YES EBT CAN! EBT CAN BE USED TO DELIVER NEW BENEFITS SAFELY & EFFICIENTLY NOVEMBER 2017 A PRESENTATION BY: JESSICA BARTHOLOW THE WESTERN CENTER ON LAW & POVERTY
CURRENT USES OF EBT TO DELIVER Supplemental Nutrition Assistance - Grocery Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Restaurant Meal Supplemental Nutrition for Women, Infant & Children (WIC) Summer Lunch EBT - Pilot D-SNAP, FINI & Market Match EBT is Tested & Works Well
CURRENT USES OF EBT TO DELIVER New Opportunities in Current Uses Online & On-Campus Online: You will learn in other sessions about online purchase pilots. On-Campus: Recent research shows significant rates of hunger on college campuses. Most campuses are EBT access deserts. New CA Law (AB 1747, 2016) requires dining facilities run by public universities to apply for certification to accept SNAP Restaurant Meals Program (RMP). Federal Action Necessary
Federal Summer Lunch EBT Option Post Pilot Water Benefits Diaper Vouchers State Only Food Funding Transportation & Welfare to Work Reimbursements States Are Exploring Other Uses
Federal Summer Lunch EBT Option Summer Lunch EBT Pilots studied to reduce childhood hunger during summer months when congregate sites are not available. Child Nutrition Reauthorization includes funding to expand Summer Lunch EBT using WIC or SNAP EBT. Legislation to Expand Nationally introduced by Senator Murray (D-WA) and Congresswoman Davis (D-CA). Federal Action Necessary
Water Benefits Water Crisis Throughout the Country - Detroit, Michigan - Lead - Central Valley, California - Arsenic - Florida Radioactive Sinkhole Contaminants - Colorado THC Water Costs Reduce Effectiveness of Food Benefits Families paying as much as 7% of food benefits on water. Could be Added as Food Benefit
Diaper Vouchers HR 1143 (Rep. Ellison, DeLauro, et.al.) & S. 537 (Sen. Franken & Casey) would establish Federal grant funds for States to create, administer, evaluate diaper access programs. CA Budget Act 2016 established workgroup to determine best delivery of diaper allowance for TANF infants & toddlers. Several Sate Houses have considered diaper benefits. Electronic Voucher Concept Gaining Popularity
State Only Benefit Food Funding EBT to State Only Funded Immigrant Food Assistance Federal law allows states to use federally funded EBT for distribution of state-only benefits. Many states wish to extend food aid to certain categories of people. Double-Up Food Bucks can be issued on EBT Card State EBT Systems can be established to deliver these benefits to new categories of people. What Back End Solutions Needed?
Transportation & Welfare to Work Services TANF Transportation in order for most adults to receive TANF Cash Aid, they must participate in Welfare-to- Work, transportation & ancillary expenses reimbursed. SNAP E&T many states have SNAPEmployment & Training, transportation & ancillary expenses reimbursed. This benefit can be provided as advance payment or reimbursement on an EBT Card. Mandatory Work Service Reimbursements can be issued on EBT
EBT Benefits Can t Be Levied or Garnished EBT Cards safely deliver benefits to the most disenfranchised Americans without fear of garnishment or levy. EBT Cards are In the Hands of Millions of Americans EBT could be a tool for distributing disaster assistance beyond food (like water or home delivered food). Time for EBT Systems To Be Creative & Plan Ahead By anticipating needs, EBT can serve more people & more benefits. What Will EBT Do Next?
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: JESSICA BARTHOLOW THE WESTERN CENTER ON LAW & POVERTY WWW.WCLP.ORG JBARTHOLOW@WCLP.ORG