Massachusetts advances $4 million to food banks as SNAP payments pause

Governor Maura Healey announced on Thursday that Massachusetts will advance $4,000,000 to the state's food banks and community partners to help households affected after the federal government paused SNAP benefit disbursements starting this weekend.

"There are over a million residents in Massachusetts who receive SNAP. They're in every city or town. Over 30 percent are seniors. Another third are children," Healey said, adding that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is holding about $23,000,000,000 in a contingency fund that could be used to pay benefits.

The state will draw on the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program (MEFAP) to advance $4,000,000 to food banks that support more than 800 community organizations, Healey said. "Given the expected spike in demand, we are going to be doubling that," she said. In a question-and-answer exchange, Healey said the advancement is intended to cover one month while litigation and federal action continue.

Why this matters: About one in seven Massachusetts residents receives SNAP, and the pause in federal payments…