MBTA Reduced Fares for Low-Income Riders 2026–27: Who Qualifies, the $30 Monthly Pass and How to Apply
Updated: 1 hour ago
If you ride the T in Greater Boston and get SNAP, MassHealth or certain other state benefits, you can probably cut your transit costs by more than half. The MBTA's income-eligible reduced fare program lets riders ages 18 to 64 buy a $30 monthly LinkPass instead of the regular $90 one, and pay $1.10 for a subway ride instead of $2.40.
If you use a monthly pass, that's $60 a month, or $720 a year. Many people who qualify have never signed up, so this guide explains who's eligible, what the card gets you, and the quickest way to apply.
Last checked October 2026. Sources: the MBTA's Income-Eligible Reduced Fares page, Reduced Fares page (including current reduced fare prices and the fall 2026 fare pilots) and Charlie Service Center page.
The Short Version
Who qualifies: Massachusetts residents ages 18 to 64 with a government-issued ID who are enrolled in SNAP, MassHealth (Standard, CarePlus, Family Assistance or Limited), TAFDC, EAEDC or MASSGrant.
What you get: about 50% off one-way fares, a $30 monthly LinkPass, a $10 7-Day LinkPass, and discounts on the Commuter Rail, ferry and The RIDE.
How to apply: online through MyCharlie, at the Charlie Service Center (296 Washington St., Boston), or at a partner location.
How fast: automatic verification can give you a decision right away. Manual uploads get an answer by email within two business days, and the card arrives in about 7 to 10 business days.
Renewal: every year. You can renew up to two months before your card expires.
Who Qualifies
According to the MBTA, you may qualify for an income-eligible reduced fare card if you:
are a Massachusetts resident;
have a government-issued ID;
are between 18 and 64; and
are enrolled in at least one of these state assistance programs:
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
MassHealth Standard, MassHealth CarePlus, MassHealth Family Assistance or MassHealth Limited
Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC)
Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled & Children (EAEDC)
MASSGrant (the state college grant)
The program doesn't apply its own income test. It relies on your enrollment in one of these programs. If you're eligible for SNAP or MassHealth but haven't signed up yet, doing that first can also qualify you for the T discount.
If you're outside the 18 to 64 range
The MBTA has separate programs for other groups, and the reduced prices are the same whichever reduced fare card you have:
65 and older: a Senior CharlieCard.
75 and older and don't drive: riders with an RMV-issued Mass ID can ride free with a Car-Free Seniors CharlieCard.
People with disabilities and Medicare cardholders: the Transportation Access Pass (TAP).
Children 11 and under: ride free.
Legally blind riders, plus a guide: ride free with a Blind Access CharlieCard.
Some middle and high school students: the Student Pass Program, through participating schools.
What the Reduced Fare Card Costs and Saves
Here are the MBTA's posted reduced prices compared with the regular fares on its fares page:
Fare | Regular | Income-eligible |
Subway one-way | $2.40 | $1.10 |
Local bus one-way | $1.70 | $0.85 |
Monthly LinkPass (bus + subway) | $90.00 | $30.00 |
7-Day LinkPass | not listed here | $10.00 |
Commuter Rail one-way | $2.40–$13.25 | $1.10–$6.50 |
Ferry one-way | not listed here | $1.10–$4.85 |
Prices as posted by the MBTA in October 2026. Check mbta.com before you buy, because fares can change.
Fall 2026 fare pilots
From September 1, 2026, the MBTA is running two pilots:
Express Bus fares are the same as Local Bus fares, and Express Bus passes are no longer sold.
Riders can make "unlimited" transfers between subway, bus and ferry within a two-hour window, paying only for the highest-priced service, as long as they use the same payment method for the whole trip.
These are pilots, so they may change. They're worth knowing about if you transfer often and pay one-way fares.
The Commuter Rail and ferry
Your income-eligible card also gets you discounted Commuter Rail and ferry fares, including reduced monthly passes on the Commuter Rail. You can buy them:
on board, by showing your card to the conductor or ticket agent;
at ticket windows or retail sales locations, by showing your card;
at fare vending machines, where you tap your card to pay 50% of the standard one-way Commuter Rail fare or buy a monthly pass; or
in the mTicket app, after entering your card's serial number under "Reduced Fares" in "My Account."
For Zone 1A trips on the Fairmount Line, you tap your CharlieCard at the Fairmount Line validators before boarding and keep the receipt to show the conductor.
The Salem ferry is run seasonally by the city of Salem, so its prices and discounts may be different.
The RIDE
If you use The RIDE, the MBTA's paratransit service, being enrolled in the income-eligible program gets you discounted trips: $1.70 for an ADA/standard trip and $2.80 for a Premium trip. Link your reduced fare CharlieCard to your RIDE account once, and the discount is applied automatically when you book.
How to Apply
Online (fastest)
Create a MyCharlie account, which is also how you'll get emails about your application.
Verify your eligibility. You choose between:
Automatic verification using your ID, with nothing to upload and an immediate decision; or
Manual upload of your ID and proof of enrollment, such as a photo of your welcome letter or a screenshot of your account showing your name, coverage dates and coverage type. The MBTA emails a decision within two business days.
Choose where to get the card: mailed to you, or sent to the Charlie Service Center or a partner location. It takes about 7 to 10 business days.
If you're using MASSGrant to qualify, you have to use the manual upload option.
In person
You can apply at the Charlie Service Center or at a partner location, where staff can help one-on-one. Bring:
a government-issued photo ID (driver's license, passport or state ID). The MBTA won't accept documents without a photo; and
proof of enrollment, which can be:
a photo of your enrollment or benefits letter showing your name, dated within the last three months;
a screenshot showing your name and an active status from "My Enrollments" in your Health Connector account, the MassHealth Provider Online Service Center, or "Benefits Detail" in your DTA account; or
a MASSGrant award letter or MassAid portal screenshot, or a school financial aid letter that lists MASSGrant, from the current or most recent academic year.
The Charlie Service Center
Address: 296 Washington St., between Milk and Water streets, near State and Downtown Crossing stations. It's fully accessible.
Hours: Tuesday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., for all transactions. On Monday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., reduced fare services are by appointment only, and you can book online.
It's closed on major holidays, including New Year's Day, MLK Day, Presidents' Day, Patriots' Day, Memorial Day and Juneteenth.
The MBTA Mobility Center at 1000 Massachusetts Ave. in Boston can also help with reduced fare applications and trip planning, and it handles RIDE applications.
Using and Renewing Your Card
Loading your card: add cash value or LinkPasses at fare vending machines, the Charlie Service Center, retail sales locations, or on bus and trolley fareboxes at street-level stops (cash value and one-way fares only there).
Contactless: you can link your reduced fare benefit to a contactless payment method for reduced one-way bus and subway fares. The Charlie Service Center can help set this up.
EBT: you can pay with your Massachusetts EBT card at any fare vending machine, the Charlie Service Center, or MBTA retail locations that accept EBT.
Keep the card with you. It's your proof of enrollment if someone asks.
Lost or damaged card: request a replacement through MyCharlie. To recover the balance on a lost or stolen card, call 888-844-0355. The card must have been registered in MyCharlie for the value to be restored.
Renew every year. You can renew in MyCharlie or at a partner location up to two months before the expiration date. If you renew early, you keep your current card and your discount continues without a gap.
What we couldn't confirm: the MBTA's partner-location list didn't load for us, so we haven't listed those sites. Use "Find a partner location" on the MBTA's income-eligible page. Regular 7-Day LinkPass and ferry prices weren't on the pages we checked.
Questions?
Call MBTA Customer Support at 617-222-3200, Monday to Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. TTY users can dial 711.
A Quick Checklist
Confirm you're 18 to 64 and enrolled in SNAP, MassHealth, TAFDC, EAEDC or MASSGrant.
Have your photo ID and a recent benefits letter or screenshot ready.
Apply in MyCharlie and try automatic verification first.
Once the card arrives, switch to the $30 monthly LinkPass if you ride often.
Put a reminder in your calendar to renew about two months before the card expires.
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