Food Stamps asset test eliminated for many MA applicants

As of June 9, 2008, the assets of most Massachusetts applicants for Non-Public Assistance Food Stamps are no longer being counted in determining eligibility. Many households with a gross income below 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL) no longer need to provide information about assets such as money in the bank, a car, a home or retirement account.

To determine which income levels fall below 200% FPL (by family size), see this income guidelines chart (PDF) under the column for "200%".

Department of Transitional Assistance staff are instructed to stop asking questions about assets and asset verifications in certain cases:

• Households under 200% FPL that include an elder (someone age 60 and older)
• Households under 200% FPL that include a person with a disability
• Households of adults ages 19 – 59 that meet lower gross and net income guidelines (PDF)

Assets of households with income above 200% FPL will still be considered, as will the assets of households requesting expedited applications (people seeking food stamps right away). Failure to provide asset information may result in a denial of an expedited application, but it will not affect ongoing eligibility.

Households that include children or pregnant women and have an income below 200% FPL have not been subject to an assets test for Food Stamp eligibility. This policy has not changed.

• For detailed information on this new policy and how to apply it in applications, see the May 30, 2008 Massachusetts DTA Field Operations Memo 2008-27 (PDF)

Note: Until the Virtual Gateway is updated, the asset questions will continue to appear on the Food Stamps application for the new groups that no longer need to answer them.

• Massachusetts Law Reform Institute and the DTA have designed a flyer encouraging elders to apply (PDF) who may have been discouraged by the assets test.

Many thanks to Pat Baker of the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute for providing this information.