Gov. Healey says Massachusetts SNAP recipients should use delayed SNAP benefits despite new USDA order

Governor Maura Healey said that delayed Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits went out to Massachusetts recipients on Saturday morning and that they should still be used despite a new U.S. Department of Agriculture order.

"Those who had missed a payment should now have funds on their cards ready to be spent immediately," Healey said in a statement. 

Late Saturday evening, CBS News obtained a memo sent by the Trump administration that told states they must "undo any steps" that they took to provide full SNAP benefits to their state recipients. Healey responded on Sunday, saying that if the administration wants to take the benefits away, they will "see him in court."

"If President Trump wants to penalize states for preventing Americans from going hungry, we will see him in court. Massachusetts residents with funds on their cards should continue to spend it on food. These funds were processed in accordance with guidance we received from the Trump Administration and a lower court order, and they were processed before the Supreme Court order on Friday night," Healey said in a statement on Sunday. 

One in seven Massachusetts residents, or just over 1.1 million, is on SNAP, according to Healey. More than 50% of SNAP recipients in the state are families with children, and just over 48% are disabled or elderly, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

"They worked very hard to ensure that those folks who missed benefits so far were receiving those," said Chief Policy Officer of Project Bread Jennifer Lemmerman. "They are people who are seniors, and veterans, and families with children, and working families that are really just looking for answers and want to put food on the table."

The Supreme Court temporarily froze a court order that required the Trump administration to pay SNAP benefits in full, causing it to pull funding from the Child Nutrition Programs. Healey explained that the order may complicate the next scheduled allotment of funds due to go out next week.

"President Trump needs to stop trying to force Americans to go hungry and pay full SNAP benefits for everyone," Healey explained on Saturday.

The back and forth, causing confusion for those who receive SNAP benefits. 

"It's sort of changing moment by moment and the uncertainty is having just a real impact," Lemmerman said.   

This comes just days after Healey urged President Trump on "Face the Nation" to release the $5 million in contingency funds and use them for SNAP recipients. 

Resources for SNAP recipients in Massachusetts

Communities across Massachusetts have rallied in support of their neighbors affected by the SNAP cuts.

"We've received about four times the normal call volume over the past week that we would get on the hotline of people just really trying to, one, just try to get some answers about what's going on, and two, trying to plan for the potential end of their snap benefits," Lemmerman said.

A grocery store in East Boston has been gathering donations and providing food to those who need it. EBO & Co Groceries on Meridian Street said that it was their sign, which reads, "Did your SNAP benefits get taken away? We think that is extremely (expletive) up. Please take what you need," that began to really bring in donations.

"I have been in tears all week. It's been an emotional week here," said store owner Alexis Cervasio.  

She explained that most of the groceries are gone by the end of the day and that people are thrilled about the stand in front of her store. 

It is just one of the places that is helping people from going hungry. Alfredo's Italian Kitchen in Lynn is offering free large pizzas, no questions asked, to anyone with a SNAP card. 

"We're part of this community, and when our neighbor struggles, we show up," owner Thayer Demaidi said.

For more information on resources to get food in the Boston area, click here. For more Massachusetts resources and where to donate, click here.