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MLRI’s SNAP Online Calculator Has Been Used 4,000+ Times in 2023

MLRI’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) online calculator has been used over 4,000 times since the start of 2023.

SNAP is a federal nutrition program that provides eligible households with monthly funds to buy food. The amount a household receives depends on household size, income, and certain allowable expenses. MLRI’s online calculator helps potential Massachusetts SNAP recipients and community advocates estimate the monthly SNAP benefits amount a household may receive. The calculator provides a quick check on whether a household is eligible for SNAP and whether they are getting the correct amount.

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La Colaborativa and Massachusetts Law Reform Institute to Host Launch Event for the Feeding Our Neighbors Campaign

The event will take place at La Colaborativa’s Food Pantry in Chelsea on Wednesday, Feb. 15th at 3:30 pm.

For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Christine Dunn, Seven Letter
christine@sevenletter.com
617.646.1044

Chelsea, MA (February 13, 2023) – La Colaborativa and The Massachusetts Law Reform Institute announced that they will be hosting an event to launch their Feeding Our Neighbors campaign on Wednesday, February 15th at 3:30pm. The campaign’s purpose is twofold: to raise awareness to the plight of the immigrant community who lack access to basic needs and benefits, and to highlight the need for both legislation and funding to restore basic food and cash assistance benefits for legally present immigrants.

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MLRI Applauds Governor Healey’s Investment in Low-Income Families, Asks Legislature to Quickly Pass Supplemental Budget

Boston MA (January 31, 2023) – The supplemental budget for fiscal year 2023 filed yesterday by Governor Healey takes three major steps towards reducing hunger for Massachusetts families.

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Bills Filed to Lift Kids Out of Deep Poverty By 2024 – Campaign Launch Event January 26

For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Christine Dunn, Seven Letter
christine@sevenletter.com
617.646.1044

BOSTON, MA (January 18, 2023) – The Lift Our Kids Coalition today announced that Representative Marjorie Decker (D-Cambridge) and Senator Sal DiDomenico (D-Everett) have accelerated the timetable for lifting kids out of Deep Poverty with the filing of House and Senate bills (HD 507, SD 501) at the start of the 2023-2024 legislative session. A launch event will be held Thursday, January 26, 2023 at 2:00 PM in the State House, Room 428.

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MLRI Applauds Congressional Action to Replace Stolen SNAP Benefits and Improve EBT Protections for Low-Income Households

Boston MA (December 21, 2022) – Thousands of low-income households across the nation have had their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, also known as food stamps) benefits stolen by criminals who use a “skimming” device to capture the households’ account information. Most states, including Massachusetts, have refused to replace the stolen benefits because the federal government would not cover the cost of replacement. In November 2022, MLRI filed a class action lawsuit challenging the state’s refusal to replace benefits stolen through no fault of the household.

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Massachusetts Law Reform Institute Class Action Lawsuit Seeks Restoration of Stolen SNAP Food Benefits

Thousands of Low-Income Massachusetts SNAP Families Victimized by Theft Seek Justice

BOSTON, MA (November 4, 2022)– The Massachusetts Law Reform Institute filed a class action lawsuit today on behalf of thousands of low-income families whose Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits were stolen from their accounts. The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), which administers SNAP in Massachusetts, has refused to restore the stolen benefits on the ground that the federal U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which usually pays for SNAP benefits, will not cover the cost.

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Massachusetts Law Reform Institute and National Association of Social Workers-MA Applaud the Massachusetts Legislature and the Baker Administration for Streamlining Access to Safety Net Programs

For Immediate Release – August 04, 2022
Media Contacts
MLRI: Christine Dunn
christine@sevenletter.com | 617.646.1044
NASW-MA: Rebekah Gewirtz
rgewirtz.naswma@socialworkers.org | 617.645.4773

Newly implemented systems will increase program efficiency and improve access to critical safety-net benefits for all low-income Massachusetts residents

On July 27th, the Baker Administration implemented a portion of FY21 and FY22 budget language and began allowing low-income households applying for or renewing MassHealth online to apply for SNAP food benefits at the same time. 

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Statement from the Lift Our Kids Coalition on Cash Assistance Increases in the FY 23 Budget

The FY 2023 budget’s 10 percent increase in cash assistance starting in October marks another historic step forward for families in Deep Poverty. This is the third increase in three years after decades of frozen benefit levels. These successive increases demonstrate our legislative leaders’ moral commitment to our most vulnerable children, older adults, and people with disabilities.

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