SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) – With the federal government saying they will not be funding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits as of Saturday amid the government shutdown. Western Mass News is getting answers on a local program that could still help families in need buy food.
The Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) is something specific to the state of Massachusetts, and it’s now working as a loophole for those who will be losing their snap benefits on November 1.
Anyone who is enrolled in SNAP benefits is automatically enrolled in HIP as well, a program that allows families to get some extra money, up to $80 a month. That money is automatically applied to electronic benefit transfer, or EBT cards. The catch, it’s not something that works in grocery stores…