On September 17, 2009, the Nutrition Consortium of NYS hosted a conference call about the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization of 2009. Callers heard the latest updates, program recommendations, and strategies for working with elected officials to support a strong Reauthorization bill.
Thank you to our presenters from the following organziations: Foodlink, Food Research and Action Center, Jefferson-Lewis Childcare Project, NYS School Nutrition Association, NYS WIC Association, and Public Health Solutions.
Thank you to all who participated and contributed to the conference call!
To access the powerpoint complementary to the conference call, please go to:
http://www.nutritionconsortium.org/childnutrition/documents/CNRConfCall9-17.pdf
Friday, September 25, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Alternate Poverty Formula Doubles Senior Poverty Rate
(Associated Press, September 4, 2009) The poverty rate among older Americans could be nearly twice as high as the traditional 10 percent level, according to a revision of a half-century-old formula for calculating medical costs and geographic variations in the cost of living.
The National Academy of Science's formula would put the poverty rate for Americans 65 and over at 18.6 percent, or 6.8 million people, compared with 9.7 percent, or 3.6 million people, under the current measure. The original government formula, created in 1955, doesn't take account of rising costs of medical care and other factors.
Senior citizens living in poverty is "a hidden problem," said Robin Talbert, president of the AARP Foundation. "There are still many millions of older people on the edge, who don't have what they need to get by."
Last year, New York City recognized that current poverty measure was a poor gauge of either the degree of economic deprivation in the City or the impact of programs intended to alleviate it. The City adopted the NAS numbers, as a realistic threshold of poverty, essentially doubling the number of seniors in poverty (from 18.1 percent to 32 percent). Albany officials plan to reveal revised state numbers next month.
The current calculation sets the poverty level at three times the annual cost of groceries. For a family of four that is $21,203. That calculation does not factor in rising medical, transportation, child care and housing expenses or geographical variations in living costs. Nor does the current formula consider noncash aid when calculating income, despite the recent expansion of food stamps and tax credits in the federal economic stimulus and other government programs. The result: The poverty rate for the overall population has varied little from its current 12.5 percent.
Nationally, official poverty rates for older Americans have improved significantly over the past 30 years due to expansions of Social Security and Supplemental Security Income. But many older people with modest cash incomes would fall below the poverty line under the NAS formula due to out-of-pocket expenses from rising Medicare premiums, deductibles and a coverage gap in the prescription drug benefit that is known as the "doughnut hole."
The National Academy of Science's formula would put the poverty rate for Americans 65 and over at 18.6 percent, or 6.8 million people, compared with 9.7 percent, or 3.6 million people, under the current measure. The original government formula, created in 1955, doesn't take account of rising costs of medical care and other factors.
Senior citizens living in poverty is "a hidden problem," said Robin Talbert, president of the AARP Foundation. "There are still many millions of older people on the edge, who don't have what they need to get by."
Last year, New York City recognized that current poverty measure was a poor gauge of either the degree of economic deprivation in the City or the impact of programs intended to alleviate it. The City adopted the NAS numbers, as a realistic threshold of poverty, essentially doubling the number of seniors in poverty (from 18.1 percent to 32 percent). Albany officials plan to reveal revised state numbers next month.
The current calculation sets the poverty level at three times the annual cost of groceries. For a family of four that is $21,203. That calculation does not factor in rising medical, transportation, child care and housing expenses or geographical variations in living costs. Nor does the current formula consider noncash aid when calculating income, despite the recent expansion of food stamps and tax credits in the federal economic stimulus and other government programs. The result: The poverty rate for the overall population has varied little from its current 12.5 percent.
Nationally, official poverty rates for older Americans have improved significantly over the past 30 years due to expansions of Social Security and Supplemental Security Income. But many older people with modest cash incomes would fall below the poverty line under the NAS formula due to out-of-pocket expenses from rising Medicare premiums, deductibles and a coverage gap in the prescription drug benefit that is known as the "doughnut hole."
Monday, September 14, 2009
Food Stamp Benefit Estimator Tools
Available now are excel tools updated with the new October 1, 2009 Food Stamp Program (FSP) standards and deductions. These tools help estimate a household’s potential food stamp benefit amount.
It is important to start using these new tools when working with households who are applying for food stamp benefits. This is because the new FSP standards change both the income guidelines and several deductions which affect the estimated food stamp benefit amount for a household.
click here to veiw the tools
It is important to start using these new tools when working with households who are applying for food stamp benefits. This is because the new FSP standards change both the income guidelines and several deductions which affect the estimated food stamp benefit amount for a household.
click here to veiw the tools
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
“Back to School” Resources for Increasing Access to School Meals
Explore new “Back to School” resources to help schools conduct free and reduced-price meals application outreach, increase school breakfast participation, and operate at-risk afterschool snack and supper programs.
Please visit:
Please visit:
The Nutrition Consortium of NYS: http://www.nutritionconsortium.org/childnutrition/relatedtools.htm
The Food Research and Action Center: http://www.frac.org/back_to_school_resources_2009.htm
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Upcoming Food Stamp Program Changes
On October 1, 2009, Food Stamp Program standards and deductions--the measures used to determine the amount of food stamp benefits a household receives--will be adjusted. This adjustment happens annually, to reflect changes to the Federal Cost Of Living Adjustments (COLAs).
A new memo has been posted to the Nutrition Consortium website that highlights the changes in Food Stamp Program standards and deductions for October 1, 2009:
Click here to view the memo
Click here to view the October 1, 2009 Food Stamp Budget Worksheet
A new memo has been posted to the Nutrition Consortium website that highlights the changes in Food Stamp Program standards and deductions for October 1, 2009:
Click here to view the memo
Click here to view the October 1, 2009 Food Stamp Budget Worksheet
Warning for food stamp recipients
Just an FYI - this was a news headline from Rochester, NY:
Posted on: 08/28/2009 10:40 AM WHEC.com
There is a warning out today for food stamp clients. A statewide scam has made its way to Monroe County and food stamp recipients are told to take extra caution not to divulge their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cash account information or PIN numbers to anyone.
How the scam works: Food stamp clients are asked to call 1-877-301-7436 where an individual prompts the caller to have a credit card ready, since the transaction will cost $3.95. After being placed on hold, the caller is then asked to provide information which includes the caller's EBT debit card number and pin number. After giving the information, the caller is told that $1,000 will be added to their food stamp account and in addition to a monetary reward, some clients are being told they could also receive gift cards for retail stores or gas cards. Instead, clients receive no benefit and are at risk for their accounts to be emptied.
The County has reported its complaints and findings to the Attorney General.
For more Rochester, N.Y. news go to our website www.whec.com.
Posted on: 08/28/2009 10:40 AM WHEC.com
There is a warning out today for food stamp clients. A statewide scam has made its way to Monroe County and food stamp recipients are told to take extra caution not to divulge their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cash account information or PIN numbers to anyone.
How the scam works: Food stamp clients are asked to call 1-877-301-7436 where an individual prompts the caller to have a credit card ready, since the transaction will cost $3.95. After being placed on hold, the caller is then asked to provide information which includes the caller's EBT debit card number and pin number. After giving the information, the caller is told that $1,000 will be added to their food stamp account and in addition to a monetary reward, some clients are being told they could also receive gift cards for retail stores or gas cards. Instead, clients receive no benefit and are at risk for their accounts to be emptied.
The County has reported its complaints and findings to the Attorney General.
For more Rochester, N.Y. news go to our website www.whec.com.
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