Helpful information on submitting verifications

Different ways to meet verification requirements.

The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) cannot ask for one kind of verification. If your DTA caseworker does not accept the document you send in, s/he must tell you what kind of proof you need to provide and help you obtain it.

Unique circumstances regarding proof of income verifications

In most instances, your DTA caseworker will want to see income from the past 30 days. There are other cases where they may request different information, for example, if you have self employment, rental income, or you are seasonal or school workers.

Self declaring

Some proofs can be â€œself declared,â€� meaning you can make a signed and dated personal statement of fact. Your DTA caseworker will accept this statement instead of asking for formal documents, unless the expense is deemed questionable by the caseworker. You can "self declare" shelter costs and daycare costs.

30-day time frame

If you do not provide your documents within 30 days, you will be denied benefits. BUT, if you provide them within the next 30 days, you will not have to reapply for SNAP. Past 60 days, you would have to start at the beginning of the application process.

Increasing your benefit

These optional documented expenses may significantly increase your benefit:

Child care expenses
Housing costs (rent or mortgage and utilities)
Out of pocket medical expenses (if age 60 or over, or disabled)
Child support payments being made to a child living outside of the household.

For more information

Call Project Breadâ€™s FoodSource Hotline at 1-800-645-8333.

To get information from DTA about your pending case, call Recipient Services at 1-800-445-6604.

Link to Department of Transitional Assistance

Link to United States Department of Agriculture

GettingSNAP.org is a resource created by Project Bread - The Walk for Hunger, Inc., and has been funded in part with federal funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance. The contents of this website do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of USDA, nor does mention of tradenames, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.