Massachusetts Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) Frequently Asked Questions

Program basics and frequently asked questions

What is HIP?

The Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) is a Massachusetts program that applies state funds to your purchase when you use your EBT card to buy fruits and vegetables at participating farms.

How do I sign up for HIP?

There is no special sign-up for HIP. If you live in Massachusetts and get SNAP benefits, your household is automatically able to participate in HIP.

Learn more about SNAP benefits.

How do I know how much HIP I can use for the month?

The amount of HIP you can use each month depends on your SNAP household size.

SNAP Household Size	Monthly HIP Amount
1-2 people	$40
3-5 people	$60
6+ people	$80

You can see how much HIP you have left for the month by checking your receipt after making a HIP purchase. 

What do I need to know before I use HIP?

• Make sure you have SNAP benefits left on your EBT card. If your SNAP balance is zero, you will not be able to use HIP until you have SNAP benefits available again.
• Only certain vendors process HIP.
• Each type of vendor may process HIP a little differently.

What kind of vendors process HIP?

You can use HIP at participating:

• Farmers’ markets (where some or all vendors may participate in HIP)
• Farm stands
• Mobile markets
• Community supported agriculture (CSA) farm share programs

Traditional grocery stores or convenience stores do not participate in HIP.

How do I find a HIP vendor near me?

Visit DTAFinder.com to search for HIP vendors near you. You can search by when they’re open and where they’re located.

Learn how to use the map on a mobile device in English and Spanish and a desktop computer in English and Spanish.

Video: DTAFinder.com Tutorial (mobile)

DTAFinder.com Tutorial (mobile).

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When do I get HIP?

Your monthly HIP amount starts over on the first of each month, regardless of when you get your SNAP benefits.

If you have SNAP benefits left on your EBT card on the first of the month, you can start using your HIP for the month right away. If your SNAP balance is zero, you will not be able to use HIP until you have SNAP benefits available again.

Does HIP roll over?

No. If you do not use your full monthly HIP amount, you will not have extra HIP to use the following month.

What food is eligible for HIP?

Any variety of fruits and vegetables sold by HIP vendors are eligible for HIP, as long as they do not contain added salt, sugar, fat or oil.

Eligible HIP products include fruits and vegetables that are:

• Fresh
• Canned
• Dried
• Frozen
• In seed/seedling form ​​

See HIP Eligible Foods for examples of HIP and non-HIP eligible foods.

Can I get a HIP refund?

SNAP purchases that use HIP can be refunded. The SNAP will be refunded to your card, and the HIP will be removed so that you can use it on another HIP-eligible purchase.

I stopped receiving SNAP. Can I still use HIP?

HIP is available to households who are actively receiving SNAP benefits. Households who stop receiving SNAP benefits can keep using HIP for up to 60 days.

How do I use HIP at different types of vendors?

Make sure you have SNAP benefits left on your EBT card. 

Follow the steps below. It’s easy to use HIP. You do not have to use all your HIP at once. You can make small purchases or large ones.

HIP shopping in person

1. Find a participating HIP vendor who offers shopping in person near you. This could be at a farmers’ market, farm stand, or mobile market.
2. Visit the vendor. Make sure they process HIP.
3. Choose the fruits and vegetables you want to buy and swipe your EBT card to pay.
4. The vendor will charge you in SNAP and enter the amount that is eligible for HIP.
5. If you have SNAP on your card and HIP available for the fruits and vegetables, HIP will automatically be applied.
6. If you buy only fruits and vegetables and you have enough HIP available to cover the cost, your receipt will show that your SNAP balance is still the same – as if you hadn’t spent anything at all.
7. The receipt will show the amount of HIP you have used in this transaction and for the entire month so far. It will also show you how much you have left to use.  Keep track of this amount so you know when you have used up your HIP for the month.
8. Note:  You need to have enough SNAP on your card to buy anything that is not a fruit or vegetable.

Example:

You have $50 in your SNAP balance. A HIP vendor charges you $10 in SNAP for tomatoes and strawberries. HIP applies $10 toward your purchase. Your receipt will show that your SNAP balance is still $50 and that you have used $10 of HIP toward your monthly amount.

Example:

You have $40 in your SNAP balance. You visit a Farmers’ Market that participates in HIP and buy a jar of honey for $5, and some apples for $10. HIP applies $10 toward your purchase. Your receipt will show that your SNAP balance is now $35 and that you have used $10 of HIP toward your monthly amount. Because honey is not a HIP-eligible item, the $5 you spent on it comes out of your SNAP balance.

Note: Fruit and vegetable purchases made after you have used your full monthly HIP amount will come out of your SNAP balance, just like at a regular grocery store. 

Using HIP at Farmers’ Markets

At most farmers’ markets, HIP vendors will process HIP directly at their booth. Make sure the vendor you buy from can process HIP! Not all farms participate in HIP, even at the same farmers’ market. Look for a sign with a HIP logo, or ask the vendor to be sure.

At some farmers’ markets, the market will process HIP in a central location. At these markets, you can use your HIP on purchases from all farm vendors who sell produce. Here’s how this works:

1. Choose the fruits and vegetables you want to buy from a farmer’s booth.
2. When you go to pay, let the farmer know that you would like to use HIP. The farmer will send you to a centralized market manager’s booth to pay.
3. The market manager will swipe your card and give you a receipt that shows you how much SNAP you have spent and how much HIP you have used toward your monthly cap.
4. Take your receipt back to the farmer as proof of payment.
5. The farmer will then give you your produce.

Find HIP farmers' market booths and HIP farmers markets.

HIP shopping via delivery and curbside pickup

Some participating HIP vendors offer delivery to your door or curbside pickup at their location. You can place an order ahead of time by calling, filling out a form on their website, or making other arrangements with the vendor. Find vendors who offer delivery or curbside pickup.

You must be present at the time of delivery or curbside pickup to swipe your EBT card and pay for your purchase (unless your purchase is a CSA farm share, for which payment is transacted automatically). Never give out your EBT card number or PIN over the phone or online.

HIP shopping through CSA farm shares

HIP CSA farm shares are a way for you to buy a weekly basket of HIP-eligible produce via an automatic, monthly SNAP payment. To use HIP for a farm share at a participating CSA farm:

1. Find a HIP CSA farm.
2. Contact the farmer to ensure they are currently enrolling participants in their HIP CSA.
3. The farm will provide you with a SNAP Membership Agreement to complete.
4. You will sign the agreement to authorize DTA to withdraw a set amount from your SNAP account each month automatically.
5. Payments will be sent to the farm automatically on the day you receive your SNAP benefit. HIP will instantly replace the amount you spent in SNAP, up to your monthly HIP cap. HIP will automatically be applied to the purchase for eligible items, up to your monthly limit.
6. In exchange, you will pick up your “farm share” of produce during the CSA season, typically weekly, at the scheduled time and place. Some farms may make arrangements to deliver directly to you.
7. No EBT transaction is required in person, because you have already paid for the produce.
8. If at any time you wish to cancel your CSA agreement, contact the DTA Assistance Line or the farm to fill out a Cancellation Form.