Services from State of Massachusetts
Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS)
RVRS collects, manages, and tracks millions of vital records in Massachusetts from 1936 to the present. RVRS also provides statistics on births, deaths, fetal deaths, divorces, and marriages. These data sets are used to help understand our population, promote wellness, and ensure health equity within the Commonwealth.
Location & Contact
Address: 150 Mt. Vernon Street, 1st Floor, Dorchester, MA 02125
Phone: 617-740-2600
Email: vital.recordsrequest@state.ma.us
Website: www.mass.gov/orgs/registry-of-vital-records-and-statistics
Service Hours: Monday through Friday: 8:45 am – 4:45 pm
Registry Division, City of Boston
The Registry Division issues birth, death, and marriage certificates for the City of Boston. We also issue marriage licenses
Location & Contact
Address: 1 City Hall Square, Room 213, Boston, MA 02201
Phone: 617-635-4175; Fax: 617-635-3775
Email: registry@boston.gov
Website: www.boston.gov/registry
Service Hours: Monday through Friday: 9AM – 4PM
The Mayor’s Office of Returning Citizens
The Mayor’s Office of Returning Citizens (ORC) is a Boston city department dedicated to helping individuals reenter society after release from state, federal, or county correctional facilities. Its mission is to reunite returning citizens with their families, empower them to thrive in their communities, and support them in reclaiming their dignity
Location & Contact
- Address: 30 Dimock Street, 2nd Floor, Roxbury, MA 02119
- Phone: 617‑541‑3887
- Email: orc@boston.gov
- Website: boston.gov/returning-citizens
Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA)
The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) offers programs for individuals and families to help them meet their basic needs. DTA offers cash-assistance programs, food and nutrition programs, and programs to help individuals train and apply for jobs. DTA also offers other kinds of support for those participating in their programs, including child care, transportation, and referrals to other services.
DTA has three programs that provide help to children and families: the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC), and Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled, and Children (EAEDC).
Location & Contact
Address: 80 Everett Avenue Chelsea, MA 02150
Phone: (DTA Assistance Line) 1-877-382-2363
Website: https://www.mass.gov/guides/how-to-contact-dta
Service Hours: DTA Assistance Line, Monday though Friday 8:15am to 4:45pm
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
What is SNAP?
SNAP is a program that helps families with children, the elderly, and people with disabilities pay for the cost of food. SNAP benefits can be used to pay for foods such as breads, cereals, fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, and dairy products. People who participate in SNAP receive an Electronic Benefits Card (EBT) that they can use like a debit card to pay for food at grocery stores, convenience stores, and farmers’ markets. Participants can also use their EBT card to buy seeds and plants to grow their own food, such as tomato plants. SNAP benefits cannot be used to pay for alcohol, tobacco products, or anything considered a “nonfood item,” such as soap, cleaning supplies, and medicines.
SNAP participants between the ages of 16-59 are also automatically enrolled in the SNAP Path to Work program, which helps SNAP participants learn the skills they need to find jobs that pay well. SNAP Path to Work provides education programs and skills training for jobs in fields like construction, banking, and nursing.
Who can apply for SNAP?
Eligibility for SNAP is based on many different factors, including a family’s income, expenses, the number of people who live in the home, the age of the family members, and other family characteristics. The DTA has an online screening tool that families can use to see if they may be eligible for SNAP. Families can also call the DTA at 1-877-382-2363, or Project Bread at 1-800-645-8333.
Location & Contact
How do I apply?
Families can apply for SNAP in three different ways:
- Online: Families that are applying for SNAP for the first time can use the online application form. The online form is available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
- In-person: Families can visit their local Transitional Assistance Office, which they can find here.
- Mail: Fill out a paper application and mail it to the following address:
DTA Document Processing Center
PO Box 4406
Taunton, MA 02780-0420
Paper applications are available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Khmer, Vietnamese, Haitian Creole, Russian, Chinese, French, Italian, Korean, Polish, and Arabic.
What happens after I submit my application?
After the application is submitted, the DTA will contact the family to schedule an interview to better understand the family’s needs. After the interview, the DTA will tell the family what documents they will need to give to the DTA, such as:
- Proof of identity, such as a driver’s license or birth certificate
- Proof that the applicant lives in Massachusetts, such as a lease or utility bill
- Earned income if the family has any, such as a pay stub
- Other kinds of income the family receives, such as Social Security, child support, or workman’s compensation
- Rental income, if the family rents property to others
- Child support payments, if anyone in the family pays child support to someone outside their home.
Families may also include other information that could increase the amount of their SNAP benefits, such as proof of their housing costs, utility expenses (including cell phones), child care or adult care expenses, or medical expenses for those with disabilities. The DTA can take up to 30 days to make a decision about a family’s eligibility, but may provide SNAP benefits within seven days in certain emergency cases.
For more information about SNAP or for help applying, call the DTA at 1-877-382-2363 or Project Bread at 1-800-645-8333.
created 1/30/2026 Updated 2/23/2026