize the needs of low-income immigrant families – the backbone of the Commonwealth’s workforce – who are ineligible for federal SNAP benefits to supplement their low wages. In the upcoming FY24 Budget, we urge the Legislature to restore state-funded SNAP and transitional cash benefits to legally present immigrant families struggling to get on their feet but ineligible for federal SNAP and TANF.

Finally, we appreciate the Commonwealth’s commitment to newly arrived immigrants to Massachusetts, including support for groups working on the ground and increased state coordination to welcome our new neighbors. We are also grateful for timely and needed supplemental funding for the Emergency Assistance shelter program, the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition program, and additional supports for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. We look forward to continuing to work with state leaders to further improve housing stability in the days ahead.

Contact:

Betsy Gwin
bwin@mlri.org | 617-357-0700 x364

Vicky Negus
vnegus@mlri.org | 617-357-0700 x315