as a matter of snap: a dialogue of assistance kurt messner acting regional administrator usda, food...
TRANSCRIPT
As a Matter of SNAP:A Dialogue of Assistance
Kurt Messner
Acting Regional Administrator
USDA, Food and Nutrition Service
(Northeast Regional Office)
2
Topics Covered
• Overview of SNAP• By the Numbers• Error Rates / Timeliness• Integrity• Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT)• Disaster Assistance• Employment and Training• Education (SNAP-Ed)• Farmers’ Markets• Grants• Outreach• Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs)
3
Overview of SNAP
4
Overview of SNAP
• Food Stamp Acts of 1964 and 1977
• First Food Stamp Transaction in Rochester, NY
• The same mission to combat hunger and reduce poverty remains strong.
5
Overview of SNAP
• Key Facts• People• Impact• Integrity• Healthy Eating• Budget
6
By the Numbers
7
By the NumbersSNAP – NY FY2013 FY2014 FY2015 JAN 2015
Persons Participating (Avg)
3,170,465 3,122,879 3,064,533 3,055,942
Households Participating (Avg)
1,710,501 1,698,559 1,676,357 1,673,567
Value of Benefits ($) $5,621,405,245 $5,200,758,093 $1,703,099,721 $422,875,286
Benefit/Person/Month ($) (Avg)
$147.75 $138.78 $138.94 $138.38
Benefit/Household/Month ($) (Avg)
$273.87 $255.16 $253.99 $252.68
Administrative Cost ($) $383,915,922 $352,348,051 $47,008,829 --
Total SNAP Cost $6,017,792,106 $5,571,547,033 $1,750,108,550 $422,875,286
8
By the Numbers
SNAP New York% Change
Jan 2014 toJan 2015
United States% Change
Jan 2014 toJan 2015
Persons Participating
(Avg)3,055,942 -2.94% 46,029,343 -1.08%
Households Participating
(Avg)1,673,567 -2.05% 22,615,839 -0.14%
Total SNAP Cost ($)
$422,875,286 -0.97% $5,846,002,311 1.14%
9
Error Rates / Timeliness
10
Error Rates / Timeliness
• Payment Error Rates– Quality Control determined that the household received an
incorrect benefit amount. Examples are an overpayment or an underpayment.
• Case and Procedural Error Rates– Quality Control determined that the decision to deny, suspend
or terminate the household was incorrect.
• Timeliness– The percentage of a State’s approved SNAP initial applications
that were approved within SNAP statutory processing requirements.
• 7 days for expedited service• 30 days for non-expedited service
11
Integrity
12
Integrity
• SNAP integrity is a long standing FNS priority.
• Removing retailers who break the rules.
• Working with state partners to fight recipient fraud.
13
Integrity
• Reducing the incidence of replacement cards.
• State Law Enforcement Bureau Agreements (SLEBs)
14
Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT)
15
Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT)
• Implementation of initial pilot: March 1999• Operational statewide: February 2001• Current contractor: Xerox State and Local Solutions, Inc.• Programs available on EBT Card: SNAP, TANF, and
HEAP• Expiration of contract: October 2020, with two 1-year
options to extend• Other information of interest: Lead State for the
Northeast Coalition of States (NCS), which also includes Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire
16
Disaster Assistance
17
Disaster Assistance
• D-SNAP is a completely different program from regular SNAP.
• Nothing is more important than providing food when people find themselves suddenly, and often critically, in need following a storm, earthquake, flood or other disaster emergency.
• FNS coordinates with State, local and voluntary organizations.
18
Disaster Assistance
• Allows the Secretary of Agriculture to operate aD-SNAP when affected areas have received a Presidential disaster declaration for assistance from FEMA.
• Eligible households receive one month of benefits equivalent to the maximum amount of benefits issued to a SNAP household of their size.
• Benefits are issued via an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card which can be used to purchase food at most grocery stores.
• During a D-SNAP operation, ongoing SNAP clients can also receive disaster food assistance.
• Good planning is crucial to achieving a successfulDSNAP operation.
19
Employment and Training (E&T)
20
Employment and Training (E&T)
• States use SNAP E&T programs to prepare individuals for the following:• In-demand jobs• Help employers find qualified workers• Strengthen the state’s economy
21
Employment and Training (E&T)
• Federal funding for E&T Programs is contingent upon approval of a State E&T Plan by FNS and the availability of Federal funds.
• Funding with Three Different Grants:• E&T Program Grants• ABAWD Grants• 50 Percent Reimbursements
• Administrative and Participant
22
Education (SNAP-Ed)
23
Education (SNAP-Ed)
• The goal of SNAP-Ed is to improve the likelihood that persons eligible for SNAP will make healthy choices within a limited budget and choose active lifestyles consistent with the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPlate.
• All 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands provide nutrition education for SNAP and other eligible low-income individuals.
24
Farmers’ Markets
25
Farmers’ Markets
• The number of farmers' markets licensed to accept SNAP benefits is increasing nationwide.
• MarketLink partnership for SNAP vendors
• Health Bucks in NYC and Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) in upstate NY
NEW YORK FY2013 FY2014 FY2015
Farmers' Markets Authorized
270 365 147
Farmers' Markets Redemptions ($)
$2,300,680 $2,810,730 $791,310
26
Grants
27
Grants
Process & Technology
(formally Participation
Grant)
• FY13 City of New York for creation of Electronic Application and Scanning Express (EASE) Self-Service Areas in five SNAP
Centers and ten CBOs: $650,000• FY13 Jefferson County to purchase call center software: $24,157
• FY11 Broome County to establish a call center, caseload management software, and to conduct a BPR analysis: $74,596
Combined Application
Project (CAP)
• New York State Nutrition Improvement Project(Approved 3/26/03. Implemented 01/05)
USDA Food Insecurity Nutrition
Incentive (FINI) Grant Program
• International Rescue Committee NYC $564,231
28
Outreach
29
Outreach
• SNAP helps low-income people buy nutritious food such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains, needed for good health.
• Plan focuses on reaching the newly unemployed, working poor, older adults, veterans, legal immigrants, and those who do not apply for the program.
Federal Fiscal Years2013-2015
Total Federal and State Funding
Total of Federal Reimbursement
FFY13 $13,488,086 $6,724,043
FFY14 $13,277,676 $6,638,838
FFY15 $13,139,453 $6,569,727
30
Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs)
31
Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs)• ABAWD eligibility for SNAP is limited to any three (3)
months in a 36-month period.
• 3-month time limit does not apply to individuals who are:1) under 18 or 50 years of age or over2) medically certified as physically or mentally unfit for
employment3) responsible for a dependent child or residing in a
household where a household member is under age 184) exempt from SNAP work requirements5) pregnant
• As of FY2015, New York is approved for the Statewide ABAWD time limit waiver.
32
Summary
33
Summary
• SNAP offers nutrition assistance to millions of eligible, low-income individuals and families and provides economic benefits to communities. SNAP is the largest program in the domestic hunger safety net.
• The Food and Nutrition Service works with State agencies, nutrition educators, and neighborhood and faith-based organizations to ensure that those eligible for nutrition assistance can make informed decisions about applying for the program and can access benefits.
• FNS also works with State partners and the retail community to improve program administration and ensure program integrity.
34
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
35
Contacts
Kurt Messner
Acting Regional Administrator
USDA, Food and Nutrition Service (Northeast Regional Office)
(617) 565-6370
Bonnie Brathwaite
Director, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
USDA, Food and Nutrition Service (Northeast Regional Office)
(617) 565-6397