Massachusetts EBT Card Balance
CheckEBTCardBalance is an independent informational resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the USDA, any state government, or any EBT card issuer. Always confirm details directly with the official source before relying on them.
Program Name
SNAP
Customer Service
1-800-997-2555
24/7, toll-free
Income Limit
200% of FPL
Gross monthly income
Massachusetts doesn't give its SNAP program a special local name — it's simply called SNAP, and it's run by the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA). The program helps eligible individuals and families across the Commonwealth afford groceries each month.
Once you're approved, your monthly benefit is loaded onto an EBT card that works like a debit card at supermarkets, convenience stores, and farmers markets that accept SNAP.
Massachusetts SNAP recipients have access to the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP), which puts money back onto a household's EBT card, dollar for dollar up to a monthly cap, when they buy fruits and vegetables from participating HIP farmers, farm stands, farmers markets, and mobile markets. It's a distinctive added benefit that goes beyond the standard SNAP allotment available in most states.
How to Check Your Massachusetts EBT Balance
Check online
Log in with your card number to view your balance and transaction history.
https://www.dtaconnect.comUse the mobile app
DTA Connect is the official app for Massachusetts EBT cardholders, available on iOS and Android.
Check your last receipt
Your remaining balance is printed at the bottom of the receipt from your most recent EBT purchase.
Card declined, locked, or PIN not working? See our EBT card troubleshooting guide.
Where You Can Use Your Massachusetts EBT Card
Your EBT card works like a debit card at any USDA-authorized retailer nationwide — major grocery chains and big-box stores such as Walmart, Target, Kroger, Costco, Sam's Club, Aldi, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, and most local and regional supermarkets, plus many convenience stores and farmers markets. A growing number of retailers, including Walmart.com, Amazon, DoorDash, and Uber Eats, also accept SNAP EBT for online grocery orders in many areas, though delivery and service fees usually can't be paid with benefits.
SNAP benefits cover food and food-producing seeds or plants, but not hot prepared foods, alcohol, tobacco, or non-food items — some states also restrict specific items like soda or candy, noted below if it applies to Massachusetts.
Massachusetts operates a SNAP Restaurant Meals Program. Eligible elderly, disabled, or homeless SNAP participants (and their spouses) can use their EBT card to buy prepared meals at participating restaurants statewide.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Administration — Restaurant Meals Program
Massachusetts SNAP Income Limits
Under the standard federal SNAP rule, a household's gross income must be at or below 130% of the federal poverty level to qualify. Massachusetts raises that bar to 200% of the federal poverty level by using the Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility (BBCE) option available to states.
That means many more Massachusetts households, including those with somewhat higher earnings than the federal minimum allows, can qualify for SNAP. BBCE also typically does away with a separate asset limit, so having some savings or a car generally won't stand in the way of eligibility.
| Household Size | Max Monthly Gross Income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $2,660 |
| 2 | $3,607 |
| 3 | $4,553 |
| 4 | $5,500 |
| 5 | $6,447 |
| 6 | $7,393 |
| 7 | $8,340 |
| 8 | $9,287 |
For each additional household member beyond 8, add about $947/month. Based on 2026 federal poverty guidelines at 200% — figures update annually and individual eligibility depends on more than gross income, so confirm your exact amount with Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA).
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Administration — SNAP Eligibility
EBT Fraud & Card Skimming Protection
Protect your benefits from theft
Skimming and phishing schemes have targeted Massachusetts SNAP and cash-assistance households since 2022. Federal law authorized reimbursement for benefits stolen before December 20, 2024, but Congress did not extend that deadline — the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) confirms SNAP benefits stolen after that date currently cannot be reimbursed. DTA still encourages victims to file a report even without a guaranteed reimbursement, in case additional funding becomes available later.
To report a theft, call the DTA Stolen Benefits Line at 833-602-9247, complete the online Claim for Replacement of Stolen Benefits form, change your PIN immediately, and use DTA Connect to lock your card between uses.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Administration — SNAP Fraud Prevention
Using Your Massachusetts EBT Card Out of State or Online
Traveling or shopping online?
Massachusetts has no confirmed policy that automatically blocks out-of-state or online transactions by default, but DTA Connect (the state's cardholder portal and phone line) lets you voluntarily lock and unlock your card anytime as a protective step.
Compare Other States
EBT rules, income limits, and customer service numbers are set state by state. These share Massachusetts's census region — useful if you're moving, or comparing how another state runs the program.
Helpful Guides
EBT Stores
Find SNAP-authorized stores near you by ZIP code or current location.
Learn more →Where to Use EBT
See whether a specific retailer, from Costco to McDonald's, accepts EBT.
Learn more →What Can You Buy
What your EBT card does and doesn't cover, including hot food and online orders.
Learn more →Lost/Damaged Card
How to report a lost or stolen card, or replace a damaged or expired one.
Learn more →Card Not Working?
Troubleshoot a declined, locked, or frozen EBT card, a forgotten PIN, or a deposit that hasn't shown up yet.
Learn more →Work Requirements
What changed for SNAP work requirements and recertification under the 2025 law.
Learn more →Farmers Markets
How EBT tokens work at farmers markets, plus programs that double what you spend.
Learn more →