EXPAND ELIGIBILITY FOR BASIC NEEDS ASSISTANCE TO IMMIGRANTS

Massachusetts has long been a leader in welcoming immigrant communities – but our more could be done in support our neighbors in meeting their basic needs. Thousands of legally present immigrants, including Dreamers, TPS holders, refugees, and survivors of violence, are excluded from SNAP and cash assistance solely due to their immigration status. These exclusions leave working families without access to the most basic support while seeking to build their lives as our neighbors in the Commonwealth.

Under current federal rules, work authorization is not enough for low-income individuals to be eligible for SNAP. As a result, many immigrant households – including those fully- employed, with children, and/or with serious health conditions – are denied benefits. Based on data from the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), an estimated 9,600 legally present immigrants in Massachusetts are expected to lose SNAP eligibility under new federal restrictions. This would result in a loss of approximately $20M per year in federal food benefits to the state.

In response, the Feeding Our Neighbors (FON) Coalition – formed in 2023 to protect access to SNAP for immigrant residents – successfully secured temporary state-funded SNAP benefits for legally present immigrants excluded under federal rules. However, those benefits expired in May 2024 due to a lack of funding. Project Bread is a proud member of the FON Coalition and is now advocating for permanent state-funded support through this bill.

This bill would:

• Establish a permanent state-funded program to provide basic needs assistance, including nutrition and cash benefits, to legally present immigrants excluded from federal programs. 
• Protect approximately 9,600 immigrant residents from losing their access to food assistance under new federal rules outlined in the Republican Mega Bill. 
• Prevent the loss of an estimated $20M per year in federal food benefits to the state. 
• Advance equity and economic stability for immigrant families who are current 

On September 16th, 2025, Project Bread testified in support of this bill to the Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities. 

• On September 16th, 2025, Project Bread testified in support of this bill to the Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities. 

• In December 2023, Governor Healey signed a supplemental budget that included $6 million for restoring state funded SNAP for some classes immigrants. While this was an exciting first step in showing the state's openness to this idea, funding ran out after 2 months. 
• On September 12th 2023, the Joint Committee on Child, Families, and Persons with Disabilities heard An Act relative to an agricultural healthy incentives program. Erin McAleer, Project Bread’s President and CEO, testified in front of the committee on this bill and three additional bills. Project Bread also submitted written testimony. Read more about it here.