CREATING A FOOD SECURE NATIONAARP Foundation’s Commitment to Americans 50+

Presenters:

Hiram Lopez-Landin

Jay Haapala

Molly Johnson

About Us• AARP Foundation, a charitable affiliate of AARP, is

working to win back opportunity for struggling Americans 50+ by being a force for change on the most serious issues they face today: hunger, housing, income and isolation.

• By coordinating responses to these issues on all four fronts at once, and supporting them with vigorous legal advocacy, the Foundation serves the unique needs of those 50+ while working with local organizations nationwide to reach more people, work more efficiently and make resources go further.

Americans 50 and older are the fastest growing consumer group in the United States.

A Growing Generation

Source: Understanding the Needs and Consequences od the Aging Consumer, A.T. Kearney, 2013

Source: www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-America/hunger-facts/senior-hunger.aspx

Disproportionally Affected Groups

Many people 50+ face impossible choices: paying grocery or phone bills, medication or mortgage payments, the heating bill or the water bill.

Alaska

Hawaii

% food insecure7.78 - 12.996.51 - 7.785.50 - 6.512.53 - 5.50

Figure 7b: State Food Insecurity Rates for Adults Age 50 and Older • Household incomes at or below 200% FPL

• African-Americans• Hispanics• Individuals who have

never married or are divorced or widowed

• Renters• 50-59 year olds• Those with grandchildren

present in the household

Source: www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-America/hunger-studies/~/media/Files/research/FeedingAmerica_SpotlightOnSeniorHealth_3182014.ashx?.pdf

Finding SolutionsAARP Foundation is working to:

1. Redefine hunger as a health issue.

2. Advocate for the investment of significant resources into existing commercial food supply chain infrastructure in a manner that gains efficiencies and provides improved access and reduces costs for vulnerable groups. This can only be achieved through scale.

SNAP Access Barriers faced by low-income 50-59 year olds

• SNAP is the only nutrition assistance program available to most people 50-59

• Plagued by high unemployment and underemployment rates

• Often too young for Social Security and Medicare• Often ineligible for programs designed for households with

children• Number of food insecure individuals in this age group

increased 38% between 2007-2009• In Fiscal Year (FY) 2009, the estimated SNAP participation

rate was approximately 56% for 50-59 year olds compared to 36% for the elderly age 60 or older, and 72% for all eligible individuals.

Why Was This Study Conducted?

• To discuss barriers to SNAP enrollment among low-income people ages 50-59

• To discuss differences in barriers for specific segments of this age group

• To propose means for overcoming these barriers.

Research Objectives

• Data were obtained using a qualitative research approach that included key informant interviews, in-depth interviews, and focus groups

• A total of seven key informant interviews, ten in-depth interviews, and nine focus groups were conducted

• Data were collected from Mississippi, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, and Oregon.

• State Selection• Partner Selection• Sample Selection

Methodology

SNAP and Barriers

50-59 Year olds• Only 56% of income eligible 50-59

year olds are enrolled in SNAP. • Why don’t they apply?

• Lack of information about how to apply

• Poor customer service• Perceived low benefit amount• Seasonal income variation

60 and Older• Only 1/3 of income eligible adults 60

and older are enrolled in SNAP.• Why don’t they apply?

• Embarrassment or pride• Unfamiliarity with program rules• Unfamiliarity with eligibility

criteria• Application process is too hard

Lack of Information• They do not know that SNAP exists, which is

especially prevalent among Hispanics• They do not believe they qualify• They forego applying for benefits because they

believe, often erroneously, that they will be “taking away” benefits from others especially children who need them more

Poor Customer ServiceThey encountered or have encountered challenges and/or obstacles that prevent them from enrolling in SNAP. These challenges include, in order of occurrence:• Poor/discourteous customer service, cited the most

frequently. In fact, none of the study participants cited a positive customer experience. Typical comments include:

• …the people there [SNAP enrollment office] do not have a caring attitude and they just herd people in and herd them out

• …you go into a food stamp place.. And they pretty much look at you, like, ‘what do you want? You’re a scum, you’re nothing, you want a handout from us?’

Poor Customer Service Cont…• The quality of information about SNAP benefits and

eligibility, especially information inconsistent with their state’s SNAP requirements and that may have violated the state’s enrollment procedures.

• Inconsistent or incorrect application of SNAP enrollment rules, including: • Being asked to submit information not required for enrollment

in their state• Having an asset test limit applied when the state did not

require this for SNAP benefits • Being assisted by staff who do not follow household rules for

single applicants, especially when they say all persons living in the same house are “one household,” which resulted in their being disqualified.

Perceived Low Benefit Return

• Based on their previous experience years ago benefits were too low to justify the level of effort required

• They believe, again erroneously, that the benefits they will receive are too small and not worth the trouble they will go through applying for them

Income Variation• Problems with seasonally adjusted income. A

considerable number of people had more need for SNAP during particular months of the year. In these cases, proving income fluctuations took longer than the enrollment process itself; many SNAP benefits were delayed for so long that by the time applicants received them they were no longer needed.

Recommendations:• Ensure local SNAP office personnel provide the highest

quality of customer service with courtesy, professionalism and respect through diversity, sensitivity and customer-service training

• Provide additional training to state and local staff on SNAP eligibility rules and procedures

• Simplify communication about SNAP: • Make outreach materials more accessible• Identify appropriate Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and

involve them in outreach efforts • To inform hard-to-reach populations, use diverse

communications and channels • Encourage more “One Stop Shop” models of multiple public

benefits to increase enrollment

Recommendations Cont…• Develop new, better strategies to keep people informed

about SNAP benefit delays: • Focus new research on interviewing SNAP applicants who do

not complete the process• Research administrative decision delays and identify

malfunctions• Use advocates to help applicants complete SNAP application

and document-gathering• Tell applicants how long after submitting application they will

receive benefits• Develop solutions for those with seasonal jobs by decreasing

application errors and decision delays; and • Assess funding levels warranted to support quality customer

service.

SNAP ToolkitAARP Foundation and FRAC (Food Research and Action Center) have created a digital toolkit to help organizations implement successful programs of outreach, education and application assistance, with the goal of increasing older adult participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

http://pdf.aarpfoundation.org/i/397003  

Join us to help tackle food insecurity in our nation.

To learn more, visit: aarpfoundation.org/hunger

Hiram Lopez-Landin

hlopez@aarp.org