Food Stamp Program

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Food Stamp Program

• The 18th National Aging and Disability
  Information and Referral Symposium
• May 20, 2008

Karen J. Walker Acting Deputy Associate
Administrator Food Stamp Program Food and
Nutrition Service United States Department of
Agriculture
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Food Stamp Program

• By making a healthy diet more affordable, the
  FSP
• Promotes nutrition and health
• Combats hunger
• Supports work

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Adjusting the Benefit

• Benefits are adjusted once per year in October.
• Adjustments are based on the Thrifty Food Plan
  from the prior June.

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Food Stamp Participation

• Rate
• Overall 65
• Seniors 31
• Percentage Point Increase in Rate Since 2001
• Overall 11
• Seniors 3

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Why Dont Eligible Seniors Participate?

• Less likely to know eligibility
• Less likely to know where to apply
• Less interested
• Desire for personal independence
• Perceived cost of application/participation
• Perceived low benefit
• Stigma

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Increasing Elderly Participation - Policy

• Higher asset limit
• Deduct medical expenses
• No gross income test
• No work requirement
• No time limit

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Increasing Elderly Participation - Demos

• Combined Application Projects (CAP)
• Simplified
• Application
• Reporting
• Standardized Medical Deductions

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Increasing Elderly Participation - Process

• 2 year certification period
• Telephone interviews
• Interviews with CBOs (sometimes)
• No discrimination by age
• Apply through SSA (when applying for SSI)

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Increasing Elderly Participation - Outreach

• Outreach grants
• National media campaign
• State outreach plans
• Food Stamp Outreach Coalition

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Increasing Elderly Participation - Outreach

• Free Materials/Tools
• Photo Gallery
• Multi-language materials
• Posters, flyers, brochures
• Promising practices
• PSAs (radio and TV)
• Tool Kits

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Tools for Information and Referral

• Step 1 Pre-Screening Tool
• www.foodstamps-step1.usda.gov
• Local Office Locator
• http//www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/outreach/map.htm
• National Toll Free Number
• 1-800-221-5689

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The MiCAFE Model

• Locates application sites where seniors are
• Uses a simple, online application for multiple
  benefits
• Uses volunteers for application assistance

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Farm Bill Proposals

• New name
• Indexes
• Asset deductions
• Deobligate coupons

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Rising Food Prices

• How the FSP helps
• Supplements food budget
• No need to sacrifice nutrition
• Teaches wise shopping habits
• Helps participants learn to make low cost,
  healthy meals

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State FSNE Plans

• Optional (52 of 53 State agencies)
• Approved Federal Funding 311 million dollars
• 70 projects target seniors

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Nutrition Connection

• Resource Finder
• Recipe Finder
• Hot Topics A to Z
• Referral Index

www.foodstamp.nal.usda.gov
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Other Programs

• The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
• Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
• Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)

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Questions?

• Visit our web site.

www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/