With the federal government reopened, Massachusetts SNAP benefits continue to reach far and wide, with out-of-state expenditures on the rise as the feds consider revamping the program to reduce waste, fraud and abuse.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins discussed SNAP benefits on Newsmax TV Thursday, telling the network that SNAP data from blue states is “going to give us a platform and a trajectory to fundamentally rebuild this program, have everyone reapply for their benefit, make sure that everyone that’s taking a taxpayer-funded benefit through SNAP or food stamps, that they literally are vulnerable and they can’t survive without it.”

According to data from the state Department of Transitional Assistance provided to the Herald, there have been notable increases in out of state spending through the SNAP program in eight states. From FY24 to FY25, these expenditures have jumped by 48.7% in Illinois, 47.1% in New Jersey, 25.9% in Arkansas, 21.8% in Minnesota, 20.8% in California, 10.9% in Washington, and 1.9% in New York. There was even a 16.7% increase in SNAP spending in Hawaii by Massachusetts residents.

This as other states, notably four of the other five states in New England, are getting the cold shoulder from Bay State SNAP purchases. Massachusetts EBT spending in Alaska was down 55% in FY25 and Florida experienced a 12.5% drop. Out-of-state EBT spending in Connecticut dropped 6.5% with a 5.9% slump in New Hampshire. Rhode Island and Maine saw decreases of 3.2% and 2.9%, respectively.

Acting DTA Commissioner Michael Cole tells the Herald that the out-of-state expenditures are negligible compared to what Massachusetts SNAP recipients spend at home and regionally.

“The SNAP program is a lifeline for more than one million Massachusetts residents, including veterans, seniors, children and people with disabilities. It brings in $2.7 billion annually that is spent at over 5,500 retailers and small businesses in Massachusetts,” Cole said.

He also emphasized the importance of allowing online purchases: “While 91% of all EBT transactions are made within Massachusetts and nearby states, it is important that recipients also have the ability to purchase food online. For example, some seniors are home bound due to their health or disabilities and are unable to physically visit a grocery store. All of these policies are set by the federal government.”

The DTA also says many Massachusetts SNAP recipients could be visiting or taking care of sick relatives and loved ones in other states, requiring them to spend money on food while away.

About that distance

What about states that aren’t nearby? What explains the sizable increases in SNAP purchases by Bay Staters in distant locations like Illinois, Arkansas and Washington?

The DTA explains that out-of-state expenditures are linked to where retailers list their mailing addresses, even if the actual point of sale was at a store location in Massachusetts. For example, the headquarters of both Walgreens and Aldi are located in Illinois, while Walmart’s headquarters is located in Arkansas. Costco and Amazon’s headquarters can be found in Washington, Price Rite’s in New Jersey, with New York playing host to the headquarters of both Price Chopper and Wegmans.

The DTA did not provide an explanation for the nearly 17% increase in spending by Massachusetts SNAP recipients in Hawaii — an isolated island-state that imports a vast majority of its food and other critical supplies.

Questions remain

SNAP benefits being put out by Massachusetts has political candidates questioning if we’re keeping an eye on the program or not.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Shortsleeve says purchases made in states as far away as Hawaii and California need to be brought into check.

“No one should go hungry. EBT was implemented to help those in need. However, while much of the out-of-state purchases look to be online vendors, for other expenditures in Hawaii and California, taxpayers should not be used to pay for out-of-state travel,” Shortsleeve told the Herald in a statement. “As the next governor, I will work to end out-of-state travel on EBT cards, require verification of Social Security numbers, and limit usage to healthy foods.”

The amount of new EBT cards being issued in Massachusetts have also been on the rise. Since FY21, there have been 111,076 recipients added, or a 20% jump in two years.

“With over 20% increase in EBT card usage since 2021, our state needs to look at the reasons we are seeing growing usage. We should be looking to help get people back to work to be self-sufficient — not a life of dependency,” said Shortsleeve.

Fellow Republican candidate for governor Mike Kennealy calls the rise in out-of-state SNAP spending “deeply concerning.”

“One in seven residents are now on SNAP. When benefits are consistently used outside Massachusetts, it raises real questions about fraud, residency, and whether the system is being exploited on Governor Healey’s watch,” Kennealy said in a statement to the Herald. “As Governor, I will order a top-to-bottom review of SNAP and every welfare program to restore oversight, accountability, and confidence that taxpayer dollars are being protected so programs are available for citizens who truly need them.”

The governor’s office says there are over 1 million SNAP recipients across Massachusetts, who were involuntarily thrown into the middle of the debate over ending the recent government shutdown.

“Less than a day after the federal government reopened, we issued every dollar of November SNAP benefits owed to people in our state,” Governor Maura Healey said in a Friday post on X. “President Trump might have tried to starve Americans, but I won’t let that happen in Massachusetts. Go buy groceries for your family.”

Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Minogue said in a November 8th post on X that there was an easier solution to provide SNAP benefits during the shutdown, writing “Instead of taking care of those in need, she’s using them as leverage to make a political point.”

The USDA governs what types of purchases can be made by SNAP recipients in all states, listing fruits and vegetables; meat, poultry and fish; dairy products; breads and cereals; seeds and plants that produce food for the household; and other foods like snacks and non-alcoholic beverages.

Recipients are not allowed to purchase alcoholic beverages; cigarettes and tobacco products; food and drinks containing controlled substances like marijuana or CBD; food that is hot at the point of sale (i.e. from a restaurant); vitamins, medicines and supplements; live animals (excluding shellfish); and any non-food items like pet food, cleaning supplies, paper products, hygienic items and cosmetics.

So, how are these rules enforced? The DTA says they investigate EBT cards that are being used out-of-state for a significant period of time, saying that “clients are required to verify their Massachusetts residency. If they do not, the client’s case will close.”

Online purchases through the SNAP program have been allowed in Massachusetts since 2020 after the Baker-Polito Administration expanded purchasing options for recipients.

Federal law allows SNAP benefits to be spent in all U.S. states and territories.