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Transportation - SNAP

The Department will provide monthly transportation payments to eligible SNAP clients participating in the SNAP Path to Work program when transportation is identified as a challenge to engaging in in these activities.

SNAP Path to Work Transportation support is intended to support SNAP Path to Work program participation (getting to and from program activity or required job search activity, including the cost of transporting children to childcare while engaged in training). SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) funds cannot be used to support a client’s regular employment unless the participant is enrolled in a SNAP Path to Work job retention component and the support payment is linked to participation in that component.

To qualify for SNAP Path to Work transportation support a client must:

• be engaged in approved SNAP Path to Work activity;
• incur unreimbursed costs for travel related to program participation; and
• meet SNAP Path to Work eligibility criteria on the day that the payment is issued.

Note: Clients engaged in activity outside of the SNAP Path to Work program are not eligible for SNAP transportation payments. ABAWD volunteer work is not SNAP Path to Work activity.

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Requesting DTA Transportation Support

SNAP Path to Work participants’ need for participant support is addressed by SNAP Path to Work providers on a case-by-case basis as part of the assessment process and on an ongoing basis.

SNAP Path to Work providers may request DTA funded transportation support on behalf of SNAP Path to Work participants via the Partner Activity Tracking Hub (PATH system).

Requests can be made up to 7 days in advance of the support period start date.

Requests can be made one month at a time or for multiple months (for the planned duration of the program, for example) to be issued in one-month increments.

SNAP Path to Work participants may also request transportation support by contacting a DTA SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) Specialist via the SNAP Path to Work Line: (888) 483-0255

What happens after the request is submitted to DTA?

A DTA SNAP E&T Specialist will review and approve or deny the request as appropriate.

If the client is eligible for transportation support, a cash payment will be issued via the household’s EBT card following DTA approval of the request. When the benefit is issued, the household will receive a letter informing them of the amount issued, the purpose of the payment, the support period and how to access the money.

Requests will be denied when:

• The client was not enrolled in SNAP Path to Work activity at the start of the support period.
• The support is duplicative (i.e., The client has received DTA or provider funded transportation support for some or all of the support period.); or
• The client did not meet SNAP E&T eligibility at the start of the support period or on the payment issue date.

How much will the participant receive?

The transportation payment received is based on the average transportation costs in the county in which the participant lives.

DTA Funded SNAP Transportation Supports by County (current as of 7/1/21)
Barnstable	$130
Berkshire	$125
Bristol	$122
Dukes	$144
Essex	$127
Franklin	$129
Hampden	$118
Hampshire	$123
Middlesex	$125
Nantucket	$149
Norfolk	$120
Plymouth	$134
Suffolk	$90
Worcester	$127

Note: This payment is noncountable for SNAP.

How can the payment be used?

The DTA SNAP Path to Work Transportation payment may be withdrawn from the EBT account by requesting cash back when making a purchase or at an ATM.

The money may be used to pay for transportation costs related to program participation. This includes transportation to/from classroom/training activity and other activity related to program participation (examples may include required job search activity, travel to a medical facility to get required immunizations, etc.)

Any funds not withdrawn from the card within 90 days will be expunged. See the How to Use Your EBT Card brochure for more details.

Viewing issued SNAP Path to Work Transportation Support

Payments shows up as “SNAP Transportation" in the benefit history on BEACON. The SNAP Transportation Payment letter can be viewed in Document History. View/HideView/Hide

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Other Transportation Support

Some SNAP Path to Work providers fund and issue transportation support directly to participants. DTA SNAP Path to Work transportation cannot be issued for the same or overlapping support period as provider funded transportation support. An exception is if the provider issued support does not cover all program related transportation or cannot be used. For example, if a participant was enrolled in a program in Boston and was given an MBTA pass for the month of June by Provider A but moved to Western MA part way through the month, where they enrolled in a program with Provider B, the new provider could request DTA transportation support for an overlapping support period since the MBTA pass could not be used for program travel in Western MA.

In addition to the transportation payments available through SNAP Path to Work, clients may qualify for other state or community resources that may support their ability to access or pay for transportation costs.

This includes Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) reduced fare programs:

• Youth Pass Program for young adults with low income in a participating area
• Transportation Access Pass (TAP) for people with a disability

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Last Update: September 24, 2026