Get the Most Out of Your SNAP

SNAP benefits are based on your household’s income and certain living expenses. If eligible, reporting these costs may cause your SNAP benefits to go up. The amount you get in SNAP will depend on how much costs you have. Eligibility to have these costs counted may vary. Read about each type below.

SNAP benefits will not change if you already get the maximum SNAP amount. You can find what the maximum SNAP benefit amounts are for your household size here. You can find your current monthly SNAP benefit amount on DTA Connect or by listening to your case information on the DTA Assistance Line at 877-382-2363.

If you or anyone in your SNAP household is 60 or older OR gets a disability-based benefit, tell DTA about medical costs over $35 per month.

• What types of medical costs count?

We can count the medical costs that you are responsible for - such as a hospital or dental bill - even if you have not paid them yet. However, we cannot count costs that are reimbursed by insurance. 

Please share with us what your medical costs are and how often you pay for the costs. For example, if a medical cost was only one-time (such as a medical procedure) or if you pay for it weekly, monthly or annually (such as medications).

• What type of proof is needed?

If your total out-of-pocket health care costs are over $35 and up to $190 per month, the fastest way to tell DTA is through DTA Connect by updating your expenses. You can also call DTA to directly verify those expenses over the phone.

If your medical costs total over $190 per month, you will need to provide documentary proof of all your health care costs. Proof may include a copy of any medical bills or receipts.

• How can I send proof of my health care costs to DTA?
  • Online: DTAConnect.com or DTA Connect Mobile App
  • Mail: DTA Processing Center, P.O. Box 4406, Taunton, MA 02780
  • Fax: (617) 887-8765
  • In person: Scan at a local DTA office

If anyone in your SNAP household is working, looking for work, or in school, tell DTA about child or disabled adult care costs such as babysitter, transportation, or day care costs.

• What type of proof is needed?

Report this information to DTA however it is easiest for you.

• The fastest way to tell DTA is through DTA Connect by updating your expenses. You can also call DTA to directly verify those expenses over the phone at 877-382-2363, or
• If it is easier for you, take a picture of supporting documents and upload them on DTA Connect.
• Examples include: statement from you about care costs, car mileage, or other transportation costs to and from the provider. If it is easier to send us statements from a provider you can do that, but you do not have to.

Tell DTA if your rent or mortgage costs have gone up.

• What type of proof is needed?

Report this information to DTA however it is easiest for you.

• The fastest way to tell DTA is through DTA Connect by updating your expenses. You can also call DTA to directly verify those expenses over the phone at 877-382-2363, or
• If it is easier for you, take a picture of supporting documents and upload them on DTA Connect.
  • Examples include: rent receipt, lease, or letter from your landlord or roommate; mortgage statement, property tax, condo fees, home insurance bill or other document showing how much you need to pay

You can tell DTA if you are legally obligated to pay child support costs for a child not in your household.  In order to receive child support costs, you must provide:

1. The legal obligation to pay child support, like a court order or a DOR Lockbox bill, and
2. The amount of child support costs you pay, such as recent copies of cashed checks or wage withholding statements

You must provide actual proof of child support expenses.  You take a picture of supporting documents and upload them on DTA Connect.

The Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) puts money back on your EBT card when you use SNAP to buy healthy, local fruits and vegetables from HIP farm vendors.

You can tell DTA if your income has gone down or your costs have gone up by:

• Updating your case information by using DTA Connect.  This is the fastest and easiest way to update your information!  You can update your expenses by using the DTA Connect mobile app or by visiting DTAConnect.com.
• Taking a picture of supporting documents and uploading them through DTA Connect.
• Calling the DTA Assistance Line at 877-382-2363
• Visiting a local DTA office
• Mailing the written information to DTA Document Processing Center, PO Box 4406, Taunton, MA 02780
• Faxing the written information to DTA Document Processing Center, (617) 887-8765
• Working with one of DTA’s over 100 SNAP outreach community partners

If it is easier for you, you can also upload documents on DTA Connect

Follow these steps below to send your Cost information to DTA via the DTA Connect mobile app.

1. Open the DTA Connect mobile app on your phone
2. Click on the upload button at the bottom of the screen. It looks like a camera.
3. Read the upload instructions and click confirm.
4. Next, it will ask you what kind of documents you are uploading. 
   1. Submit Verification
   2. Voluntary Request to Stop Benefits
   3. Request for authorized representative
   4. Request for replacement Due to Household Misfortune
5. Click submit verification
6. Now you can select which household member the document is for by clicking person and selecting the household member
7. Then click the gray box that says photo instructions to read tips on taking a photo of the document
8. Now click on the photo icon on the page. You can choose to upload a photo from your photo library or take a photo.
   1. If you click take photo, your camera will open up and you can click the circle button to take the photo. You then can click use photo or retake. If you are all set, click use photo.
9. If you need to select multiple pages, you can click the photo icon again to add more.
10. Finally, click Submit in the top right hand corner of the screen. Click submit again. And then click confirm at the bottom of the page. A message will pop up saying your document has been submitted.

Follow these instructions below to send your Cost information to DTA via DTAConnect.com.

1. Log in to DTConnect.com
2. Click Documents at the top of the screen
3. Click on the blue box that says Send Documents to DTA
4. Read the upload instructions and click continue to step 2
5. Next, it will ask you what kind of documents you are uploading.
   1. Submit Verification
   2. Voluntary Request to Stop Benefits
   3. Request for authorized representative
   4. Request for replacement Due to Household Misfortune
6. Click verification document. The box will turn blue
7. Now click continue to step 3
8. Next select which household member the document is for
9. Click photo instructions to read tips on how to take a photo of documents
10. Click on choose a file to send
11. Find the document you want to upload from your computer and click open
12. If you want to send more than one document, click add another file
13. When you are done, click send to DTA at the bottom of the page. A pop up message will appear saying your document(s) have been submitted