Sign Up For Benefits

Massachusetts and Somerville offer benefits to help you buy the food you need to nourish yourself and your household. Scroll or click below to learn more about SNAP and WIC.

Contact the City of Somerville Health and Human Services: Click here for online referral or call 617-625-6600 x 4341 (Menny), x 4317 (Jacquelyn), or x 2346 (Lara)
For application help and questions about immigration status or public charge, contact Chemaly at Project SOUP (617-623-6111 x 117).
Are you 60+? Contact SCES (617-628-2601) or Council on Aging (617-625-6600 x 2300).
Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS) can also help with benefit applicaitons; contact Michael (617-955-6200).
Contact the Project Bread Food Source Hotline for support in 180 languages.

SNAP/Food Stamps

SNAP gives you money for food that you can prepare at home. SNAP stands for the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, formerly Food Stamps. Each month, money is added onto a special debit card called and EBT card. You can use the card to buy food at many grocery stores, bodegas, or farmers’ markets.

APPLY FOR SNAP NOW- at DTA Connect on your computer or smartphone. You can use the drop-down menu at the top to switch your language. You can also apply by phone through the DTA assistance line: (877) 382-2363.
You can start an application with only a name and address. Later on, you will need to provide:

proof of identity (e.g. drivers license or passport)
proof of income (e.g. paystubs or a self-declaration)
proof of MA residency (e.g lease, utility bill, or other official mail)

You should know your expenses, such as rent, utilities, and medical expenses, but proof is usually not required.

WIC (Women, Infants, and Children)

WIC gives you money for food that you can prepare at home, but it differs from SNAP as there are nutrition guidelines on the types of food that qualify for the program. WIC is accepted at all local grocery stores, and items that are WIC-eligible are marked on each shelf.

You DO NOT need to have a social security number to receive WIC and receipt of WIC will not count against you in future immigration proceedings.
Check the program eligibility criteria here.
Call the Somerville office at (617) 575-5330. Leave a message with your name and phone number and they will follow up with you. Our WIC office speaks many languages!

Summer EBT

Summer EBT is a federal food assistance program for eligible school children, operated by the MA Department of Transitional Assistance. Each child receives $120 per summer. These benefits are loaded onto EBT cards that can be used to purchase groceries when schools are closed for the summer. You can use them to buy anything you would buy with SNAP! Summer EBT is available:

To any student at a school participating in the National School Lunch Program if they meet the income eligibility for free or reduced-price meals.
To any student aged 6-15 who meets the income eligibility, regardless of whether their school is part of the National School Lunch program.

Most students are automatically enrolled through their school and do not need to apply. Learn more here.