8/12/2019 Help Fill Funding Gaps by Leveraging SNAP

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Help Fill Funding Gaps by Leveraging SNAP

Originally in second edition of Strategies On Sequester (S.O.S.), accessiblehere.

As the demand for meals continues to grow andresources continue to wane SNAP remains aresourceful and effective way for Meals on Wheelsprograms to feed more seniors. Formerly known as foodstamps, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition AssistanceProgram) makes an average of $1,428 peryear available to seniors to cover designated food andmeals as of 2012; however, those who are currentlyregistered only represent 35% of those eligible.

Helping qualified seniors register for SNAP can provide them with a source of incomethat can be used to purchase groceries and prepared meals from our programs,enabling us to serve more.

Program Spotlight: Meals on Wheels of Northampton County, Bethlehem, PA

Meals on Wheels of Northampton County Director of ClientServices, Monica McCandless, tells us that the two processesneeded to utilize SNAP registering your program with your state

and registering your clients to receive benefits

can be tricky, butare well worth the effort.

Her program has successfully added 23 new clients to its rosterusing SNAP this year alone. Although some clients are hesitant totake benefits, she advises that they are often more receptive when

they explain that using SNAP for food allows them to allocate the rest of their oftenlimited incomes to pay for medication and other expenses.

The Northampton program uses its case managers to refer qualifying client prospectsand then works with them closely to support their benefits approval process. Some of

the tools they have created are included as samples in the list on the next page.

Contact Meals On Wheels Association of America Chief Advocacy Officer Erika Kelly aterika@mowaa.orgor 571-339-1604 with any questions.

https://www.mowaa.org/SOShttps://www.mowaa.org/SOShttps://www.mowaa.org/SOSmailto:erika@mowaa.orgmailto:erika@mowaa.orgmailto:erika@mowaa.orghttps://www.mowaa.org/SOS

8/12/2019 Help Fill Funding Gaps by Leveraging SNAP

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Tips and Tools:

Follow these steps to utilize SNAP in your community: Step 1: Contact Your State Administratorto find out their particular

requirements. Although SNAP is funded through the USDA, much of theadministration is done at the state level.

Contact Information for your state can be found here:FNS Regional Office Contacts for Food Distribution ProgramsSNAP Application and Local Office LocatorsSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program State Information & Hotline Numbers

Step 2: File for EligibilitythroughFNS Form 252-2.If you're a nonprofit, besure to have your IRS documents proving your tax-exempt status

it couldpossibly expedite the process of certifying you as a USDA vendor.

Step 3: Apply for a card reader device. Because SNAP benefits are paid out inthe form of payments to an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, yourprogram will need to apply for the device through your state administrator. Inmany cases, this is provided by the state free of charge.

Get your team ready to go.

Step 4: Educate your staff and volunteersonSNAP outreachand theprogram's rules and regulations for vendorsso that they can help the seniors in

your community enroll. Additionally, be sure you're familiar withadditional rulesfor the elderly and disabled.

Sign up your clients who qualify.

Step 5: Seek out current or eligible clientswho may not be taking advantageof SNAP and ask them if they're interested in signing up. This presentationcontains a lot of helpful tips on working directly with your seniors,courtesy ofNCOA.

We thank the Northampton County program for offering the following resources assamples that you can use in creating your own SNAP initiative:

Template letterthat can be sent to clients to prepare them for the applicationprocess.Template letterthat can be used to prepare clients to have your program gather thenecessary documents.Template letterthat can be used by the program to confirm the return of thosedocuments once the application is completed

Find additional SNAP resources atNCOAorAARP's SNAP Map.

http://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/contacts/fnsro-contacts.htmhttp://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/contacts/fnsro-contacts.htmhttp://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/contacts/fnsro-contacts.htmhttp://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/outreach/map.htmhttp://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/contact_info/hotlines.htmhttp://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewIC?ref_nbr=200809-0584-003&icID=2888http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewIC?ref_nbr=200809-0584-003&icID=2888http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewIC?ref_nbr=200809-0584-003&icID=2888http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/outreach/http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/outreach/http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/outreach/http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailers/merchants.htmhttp://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailers/merchants.htmhttp://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/rules/elderly_disabled.htmhttp://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/rules/elderly_disabled.htmhttp://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/rules/elderly_disabled.htmhttp://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/rules/elderly_disabled.htmhttp://www.nasuad.org/documentation/I_R/call_notes/4-5-12%20SNAP%20Presentation%20-%20NCOA.pdfhttp://www.nasuad.org/documentation/I_R/call_notes/4-5-12%20SNAP%20Presentation%20-%20NCOA.pdfhttp://www.nasuad.org/documentation/I_R/call_notes/4-5-12%20SNAP%20Presentation%20-%20NCOA.pdfhttp://www.nasuad.org/documentation/I_R/call_notes/4-5-12%20SNAP%20Presentation%20-%20NCOA.pdfhttp://www.mowaa.org/document.doc?id=580http://www.mowaa.org/document.doc?id=580http://www.mowaa.org/document.doc?id=581http://www.mowaa.org/document.doc?id=581http://www.mowaa.org/document.doc?id=582http://www.mowaa.org/document.doc?id=582http://www.ncoa.org/enhance-economic-security/center-for-benefits/food-nutrition/snap.htmlhttp://www.ncoa.org/enhance-economic-security/center-for-benefits/food-nutrition/snap.htmlhttp://www.ncoa.org/enhance-economic-security/center-for-benefits/food-nutrition/snap.htmlhttp://www.benefitscheckup.org/cf/snap.cfm?partner_id=56http://www.benefitscheckup.org/cf/snap.cfm?partner_id=56http://www.benefitscheckup.org/cf/snap.cfm?partner_id=56http://www.benefitscheckup.org/cf/snap.cfm?partner_id=56http://www.ncoa.org/enhance-economic-security/center-for-benefits/food-nutrition/snap.htmlhttp://www.mowaa.org/document.doc?id=582http://www.mowaa.org/document.doc?id=581http://www.mowaa.org/document.doc?id=580http://www.nasuad.org/documentation/I_R/call_notes/4-5-12%20SNAP%20Presentation%20-%20NCOA.pdfhttp://www.nasuad.org/documentation/I_R/call_notes/4-5-12%20SNAP%20Presentation%20-%20NCOA.pdfhttp://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/rules/elderly_disabled.htmhttp://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/rules/elderly_disabled.htmhttp://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailers/merchants.htmhttp://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/outreach/http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewIC?ref_nbr=200809-0584-003&icID=2888http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/contact_info/hotlines.htmhttp://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/outreach/map.htmhttp://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/contacts/fnsro-contacts.htmhttp://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/contacts/fnsro-contacts.htm