The Food Stamp Program is Important for Older Adults

The Food Stamp Program (FSP) provides monthly benefits for low-income people of all ages, including older adults (age 60+), to buy the groceries of their choice at local stores and, most recently, at participating farmers' markets through a new project.  As an entitlement program, anyone who meets program guidelines for eligibility will receive food stamps.

Unfortunately, only a small number of the older adults who are eligible for these important benefits are receiving them:  one in four eligible older adults in upstate New York, and half of the eligible older adults in NYC.

Understanding the Facts about Food Stamps:

Food stamps are a federal entitlement program, like Social Security or Medicare, which helps families stretch their food budgets.

Unlike Medicaid, food stamp benefits are 100% federally funded and do not require matched funding from local counties.

Studies have shown that for every dollar invested in food stamps, $3.25 is saved in health care costs.

U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that every $5 in new food stamp benefits stimulates $9.20 in total community spending.

Due to recent improvements in the Food Stamp Program, more older New Yorkers may be eligible for food stamps than ever before.

How to Apply for Food Stamps

In upstate NY, people apply for food stamps through their county Department of Social Services.  In NYC, applications go through Human Resources Administration (HRA) offices.  In many cases, people may be allowed to either mail or fax in their application instead of making an office visit.  Also, many older or disabled adults may be able to interview with a caseworker over the telephone, rather than face-to-face.

For Help with Determining Food Stamp Eligibility:

The Nutrition Outreach and Education Program, located in many upstate counties and throughout NYC, has expertise in helping older New Yorkers obtain food stamp benefits.

myBenefits: New York State’s new quick and easy website helps determine if a person is eligible for a variety of programs, including food stamps, Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) and the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) Program.

For more detailed information about food stamp eligibility, go to the Food Stamp Center.
For outreach materials to encourage older adults to apply for benefits, go to the Related Tools/Resources page.