Press Release  Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance Receives Excellence In Technology Award For DTA Connect Web Portal

BOSTON (September 12, 2018) — Today, the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) received an “Excellence in Technology Award” at the Massachusetts Digital Government Summit for the DTA Connect website, an online, self-service web portal that links nearly 770,000 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) clients across the Commonwealth to vital resources at the click of a button.

“DTA Connect was created to meet the needs of the individuals we serve in a timely and effective manner and streamline our benefits delivery process,” said DTA Commissioner Jeff McCue. “The project is a testament to DTA’s focus on improving client access. I’m incredibly proud of the team’s hard work and congratulate them on this prestigious honor.”

Digital Government Summits help government organizations share best practices and encourage innovation in the public sector. The “Excellence in Technology” awards honor outstanding achievements and recognize innovative technology initiatives in the public sector.

DTA administers SNAP on behalf of the US Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service and serves as a critical first line defense against hunger in the Commonwealth. One in every nine people in Massachusetts including working families, children, elders, and people with disabilities receive SNAP benefits. Of all SNAP households in the state, 72% earn less than the federal poverty limit – or $24,300 for a household of four. 

DTA Connect allows clients to conduct business with DTA on their own time without the need to make an in-person visit to a DTA office or call the assistance line through access to a simpler online SNAP eligibility screener, a guided SNAP application, and an enhanced client portal.

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