Card to Culture and Extra Benefits for Kinship Families in Massachusetts

Benefits You Might Not Know About

Once a child-only TAFDC grant or SNAP benefits are in place, most kinship caregivers stop looking for additional programs. Understandably — navigating DTA was exhausting enough. But Massachusetts links several secondary benefits to EBT card ownership, and DTA caseworkers rarely mention them during intake.

Card to Culture

Card to Culture is a Massachusetts program that gives free or deeply discounted admission to museums, cultural venues, and outdoor attractions to anyone who holds a current EBT card. That includes kinship caregivers receiving TAFDC or SNAP.

Participating venues include the Museum of Fine Arts, the New England Aquarium, the Museum of Science, the Children's Museum, the Springfield Museums, and dozens of smaller institutions across the state. Most offer free admission for the EBT cardholder plus a limited number of family members — typically up to four people.

All you need is your EBT card. Show it at the ticket counter and request the Card to Culture rate. No separate application is required.

For a grandparent raising a grandchild, this is a straightforward way to access enrichment activities that would otherwise cost $50 to $100 per family visit. Many venues also run free school-vacation-week programs and summer camps, and some give priority enrollment to families on public benefits.

Universal Free School Meals

Massachusetts operates a statewide universal free school meals program. Every child enrolled in a Massachusetts K-12 public school can eat breakfast and lunch at no cost, regardless of household income. You do not need to submit an income application.

For kinship caregivers, this means one less daily expense and one less form to fill out. The child eats free at school whether you have legal guardianship, a caregiver authorization affidavit, or an informal care arrangement.

EEC Childcare Vouchers

Kinship caregivers who receive a TAFDC child-only grant and who work or participate in a training program are entitled to a no-fee childcare voucher through the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC). The voucher is issued through a DTA referral to your local Child Care Resource and Referral agency.

This is one of the most commonly missed benefits because it requires a specific referral from DTA — and DTA does not always initiate it automatically. If you are working or in school and paying for childcare out of pocket, ask your DTA worker for an EEC referral.

Lifeline Phone Service

If you or someone in your household receives SNAP, you may qualify for the federal Lifeline program, which provides a monthly discount of up to $9.25 on phone or internet service. You may also qualify based on household income. Some Massachusetts carriers offer a free phone with the plan. Apply through the National Verifier at lifelinesupport.org and provide proof of eligibility if requested.

For a caregiver on a fixed income, a reliable phone line is not optional — DTA, MassHealth, and schools all communicate by phone, and missing a call from a caseworker can delay a benefit or trigger a verification request.

LIHEAP Fuel Assistance

The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP, federally LIHEAP) helps pay heating bills. Household income must be at or below 60% of state median income, and you still need to apply. Receiving TAFDC or SNAP may qualify you for utility discount or arrearage programs.

Benefits vary by year and household size. The application portal opens October 1 each year for the upcoming heating season, which runs November 1 through April 30. Apply through the local administering agency or online, and check current funding and deadlines.

Where to Learn About These

The Kinship Navigator helpline at 1-844-924-4546 can walk you through every benefit linked to your EBT card. The Massachusetts Kinship Financial Help guide also catalogs these secondary benefits alongside the core programs, so you can check them all in one sitting.

See more Massachusetts guides →