Charles D. Baker Marylou Sudders
Governor Secretary
Karyn Polito Amy Kershaw
Lieutenant Governor Commissioner
Electronic Benefit Transfer
Photo Requirement
Exemptions Report
March 2020
Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance
 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE
ELECTRONIC BENEFIT TRANSFER
PHOTO REQUIREMENT EXEMPTIONS REPORT
MARCH 2020
REPORT OVERVIEW
Massachusetts General Law, chapter 18, Section 2 B)(s) requires DTA to file an annual report detailing the
numbers of recipients exempt from the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card photo requirement and the
reasons for such exemptions.
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE MISSION
DTA’s mission is to assist and empower low-income individuals and families to meet their basic needs,
improve their quality of life, and achieve long-term economic self-sufficiency. DTA offers a comprehensive
system of programs and supports to help individuals and families achieve greater economic self-sufficiency,
including food and nutritional assistance, economic assistance, and employment supports.
DTA serves one out of every nine people in the Commonwealth including working families, children, elders,
and people with disabilities.
EBT PHOTO REQUIREMENT
In August 2013, the Legislature passed a law requiring the use of photo identification on the front of each
newly issued, and reissued, EBT card. The requirement covered recipients who are 18 or older that are
designated to be the “head of household” on a DTA assistance case. Other classes of recipients are exempted
from the requirement as follows:
• 60 years of age or over • Disabled
• Blind • Victims of domestic violence
DTA must also comply with federal laws. The United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition
Service (USDA-FNS) requires that heads of households who do not receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP) benefits on their own behalf be exempted (e.g., some relative caretakers of minor children).
In addition, exemptions based on religious beliefs also must be allowed.
EBT PHOTO EXEMPTIONS BY PROGRAM
The following table, compiled as of January 2020, details the number of current program participants who
have been exempted from the photo requirement.
Exemption SNAP TAFDC EAEDC
Younger than 19 654 193 13
Older than 59 150,228 1,605 9,978
Domestic Violence 11,054 4,144 256
Disabled 235,686 9,481 9,509
Religious Exemption 35 1 1
Non-Applicant 2,052 188 63
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