Enrolling Older Adults in SNAP Best Practices from the Field. September 2015

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1 Enrolling Older Adults in SNAP Best Practices from the Field September 2015

2 Follow Along with Us Online Please join us online at 2

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4 Please Type Your Questions During the presentation, please ask questions or share your comments using the chat feature in ReadyTalk. 4

Download These Slides You can download and print off these slides at www.ncoa.

5 Download These Slides You can download and print off these slides at or check the Get Involved/Events tab on ncoa.org We will also post follow-up Q&A on these pages! 5

6 Contents I. What is SNAP? II. III. IV. Results of NCOA s 2014 Senior SNAP Enrollment Initiative NCOA s 2015 Senior SNAP Enrollment Initiative Steps to Successful Senior Outreach and Enrollment V. Best Practices in Outreach and Enrollment VI. Resources 6

7 I. What is SNAP? 7

8 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. 8

9 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 SNAP QC Data 9

10 Low Participation Rates However, only 42% of eligible seniors age 60 or older were enrolled in SNAP in This is much lower than the total SNAP participation rate of 83%. Source: USDA FNS 10

11 II. Results From NCOA s 2014 Senior SNAP Initiative 11

12 Where Our Partners Were Senior Centers SNAP Enrollment Centers Super SNAP Enrollment Centers 12

13 What Our Partners Accomplished 35,000 30,000 CUMULATIVE SNAP APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED BY MONTH 27,305 30,984 31,166 31,361 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 1,562 3,595 6,230 11,544 8,800 22,730 20,192 17,459 14,739 31,

14 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 14

15 III. NCOA s 2015 Senior SNAP Enrollment Initiative 15

16 Where Our Partners Are 16

17 What Our Partners Have Accomplished Since May 1 st 32 community-based organizations 67,550 people screened 11,992 applications submitted $15,725,332 estimated value of applications 17

18 IV. Steps to Successful Outreach and Enrollment 18

19 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 19

20 Step 2: Assessing your Population Data Source Description Location American FactFinder Current Population Survey National Council on Aging Feeding America Map the Meal Gap Census data drawn from American Community Survey. Best resource for city-, county-, and neighborhood-level data. Yearly survey used to construct annual federal and state poverty rates. Visualizations of data, including senior SNAP participation. Provides a picture of food insecurity in communities. factfinder.census.gov ablecreator.html hunger-in-america/ourresearch/map-the-meal-gap/ 20

21 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. 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. MSP $1,663 LIHEAP $375 SNAP $1,356 $12,985 LIS $4,000 Medicaid $5,591 21

22 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. 22

23 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. 23

24 V. Best Practices in Outreach and Enrollment 24

25 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. 25

26 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. 26

27 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 27

28 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 28

29 Outreach Materials NCOA has a large collection of templates at Among the most helpful materials are those which clearly indicate what documentation is necessary to apply for SNAP. 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 29

30 Korean Women s Association 30

31 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. 31

32 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 Helping low income people make ends meet by providing monthly benefits to buy food. 32

33 KWA s SNAP Enrollment Initiative One of two grantees in WA State. Partnered since Great resources and networking. 33

34 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. 34

35 KWA s Best Practices Collaboration. One on One training. Providing flyers and brochure in different languages. Follow up services. Stay connected with community. 35

36 Questions for Jae 36

37 VII. Resources 37

38 SNAP Best Practices Handbook The full 28 page handbook, along with links to additional resources, can be found at 38

39 Additional Resources BenefitsCheckUp SNAP Homepage State-specific information for older adults and SNAP NCOA Senior Hunger homepage State senior participation rates 39

40 Presenters and Contact Erin Kee Program Manager Hunger Initiatives Lura Barber Director Hunger Initiatives Jae Sung Lim Social Service Program Manager Korean Women s Association Jlim@kwacares.org 40

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) GRANT INVITATION AND APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS ISSUED BY: The National Council on Aging s Center for Benefits Access Released September 25, 2017 Funding Opportunity Title: Benefits