Enrolling Older Adults in SNAP Best Practices from the Field
September 2015
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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
7 Improving the lives of 10 million older adults by 2020 © 2015 National Council on Aging
I.
What is SNAP?
8 Improving the lives of 10 million older adults by 2020 © 2015 National Council on Aging
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.
9 Improving the lives of 10 million older adults by 2020 © 2015 National Council on Aging
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
10 Improving the lives of 10 million older adults by 2020 © 2015 National Council on Aging
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%.
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II.
Results From NCOA’s 2014
Senior SNAP Initiative
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Where Our Partners Were
Senior Centers SNAP Enrollment Centers Super SNAP Enrollment Centers
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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
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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
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III.
NCOA’s 2015 Senior SNAP
Enrollment Initiative
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Where Our Partners Are
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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
18 Improving the lives of 10 million older adults by 2020 © 2015 National Council on Aging
IV.
Steps to Successful Outreach
and Enrollment
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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
20 Improving the lives of 10 million older adults by 2020 © 2015 National Council on Aging
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/
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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
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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.
23 Improving the lives of 10 million older adults by 2020 © 2015 National Council on Aging
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.
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V.
Best Practices in Outreach and
Enrollment
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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.”
26 Improving the lives of 10 million older adults by 2020 © 2015 National Council on Aging
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.”
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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
28 Improving the lives of 10 million older adults by 2020 © 2015 National Council on Aging
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
29 Improving the lives of 10 million older adults by 2020 © 2015 National Council on Aging
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.
30 Improving the lives of 10 million older adults by 2020 © 2015 National Council on Aging
Korean Women’s Association
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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.
32 Improving the lives of 10 million older adults by 2020 © 2015 National Council on Aging
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.
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KWA’s SNAP Enrollment Initiative
One of two grantees in WA State.
Partnered since 2014.
Great resources and networking.
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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.
35 Improving the lives of 10 million older adults by 2020 © 2015 National Council on Aging
KWA’s Best Practices
Collaboration.
One on One training.
Providing flyers and brochure in different languages.
Follow up services.
Stay connected with community.
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Questions for Jae
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VII.
Resources
38 Improving the lives of 10 million older adults by 2020 © 2015 National Council on Aging
SNAP Best Practices Handbook
The full 28 page handbook,
along with links to additional
resources, can be found at
www.NCOA.org/SNAPHandbook
39 Improving the lives of 10 million older adults by 2020 © 2015 National Council on Aging
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
40 Improving the lives of 10 million older adults by 2020 © 2015 National Council on Aging
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
Korean Women’s Association