By Bob Katzen

The Senate 39-0, approved an amendment that would allow low-income applicants and recipients of MassHealth and the Medicare Savings Program to initiate an application for federally-funded SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) benefits at the same time as their application or renewal for MassHealth or the Medicare Savings Program.

Amendment supporters said the goal is to close the “SNAP Gap” and help some 740,000 people on MassHealth who are likely eligible for SNAP but not taking advantage of it.

“Long before the pandemic, we were experiencing a crisis of food insecurity in the commonwealth, but today Massachusetts now has the highest percentage of people facing food insecurity in the country,” said the amendment’s sponsor Sen. Sal DiDomenico (D-Everett). “Creating a SNAP/MassHealth common application is a simple and effective way to connect thousands of eligible children, families and seniors with food assistance that they desperately need during these trying times. I am very proud to have bipartisan support from my colleagues on this amendment to help fight hunger here in Massachusetts.”