Quick answer
Apply through DTA Connect for SNAP, TAFDC (cash for families with children; about $861 a month for a family of three after the April 2025 increase), and EAEDC (cash for elders, people with disabilities, and some caretakers). For rent, utility, or moving costs, apply for RAFT through the Housing Help Hub: up to $7,000 in any 12 months for households at or below 50% of area median income (60% for domestic violence survivors). For heating, apply for HEAP, open since October 1, 2026 for households up to 60% of state median income ($53,585 for one person, $103,049 for four). For health care, apply for MassHealth or ConnectorCare. Dial Mass 211 for local help. Applying is free.
Key facts
- TAFDC: about $861 a month for a family of three (NCCP 2025–26), after an April 2025 increase from $783.
- EAEDC: about $441 a month for an individual after the April 2025 increase.
- RAFT: $7,000 cap per household in any rolling 12 months; income at or below 50% AMI (60% for domestic violence); routed to 11 regional administering agencies.
- HEAP 2026–27: applications from October 1, 2026; coverage November 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027; 60% of state median income.
- No real program charges a fee to apply.
Table of contents
- Which Massachusetts assistance programs exist?
- How do SNAP, TAFDC, and EAEDC work?
- How does RAFT help with rent and housing costs?
- How does HEAP fuel assistance work?
- Who qualifies for MassHealth?
- What documents do I need to apply in Massachusetts?
- How do I apply, step by step?
- Related guides
- Frequently asked questions
Which Massachusetts assistance programs exist?
| Need | Program | Where to apply |
|---|---|---|
| Food | SNAP; WIC; Healthy Incentives Program | DTA Connect; WIC office |
| Cash (families) | TAFDC | DTA Connect or DTA office |
| Cash (elders, disabled, some caretakers) | EAEDC | DTA Connect or DTA office |
| Rent, utility, moving costs | RAFT | Housing Help Hub |
| Family homelessness | Emergency Assistance family shelter; HomeBASE | Housing Help Hub / EA intake |
| Heating | HEAP (fuel assistance) | Local fuel assistance agency |
| Health coverage | MassHealth; ConnectorCare | MAhealthconnector.org |
| Electric and gas bills | Utility low-income discount rates; arrearage management | Your utility (automatic with HEAP) |
How do SNAP, TAFDC, and EAEDC work?
SNAP. From Oct. 1, 2026 – Sept. 30, 2027, one person can receive up to $306 a month and a family of four up to $1,023. Massachusetts also runs the Healthy Incentives Program, which puts money back on your EBT card when you buy fruits and vegetables from participating farmers. Estimate SNAP with our SNAP calculator.
TAFDC (Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children) pays monthly cash to families with children. The National Center for Children in Poverty’s 2025–26 profile lists the maximum for a family of three at $861 a month, about 38% of the poverty line, following an April 2025 increase; the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute tracks budget changes to these amounts each year. EAEDC (Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children) pays monthly cash to people 65 and older, adults with a disability, and some caretakers who do not qualify for TAFDC; the individual grant rose to about $441 in April 2025, per MLRI.
How does RAFT help with rent and housing costs?
Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) is the state’s main housing-stability program and one of the few still-open state rent programs in the country. According to the state’s FY26 RAFT policy training on mass.gov:
- The benefit cap is $7,000 per household in any rolling 12-month period, and households can combine benefit types (back rent, utility arrears, moving costs, first and last month’s rent, security deposit, mortgage arrears for owner-occupants).
- Income must be at or below 50% of area median income (60% for households experiencing domestic violence), and the household must be at risk of homelessness or housing instability in Massachusetts.
- Applications go through the statewide Housing Help Hub and are routed to 11 regional administering agencies; landlords can also apply on behalf of tenants.
Families who become homeless may qualify for Emergency Assistance family shelter and HomeBASE rehousing funds; eligibility and capacity rules have tightened since 2023, so apply early. See our Massachusetts rent relief guide.
How does HEAP fuel assistance work?
Massachusetts’s Home Energy Assistance Program helps pay heating costs for renters and homeowners, regardless of fuel type, through local agencies such as Boston’s ABCD. For 2026–27, applications opened October 1, 2026, and coverage runs November 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027. Household income must be at or below 60% of the state median: $53,585 for one person, $70,073 for two, $86,561 for three, and $103,049 for four, per mass.gov’s HEAP page. Last year’s recipients get a recertification form by mail. HEAP approval also qualifies you for your utility’s low-income discount rate and arrearage management program. See our Massachusetts utility relief guide.
Who qualifies for MassHealth?
MassHealth, the state’s Medicaid program, covers adults with income up to 138% of the poverty line and children and pregnant people at higher incomes; ConnectorCare plans offer low-cost coverage up to 500% of poverty. Apply once through the Massachusetts Health Connector, which screens for both. See our Medicaid guide.
Watch out: no Massachusetts program charges an application fee. The state warns against anyone who charges to help you apply for HEAP or RAFT.
What documents do I need to apply in Massachusetts?
Most delays come from missing papers. Having this packet ready before your first appointment usually saves a second trip, and the same documents work for almost every program on this page.
| Document | Why agencies ask for it |
|---|---|
| Photo ID for each adult | Confirms identity; a driver license, state ID, or passport works |
| Social Security numbers for everyone applying | Required for SNAP, Medicaid, and cash programs |
| Proof of income for the last 30 days | Pay stubs, benefit letters, child support, unemployment, or a signed no-income statement |
| Lease, rent receipt, or mortgage statement | Counts shelter costs, which raise SNAP benefits, and proves residency |
| Recent utility bill and any shutoff notice | Needed for energy help and counted as a SNAP expense |
| Proof of the emergency | Eviction notice, layoff letter, medical bill, or fire report |
| Landlord’s contact and W-9 (RAFT) | RAFT pays landlords and utilities directly |
If you are missing something, apply anyway. Caseworkers can often verify information electronically or give you time to bring documents, and SNAP must process expedited applications within 7 days even while some papers are pending.
How do I apply, step by step?
- Apply at DTA Connect (online or app) for SNAP, TAFDC, or EAEDC.
- Behind on rent or facing a move? Apply for RAFT through the Housing Help Hub with your lease, notice, ID, and income proof.
- Apply for HEAP at your local fuel assistance agency now; the season has started.
- Apply for MassHealth through the Health Connector.
- Dial 211 for charities, food pantries, and legal aid.
Applying is free. DTA, the Housing Help Hub, fuel assistance agencies, MassHealth, and 211 never charge.
For more specifics, see our guides on Massachusetts hardship relief and government assistance programs by state.
Related guides
- Benefits for low-income families
- Hardship grants for individuals
- Massachusetts mortgage relief
- How to apply for unemployment insurance
Frequently asked questions
What assistance programs are available in Massachusetts?
SNAP, TAFDC, EAEDC, RAFT housing help, Emergency Assistance family shelter, HEAP fuel assistance, utility discount rates, MassHealth, ConnectorCare, and WIC, plus local help through Mass 211.
How much does RAFT pay in Massachusetts?
Up to $7,000 per household in any rolling 12-month period, for back rent, utilities, moving costs, deposits, and more, for households at or below 50% of area median income (60% for domestic violence survivors).
How much is TAFDC for a family of three?
About $861 a month, according to the National Center for Children in Poverty’s 2025–26 profile, after an April 2025 increase.
When can I apply for Massachusetts fuel assistance?
HEAP applications for 2026–27 opened October 1, 2026, with coverage from November 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027. Apply at your local fuel assistance agency.
Where do I apply for food stamps in Massachusetts?
Online through DTA Connect, by phone, or at a DTA office. Very-low-income households can get expedited SNAP within 7 days.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources on October 25, 2026. If a source and this page ever disagree, follow the source.
- Mass.gov: Apply for RAFT emergency help for housing costs
- Mass.gov: Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
- National Center for Children in Poverty: TANF 2025–26 profile, Massachusetts
- Massachusetts Law Reform Institute: 10% cash assistance increase (April 2025)
- USDA FNS: SNAP cost-of-living adjustments, FY 2027 tables
- 211.org: find your local 211
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice, and not an application. Amounts change with each state budget; confirm with the agency that runs each program. National Relief Program is an independent website, not a government agency.
Before you apply: program rules, amounts, and deadlines change. Always confirm details with the official agency or program administrator. Applying for government benefits is free.
National Relief Program is an independent guide, not a government agency. Spotted an error? Email support@nationalreliefprogram.org.
