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-- Programs and Services -- Contact Information Bay State CAP helpsyou pay for food
A program known as Bay State CAP (Combined Application Project.) is available in Massachusetts to provide more money for food for elders and people with disabilities who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI.) It is a special collaboration of the Social Security Administration (SSA), the United States Department of Agriculture and the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA).
Participants in Bay State CAP will receive food assistance benefits for 36 months and have these benefits deposited in a specially created account. The Bay State Access Card and PIN operates similarly to credit or debit cards used for food shopping. When paying for groceries, you just hand the card to the cashier. Funds spent are automatically deducted from the account, and then the card is returned to you.
With very few exceptions, monthly food assistance benefits for CAP participants range anywhere from $28 to $149 (average monthly benefit is about $65), depending mainly on ones housing costs.
For additional information, contact the Berkshire County DTA offices:
North Adams - 1-413-663-1100; Pittsfield - 1-413-236-2000 or 1-800-932-7558 (toll free.)