More than 11,000 fewer New Bedford and Fall River residents get SNAP than a year ago, state figures show
The state counts do not say why benefits ended. DTA work rules cover some adults 18 to 64, and the department lists exemptions and a help line.
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%.
| 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.
Notes
Every count comes from DTA's own September 2025 and September 2026 caseload reports, which we downloaded from the state's site and added up ourselves for each community. Our totals match the department's own city and town summary in both reports. The rules, exemptions and phone numbers come from DTA's Work Rules for SNAP Clients page, read Nov. 2. We checked each date and weekday against a calendar. The reports do not say why anyone left SNAP, so the story does not tie the drop to the work rules. DTA did not respond to questions by Monday afternoon. Any answer will be added.
Corrections
No corrections to this story. If something here is wrong, tell us. Every correction is dated on the story and listed in our public log.
Sources (6)
- Department of Transitional Assistance, Caseload by ZIP Code Report, September 2026 (XLSX, 937.18 KB)SNAP households and people by city and town, county and statewide, September 2026. The case and client definitions and the privacy rule for counts under 11. Report dated Oct. 6, 2026, published Oct. 16, 2026. Downloaded from the DTA reports list and read Nov. 2, 2026.
- Department of Transitional Assistance, Caseload by ZIP Code Report, September 2025 (XLSX, 936.78 KB)The same counts for September 2025. Report dated and published Oct. 27, 2025. Downloaded and read Nov. 2, 2026.
- Department of Transitional Assistance, caseload by ZIP code reports listThe page both monthly reports come from. Read Nov. 2, 2026.
- Department of Transitional Assistance, Work Rules for SNAP ClientsThe ABAWD ages, time limit and Jan. 1, 2027 date, the 80 hour and volunteer options, the $217.50 a week line, the exemptions and how to prove them, good cause, SNAP Path to Work and the Assistance Line hours. Read Nov. 2, 2026.
- Department of Transitional Assistance, SNAP benefits (formerly food stamps)DTA runs SNAP. How to apply and connect with DTA. Read Nov. 2, 2026.
- The Standard-Times, "Thousands lose SNAP benefits in New Bedford, Fall River. Why it matters" (Nov. 2, 2026)Its report on the losses, with its June 2025 to August 2026 figures. Read Nov. 2, 2026.