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SNAP Path to Work

In partnership with For Health Consulting at UMass Chan Medical School, community-based organizations, community colleges, and other education and training providers, the SNAP Path to Work program offers SNAP-only clients opportunities to gain education, skills, training, and/or work experience that increase their ability to secure employment that supports career pathways and economic mobility. Participation in the program is voluntary and open to all unemployed or underemployed SNAP-only clients with an employment goal.  All pending and active SNAP-only clients must be offered the opportunity to participate.

Services Available

SNAP Path to Work services include:

  • Education - Preparing clients for the job market by providing the educational foundation that employers are looking for, including language and writing skills. Includes:
    • Adult basic education
    • High School Equivalency preparation
    • Bridge to college programs; and
    • English language acquisition
  • Vocational Training - Helping clients develop job-related skills to enhance their resume and qualifications. 
  • Work Based Learning – Providing current work experience or training to increase employment opportunities. Including:
    • Internships
    • Apprenticeships/Pre-apprenticeships
    • Transitional jobs
  • Job Search - Creating connections in the right places to promote job search success
  • Job Search Training - Equips clients with tools to search for and secure a new job, including resume help, interview skills, career testing, and more. 
  • Job Retention – Providing support to SNAP Path to Work participants who secure employment
  • Participant Supports such as transportation assistance and child care services

Visit www.snappathtowork.org to search for programs by location, provider, program type, key word, and/or other criteria.

SNAP Path to Work and ABAWD Compliance

Certain SNAP Path to Work activities may help non-exempt ABAWDs meet SNAP Work Rules. ABAWDs who have lost SNAP eligibility due to noncompliance may also be able to regain eligibility through participation in qualifying employment and training activities. See ABAWD Work Rules Overview, ABAWD Work Rules Participation, and ABAWD Work Rules Regaining Process for more information.

Who Can Participate?

DTA clients can enroll in the SNAP Path to Work program if they meet all of the conditions below:

  • live in Massachusetts and are receiving SNAP or have applied for SNAP and are in a pending status.
    • Household members who are not eligible for SNAP are not eligible for SNAP Path to Work;
  • are at least 16 years old (eligible for certain programs);
  • want to learn new skills that will help them prepare for and find a job (or a better job); and
  • are not getting TAFDC or EAEDC.

How Can Clients Access Services?

Clients may access SNAP Path to Work services by:

  • contacting a participating provider directly;
  • responding to provider outreach;
  • submitting a request through the SNAP Path to Work website; or
  • calling the SNAP Path to Work Line (888) 483-0255 and requesting assistance from a DTA SNAP Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) Specialist.

What is the Enrollment Process?

After a SNAP Path to Work provider determines that a client is a good fit for their program, the provider will:

  • Have the client sign a Permission to Share Information form (PSI). The PSI form authorizes the provider and DTA to exchange information about the client’s SNAP Path to Work eligibility, participation and progress in the program.
  • Complete an assessment with the participant.
  • Enter an enrollment request (including the assessment information and participation plan) on DTA’s Partner Activity Tracking Hub (PATH system). To enter the enrollment on PATH, the provider will need a signed PSI form and the client’s Date of Birth (MM/DD/YYYY) and DTA assigned Assessed Person Identification Number (APID) or full Social Security Number (SSN).

DTA SNAP E&T staff will verify the client’s eligibility for the program and approve or deny the enrollment request accordingly.

SNAP Path to Work Participation

Once a client is approved for enrollment:

  • The provider will:
    • report their participation status and hours to DTA each month;
    • report outcomes (such as earning certification, advancing a level, and securing employment) to DTA via PATH;
    • request DTA issued supports (transportation and/or child care) on behalf of those who need them; and
    • issue provider issued supports as needed and available (varies by program).
  • DTA SNAP E&T Specialists will:
    • issue DTA transportation support to eligible participants monthly;
    • issue a one-time SNAP Path to Work Child Care referral for eligible participants;
    • provide ongoing support to SNAP Path to Work providers and participants as needed; and
    • reverify SNAP Path to Work eligibility each month. Those who do not participate in the program or do not meet SNAP Path to Work eligibility criteria are not counted as SNAP Path to Work participants for the month. After 3 consecutive months of non-participation or ineligibility, participants will be automatically exited from the SNAP Path to Work program and will need to be reenrolled if participation/eligibility resumes.

Note: Exit from SNAP Path to Work does not automatically mean that the client will not be able to continue working with the provider. In most cases, the provider will continue to work with the client who no longer meets SNAP Path to Work eligibility criteria. However, the client will not be counted as a SNAP E&T participant, making them ineligible for SNAP Path to Work participant supports.

More Information

Clients can find out more by:

Last Update: September 24, 2026

 

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