👴🍖👵 Many OLD Americans Aren't Claiming Their FOOD Benefits (AARP Article)

[Winter2025VA]

FROM THE ARTICLE:

16 Million Older Americans are Not Claiming Their Food Benefits, AARP Reports.

As food insecurity and hunger rates rise, SNAP benefits are going unused.

*** There are 3 Comments on the AARP website. ***

By Emily Paulin, AARP. Published April 04, 2025.

Nearly 60 percent of low-income older adults who qualify for federal food assistance aren’t using it, according to a new analysis by AARP’s Public Policy Institute. Some 16 million — or 59 percent — of adults 50-plus who could get help paying for food through the U.S. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in 2022 did not claim it.

“Millions of older adults are missing out on benefits that could have a big impact on their livelihood,” says AARP’s Olivia Dean, senior policy advisor and co-author of the report published March 28.

USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE: https://www.aarp.org/politics-society/advocacy/info-2025/older-adults-not-claiming-snap-benefits.htm...

[GailL1]

Seems they are finding the same thing with College Students - 

FNS.USDA.gov - SNAP - College Students 

3.3 million college students were potentially eligible for SNAP -

67% of those college students reported NOT receiving benefits

and this is from a demographic who should be able to muddle through any technical barriers or application problems. 

Should College Students get SNAP benefits?  

Their Eligibility:

 All college students must meet the SNAP eligibility criteria to receive food assistance.

If you're enrolled half-time or more, you must also meet at least ONE of the following conditions:
• Work 20+ hours per week

• Participate in a federal or state work-study program

• Have a physical or mental disability or condition that prevents you from working
• Care for a young dependent child
• Receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Enrolled in college through certain employment & training programs, such as   SNAP E&T, Workforce and Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA), and others

• Participate in an on-the-job training program
• Be under age 18 or over 49

[Winter2025VA]

[Saturday 4/5/25]

I just read an article on my Google News Feed for my area about theft of Snap benefits (I have shared article link below).

➡️*** The ConnectEBT app (to lock & unlock your card) ***⬅️ is available for FREE from Google and Apple Stores the article says. My area in Virginia has been taken over by folks "stealing" SNAP benefits for over a YEAR. NEW law says funds can NO longer be replaced and they have NO idea how this is being done!!! 😱

FROM THE ARTICLE: The Virginia Department of Social Services encourages people to download the ➡️*** ConnectEBT app, ***⬅️ which has introduced a new card-locking feature to protect against skimming and other types of fraud.

City of Roanoke Benefit Program Manager Lindsey Campbell issued the following statement to WDBJ7 regarding the situation.

📋 Police investigating EBT scam impacting people in Roanoke, VA (WDBJ7.COM)

LINK TO ARTICLE: https://www.wdbj7.com/2025/04/02/police-investigating-ebt-scam-impacting-people-roanoke/

[Winter2025VA]

[Saturday 4/5/25]

In my "very humble" opinion (NOT saying I am correct) they need to make the APPLICATION PROCESS easier.

So many seniors DO NOT have access to the internet (online application) or transportation to get to their Social Services office to apply. I think application can be done over the phone.

Anyway, the TIME AND MONEY taken to do THIS SURVEY could have been used on maybe HOME VISITS to help seniors APPLY for what use to be called FOOD STAMPS - now called SNAP.

Sometimes the SNAP AMOUNT (on a debit card setup) is so "little" by the time your STATE determines what you QUALIFY = NOT worth the effort.  🙄

And I luv the part when RETIREMENT SOCIAL SECURITY gets "increased" in JANUARY (if it does) and you receive a letter in the mail telling you your Snap benefit has been "decreased".

Take care,

Nicole  👵