Enrolling Older Adults in SNAP - NCOA · Improving the lives of 10 million older adults by 2020...

Enrolling Older Adults in SNAP Best Practices from the Field

September 2015

2 Improving the lives of 10 million older adults by 2020 © 2015 National Council on Aging

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Contents

I. What is SNAP?

II. Results of NCOA’s 2014 Senior SNAP Enrollment Initiative

III. NCOA’s 2015 Senior SNAP Enrollment Initiative

IV. Steps to Successful Senior Outreach and Enrollment

V. Best Practices in Outreach and Enrollment

VI. Resources


I.

What is SNAP?


What is SNAP?

Supplemental

Nutrition

Assistance

Program

SNAP is a federally funded, means-tested

entitlement program that provides certain

low-income individuals and families with a

monthly benefit that they can use to buy

food.

It is administered by the US Department of

Agriculture, but has slightly different rules in

every state.

It used to be known as the Food Stamps

program.


Quick SNAP Facts

$134 The median SNAP benefit for households with an elderly

person in 2013 ($113 for all living alone)

15.3% of elderly SNAP households received the minimum

benefit in 2013 ($16 per month in 2013, now $15)

9.3% Proportion of all SNAP households with at least one person

age 60 or older

1.3 average size of a SNAP household with at least one person

age 60 or older in 2013

2013 SNAP QC Data


Low Participation Rates

Source: USDA FNS

However, only 42% of

eligible seniors age 60 or

older were enrolled in

SNAP in 2012.

This is much lower than the

total SNAP participation rate of

83%.


II.

Results From NCOA’s 2014

Senior SNAP Initiative


Where Our Partners Were

Senior Centers SNAP Enrollment Centers Super SNAP Enrollment Centers


What Our Partners Accomplished

1,562 3,595

6,230

8,800

11,544

14,739

17,459

20,192

22,730

27,305

30,984 31,166 31,361

31,513

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

CUMULATIVE SNAP APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED BY MONTH


What Our Partners Accomplished

113,233 people screened

31,513 applications submitted

$44,261,564 estimated value of applications

$44.26 estimated benefits for every $1 of grants awarded

$76,572,506 estimated macroeconomic aggregate demand added

$76.56 estimated aggregate demand added per $1 of grant


III.

NCOA’s 2015 Senior SNAP

Enrollment Initiative


Where Our Partners Are


What Our Partners Have Accomplished

Since May 1st…

32 community-based organizations

67,550 people screened

11,992 applications submitted

$15,725,332 estimated value of applications


IV.

Steps to Successful Outreach

and Enrollment


Step 1: Assessing your Organization

Model Strengths Challenges

Aging network Strong relationships with seniors May lack expertise in SNAP

Ethnic-focused Highly trusted; multilingual May not have broad reach

Anti-hunger network Already doing outreach for SNAP Often child focused, not holistic

Food banks Direct access to most in need Outreach often difficult

Faith-based Highly trusted May not have broad reach

Senior centers One-stop shop for seniors Funding and outreach

Call centers Very high volume Highly complex, expensive model


Step 2: Assessing your Population

Data Source Description Location

American FactFinder

Census data drawn from

American Community Survey.

Best resource for city-, county-,

and neighborhood-level data.

factfinder.census.gov

Current Population

Survey

Yearly survey used to construct

annual federal and state poverty

rates.

www.census.gov/cps/data/cpst

ablecreator.html

National Council on

Aging

Visualizations of data, including

senior SNAP participation. www.ncoa.org/visualizations

Feeding America Map

the Meal Gap

Provides a picture of food

insecurity in communities.

http://www.feedingamerica.org/

hunger-in-america/our-

research/map-the-meal-gap/

factfinder.census.gov

http://www.census.gov/cps/data/cpstablecreator.html

http://www.census.gov/cps/data/cpstablecreator.html

http://www.ncoa.org/visualizations

http://www.ncoa.org/visualizations

http://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/our-research/map-the-meal-gap/















Step 3: Screening for Eligibility

We recommend screening for benefits

using BenefitsCheckUp®, NCOA’s free

online screening tool, because it

screens for many benefits all at once.

www.benefitscheckup.org

But in your state, there may be a SNAP

screening tool or online application

system. Use whatever tool works best

for you and your population.

Medicaid

$5,591

LIS

$4,000

MSP

$1,663

SNAP

$1,356

LIHEAP

$375

$12,985

http://www.benefitscheckup.org/


Step 4: Providing Application Assistance

In-person application assistance is best, though not always

practical or applicable for every model.

If possible, helping with applications at a client’s home is most

effective, as it prevents delays due to forgotten documentation.

Clients who were mailed a blank application after a screening

instead of a pre-filled application that simply needed a signature

were less likely to ultimately submit the application.

Building a relationship with your local SNAP office is critical to work

out any potential pitfalls in the interviewing process, such as lack of

translators or clients receiving notification letters after their

scheduled interviews.


Step 5: Following Up

Follow up with clients to

Make sure they have received their benefits

Note when they will need to apply for redetermination so your

organization can remind them and help with the process

Make sure they know how to use their benefits! EBT cards are

similar to debit cards, but…

Seniors may not know that they can lend it to a caregiver to buy

groceries for them.

Seniors may discard cards after using them.

Some seniors have a difficult time understanding how to use cards.


V.

Best Practices in Outreach and

Enrollment


Overcoming Stigma

“Other people are worse off than me.”

“I was always taught you live off what you have.”

“I don’t need that.”

“It’s too much work for too little money.”


Overcoming Stigma

“Other people are worse off than me.”

“I was always taught you live off what you have.”

“I don’t need that.”

“It’s too much work for too little money.”

“You paid taxes your whole life, and those taxes fund SNAP. Like

Social Security, you’re just claiming what you earned.”

“Even if it’s just $15 per month, that can help you afford your

prescriptions.”

“It’s through the USDA, not HHS, and it helps local farmers and

business.”


Using Volunteers

Volunteers used by SNAP Initiative partners include…

SHIP counselors

Americorps VISTAs

SeniorCorps volunteers

RSVP volunteers

SCSEP employees

Promotoras

Volunteers recruited and trained by a dedicated Volunteer

Coordinator on staff


Building Partnerships

Ideas for partnerships…

State agencies

A strong relationship with your state agency is an absolute necessity!

Other community-based organizations

Commodity Supplemental Food Program distributors

Community organizing groups

Domestic careworkers

Hospitals and other medical providers

Local businesses


Outreach Materials

Where should I put them?

Credit unions and banks

Public libraries

Doctor’s and dentist’s offices

Senior centers

Senior residences

Post offices

Community centers

Grocery stores

Pharmacies

Buses and other public transit

NCOA has a large collection of

templates at

www.ncoa.org/SNAPoutreach

Among the most helpful materials are

those which clearly indicate what

documentation is necessary to apply

for SNAP.

http://www.ncoa.org/SNAPoutreach


Korean Women’s Association



KWA began in 1972 as a social club in Tacoma, WA

In 1979, founded The KWA as a 501 © (3) non-profit organization

12 offices, 6 senior/low income housings, and 5 senior meal sites

in 12 different counties in WA.

Home Care, Senior Meal Sites, Naturalization Program, Low-

Income Housing, DV Program and Shelter, BFO, SNAP, BEC,

Navigator, SHIBA, Breast Cancer Navigator, Community Health and

Education.

Serving more than 150,000 clients a year with over 1,000

employees.


KWA’s Basic Food Program

Contract with DSHS and it’s lead organizations in 3 counties, King,

Pierce, and Snohomish, in WA State.

Access to WA Connection www.washingotnconeection.org

Helping low income people make ends meet by providing monthly

benefits to buy food.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRxqFQoTCPnD0Zvj_McCFdAqiAodHtECMQ&url=http://frugalandthriving.com.au/2011/plan-cook-saveeating-healthy-food-on-a-budget/&psig=AFQjCNEiYqx5ALg1QRy5jPch7tHx38oCLA&ust=1442534837641662


KWA’s SNAP Enrollment Initiative

One of two grantees in WA State.

Partnered since 2014.

Great resources and networking.


KWA’s Implementation

A bilingual BFO worker in each county or area of service.

Creating partnership with local media and community.

Train Staff and Volunteer.

Screening check list & intake form.

Monthly update meeting.

Get involve with local events.


KWA’s Best Practices

Collaboration.

One on One training.

Providing flyers and brochure in different languages.

Follow up services.

Stay connected with community.


Questions for Jae


VII.

Resources


SNAP Best Practices Handbook

The full 28 page handbook,

along with links to additional

resources, can be found at

www.NCOA.org/SNAPHandbook

http://www.ncoa.org/SNAPHandbook


Additional Resources

BenefitsCheckUp® SNAP Homepage

www.benefitscheckup.org/GetSNAP

State-specific information for older adults and SNAP

www.NCOA.org/SNAP

NCOA Senior Hunger homepage

www.NCOA.org/SeniorHunger

State senior participation rates

www.NCOA.org/SNAPvisualization

http://www.ncoa.org/GetSNAP

http://www.ncoa.org/SNAP

http://www.ncoa.org/SeniorHUnger

http://www.ncoa.org/SNAPvisualization


Presenters and Contact

Erin Kee Program Manager

Hunger Initiatives

[email protected] Lura Barber

Director

Hunger Initiatives

[email protected] Jae Sung Lim

Social Service Program

Manager


[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Enrolling Older Adults in SNAP - NCOA · Improving the lives of 10 million older adults by 2020...

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