More than 11,000 fewer New Bedford and Fall River residents get SNAP than a year ago, state figures show

SOUTH COAST New Bedford and Fall River had 11,360 fewer residents getting SNAP food benefits in September than in September 2025, a drop of about 17% in New Bedford and 16% in Fall River, figures from the state Department of Transitional Assistance show. The rolls shrank in every South Coast community, from 12% in Freetown to 25% in Acushnet.

In New Bedford, 28,610 people in 17,347 households received SNAP in September, down from 34,643 people in 20,528 households a year earlier. That is 6,033 fewer people, or 17.4%. Fall River had 27,170 people in 16,386 households, down from 32,497 people in 19,220 households, a loss of 5,327 people, or 16.4%.

The two cities still carry some of the largest SNAP caseloads in Massachusetts. New Bedford ranks fourth in households, behind Boston, Springfield and Worcester, and Fall River seventh.

Across the 21 South Coast communities below, 90,762 people received SNAP in September, down 19,567, or 17.7%, from a year earlier. Statewide the count fell from 1,061,460 people to 865,166, a drop of 18.5%, and Bristol County fell 18%.

SNAP households and people, September 2025 and September 2026 (Department of Transitional Assistance)

Community	Households, 2025 to 2026	People, 2025 to 2026	Change in people
New Bedford	20,528 to 17,347	34,643 to 28,610	6,033 fewer (17.4%)
Fall River	19,220 to 16,386	32,497 to 27,170	5,327 fewer (16.4%)
Taunton	8,966 to 7,347	15,022 to 11,949	3,073 fewer (20.5%)
Wareham	3,066 to 2,645	4,920 to 4,105	815 fewer (16.6%)
Dartmouth	2,319 to 2,001	3,430 to 2,865	565 fewer (16.5%)
Middleborough	1,978 to 1,659	3,280 to 2,650	630 fewer (19.2%)
Fairhaven	1,472 to 1,283	2,195 to 1,840	355 fewer (16.2%)
Westport	1,216 to 1,075	1,828 to 1,538	290 fewer (15.9%)
Somerset	1,147 to 975	1,826 to 1,494	332 fewer (18.2%)
Raynham	1,055 to 828	1,759 to 1,328	431 fewer (24.5%)
Swansea	1,049 to 891	1,662 to 1,349	313 fewer (18.8%)
Acushnet	822 to 656	1,253 to 936	317 fewer (25.3%)
Seekonk	715 to 590	1,188 to 966	222 fewer (18.7%)
Lakeville	664 to 553	1,012 to 840	172 fewer (17%)
Freetown	516 to 437	798 to 701	97 fewer (12.2%)
Rehoboth	490 to 402	781 to 597	184 fewer (23.6%)
Dighton	420 to 375	678 to 569	109 fewer (16.1%)
Berkley	288 to 244	491 to 387	104 fewer (21.2%)
Marion	246 to 187	429 to 354	75 fewer (17.5%)
Mattapoisett	234 to 204	347 to 284	63 fewer (18.2%)
Rochester	168 to 136	290 to 230	60 fewer (20.7%)

What the numbers count

DTA counts a household, which it calls a case, as the head of a household that received benefits, and a person, or client, as any resident who received them. Both counts include anyone who got SNAP at any point during the month. To protect privacy, the department leaves blank any ZIP code count under 11, so totals for the smaller towns can run slightly short.

The monthly reports count who is on SNAP. They do not give a reason anyone's benefits ended, so they cannot show how much of the drop comes from the work rules DTA has been sending letters about and how much from other reasons people leave the program. DTA did not respond to questions about the drop by Monday afternoon.

The Standard-Times reported the losses early Monday. It put New Bedford's drop at 6,308 residents from June 2025 to August 2026, citing DTA, and Fall River's at 5,637, citing Project Bread.

Who the work rules cover

DTA's rules for able-bodied adults without dependents, known as ABAWD, apply to some SNAP recipients ages 18 through 64. During the current time limit, Jan. 1, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2026, an adult who is not exempt can get SNAP for only three months without meeting the rules. Anyone who misses them for any three months is not eligible again until Jan. 1, 2027, unless they start meeting the rules, DTA says. The department sends a letter to anyone who must follow them.

To keep benefits, DTA says, an adult covered by the rule must work, paid or unpaid, or take part in an approved training program for 80 hours a month, or volunteer at a nonprofit or public organization for the number of hours listed in their DTA notice. Earning more than $217.50 a week before taxes also exempts a person.

A person is exempt if they are under 18 or 65 and older, are pregnant at any stage, or live with a child under 14, even one who does not get SNAP. Caring for a child under 6 or for someone who needs care also exempts a person, as does being unable to work 30 hours a week because of a physical or mental health problem, which DTA says can include being a survivor of domestic violence, sexual harassment, sexual assault or stalking.

Other exemptions DTA lists include taking part in a substance use treatment program, getting TAFDC or EAEDC cash benefits, applying for or getting unemployment, going to school or a training program at least half time, and being American Indian or Alaska Native.

How to get benefits back

DTA says a person cut off under the time limit can regain eligibility by starting to meet the rules. A person who qualifies for an exemption can prove it, often with a letter from a doctor, nurse practitioner or licensed mental health counselor, or with pay stubs. Some exemptions, such as living with a child under 14, need no proof because DTA already has the information.

People who missed the rules for a good reason, such as illness, transportation problems, no child care or a family emergency, can tell DTA by uploading a written statement through DTA Connect or by calling the DTA Assistance Line.

Where to get help

The DTA Assistance Line, 877-382-2363, is open 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. The free SNAP Path to Work program, at SNAPPathtoWork.org or 888-483-0255, lists training programs and volunteer sites, and DTA says a public library or food pantry can also count as a volunteer site. DTA can help pay for transportation to training. Volunteers can have their site's coordinator send DTA the participation form that counts the hours.

Label: Reported by us, from the town's posted records.