Please consider contacting Governor Patrick’s office today to urge him to join CT, NY, and and PA in protecting the H-EAT option for MA SNAP recipients. Below is more detailed information on the SNAP cuts, courtesy of Massachusetts Law Reform Institute. Below that is an e-mail script you can use to both email and call the Governor’s office.
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President Obama signed the 2014 “Farm Bill” or Agricultural Act of 2014 on February 14th. The Nutrition Title of the Farm Bill includes a cut of $8.6B in SNAP benefits from the by restricting the “Heat and Eat option” on states. Section 4006 of the Farm Bill requires states meet a higher threshold amount of LIHEAP or other energy assistance in order to allow for certain shelter costs in the SNAP math. Not one member of the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation – House or Senate – voted for the 2014 Farm Bill because of the cuts to the SNAP program. Unfortunately the Farm Bill passed both the House and Senate, was signed by the President and is now law.
Yesterday, USDA rejected a February 18th request from 98 members of Congress – including the entire MA delegation – to allow additional time for states to have an orderly implementation process for the Nutrition Title in the Farm Bill. Late yesterday, USDA announced that states should begin implementation for new SNAP applicants whose certification periods start on or after March 10th (although USDA’s 3/5/14 guidance also gives states a 60 day period for initial implementation, and reminds states of the 120 day QC error free grace period). Under Section 4006 of the 2014 Farm Bill, states have the option to delay implementation for SNAP recipients for five months. Section 4006 of the Farm Bill also authorizes states to continue with the Heat and East option under the Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) – as long as the state provides at least $20 in LIHEAP payments or other similar energy assistance program benefit to SNAP households.
- If MA does not elect the options under Section 4006 of the Farm Bill, a cut in SNAP could affect approximately 125K – 150K SNAP households in Massachusetts, These are SNAP cases currently coded as “Heat and Eat” SUA cases that were issued the $1 LIHEAP payment during the last April or October 2013 semi-annual SNAP caseload sweeps.**
- Two-thirds of the “Heat and Eat” SNAP households in MA include seniors or persons with disabilities. Many of these SNAP households have a difficult time understanding the SNAP math and the triggers for the heating or cooling SUA.
- Ending the “Heat and Eat option” in Massachusetts could cause a loss of $70 – $80/month or more in SNAP benefits. That’s $740 – $960/year less SNAP per household and $100M – $120M/year in lost federal SNAP benefits to Massachusetts low income families.
** It is important to note that a significant number of these SNAP households in fact incur heating or cooling costs but do not know when or how to claim them, are in shared living or doubled-up situations where shared utility expenses with a utility company are in the name of another tenant, many have landlords who impose surcharges on use of AC units or space heaters. Other SNAP recipients also receive regular LIHEAP benefits, including those with high rent, but do not know to claim that benefit to trigger higher SNAP benefits. SNAP households who move between living situations often face the greatest difficulty with documenting utility costs. The SNAP Heat and Eat initiative has helped significantly to simplify documentation of these and other situations.
Governor Patrick and the Patrick Administration have consistently supported the SNAP nutrition program. During 2013, members of the Administration joined Congressman Jim McGovern in the SNAP diet challenge, highlighting how difficult it is to survive on a SNAP budget. Governor Patrick vigorously opposed the SNAP Heat and Eat cut during the 2012 and 2013 Farm Bill deliberations. See letter of October 30, 2013.
In the past 10 days, Pennsylvania, New York and Connecticut have agreed to protect SNAP recipients from the Farm Bill cuts.
- Yesterday, March 4th, PA Governor Corbitt announced that Pennsylvania will provide additional heating assistance to protect over 400,000 PA SNAP households from losing the SNAP benefits. Gazette press report here.
- On Monday, February 24th, CT Governor Malloy announced that he would safeguard SNAP benefits for 50,000 CT households by providing the required fuel assistance benefits to needy SNAP households: http://www.governor.ct.gov/malloy/cwp/view.asp?Q=540402&A=4010
- On Tuesday, February 25th, NY Governor Cuomo announced that NY will preserve SNAP benefits for over 300,000 NY households, again by ensuring sufficient fuel assistance funds to meet the new federal requirement. http://www.governor.ny.gov/press/02252014-snap-benefits
SAMPLE E-MAIL/PHONE SCRIPT:
Dear Governor Patrick,
Thank you for vigorously opposing the SNAP Heat and Eat cut during the 2012 and 2013 Farm Bill deliberations. Your advocacy for vulnerable people and communities in Massachusetts means a great deal.
In the past 10 days, Pennsylvania, New York and Connecticut have agreed to protect SNAP recipients from the Farm Bill cuts.
Yesterday, March 4th, PA Governor Corbitt announced that Pennsylvania will provide additional heating assistance to protect over 400,000 PA SNAP households from losing the SNAP benefits.
On Monday, February 24th, CT Governor Malloy announced that he would safeguard SNAP benefits for 50,000 CT households by providing the required fuel assistance benefits to needy SNAP households.
On Tuesday, February 25th, NY Governor Cuomo announced that NY will preserve SNAP benefits for over 300,000 NY households, again by ensuring sufficient fuel assistance funds to meet the new federal requirement.
Again, THANK you, Governor Patrick for your long standing advocacy against the Farm Bill SNAP cuts.
PLEASE join PA, NY and CT. Massachusetts needs to provide the $20 threshold of LIHEAP or other similar energy benefits to protect SNAP benefits.
To reach Governor Patrick, call:
617-725-4005 (Boston office)
888-870- 7770 (in state, toll free)
413-784-1200 (W. Mass).
