President Obama's Budget Preserves Safety Net

From the Food Research and Action Center:

President Obama’s FY2013 budget protects and proposes to strengthen the nation’s nutrition safety net for the many Americans who continue to struggle with hunger, lost jobs, and reduced wages. Chief among his proposals are: restoration of cuts to SNAP (food stamps) benefits made in the 2010 child nutrition bill and scheduled to take place in FY 2013; and the suspension for a fiscal year of time limits on benefits for certain unemployed, working-age, low-income adults without dependents.

“As the nation recovers from the recession, tens of millions still struggle with hunger. In 2010 alone, nearly one in four households with children said there were times they were unable afford enough food for their households,” said FRAC President Jim Weill. “The President’s budget makes important investments in our nation’s nutrition safety net, and FRAC is committed to working with the Administration and with Congress to ensure that the programs are protected and improved.”

Click here for the details.

Governor Cuomo Promises to Expand Food Stamp Outreach, End Child Hunger in New York State

In Governor Andrew Cuomo's annual State of the State address today, he made particular note of child hunger across the state, expanding food stamp outreach and ending finger imaging requirements for applicants. Here is the quote directly from his statement made to more than 2,000 people in Albany:

No Child Should Go to Bed Hungry in New York

For all of our progress, there are still basic wrongs to right.
There is never an excuse for letting any child in New York go
to bed hungry. Statewide, 1 in 6 children live in homes
without enough food on the table. Yet 30 percent of New
Yorkers eligible for food stamps — over 1.4 million people —
do not receive them, leaving over $1 billion in federal funds
unclaimed every year. We must increase participation in the
food stamp program, remove barriers to participation, and
eliminate the stigma associated with this program. And we
must stop fingerprinting for food. No child should go hungry
in the great State of New York and we will do all that we can
to prevent it.

Hunger Solutions New York manages on of the country's largest food stamp outreach programs in the nation. The state and federally funded Nutrition Outreach and Education Program (NOEP), present in only 36 counties, helps 25,000 households enroll in the Food Stamp Program annually. We look forward to working with Governor Cuomo on his goal of expanding enrollment in the Food Stamp Program to all who are eligible.

Read the full address here.

Rise in Veterans and Military Families Seeking Food Assistance

Coming off of Veterans Day, two reports have come out highlighting the rising struggles of our veterans and military families. Stars and Stripes reports that food stamp use at military commissaries is up sharply from four years ago. Nearly $88 million worth of groceries were purchased using food stamps at military commissaries in 2011, more than double the amount spent in 2008, according to the Defense Commissary Agency.

Additionally, the Food Bank for New York City reports on a similar rise in need among veterans. According to their report, From the Front Lines to the Bread Lines: Food Poverty Among Veterans, veterans’ households are making a range of sacrifices in order to make ends meet: more than 1 in 10 are unable to buy food because of rent or utilities; many more are reducing the quantity and quality of food they are purchasing. Further, the data show more than one third of veteran households would not be able to afford food for their families within three months of losing their household income.

Connect struggling veterans and military families to their local Nutrition Outreach and Education Program.

DISASTER FOOD STAMP PROGRAM AVAILABLE IN COUNTIES HIT BY HURRICANE IRENE AND TROPICAL STORM LEE

There is a Disaster Food Stamp Program (DFSP) designated for the following counties:

Albany, Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Delaware, Dutchess, Essex, Greene, Montgomery, Orange, Otsego, Schenectady, Schoharie, Tioga, Ulster, and Westchester.

Households needing help with food should apply for disaster food stamps at either their local disaster assistance service center or local food stamp office.

Applications deadlines for this program depend on the county and the program is available for a limited time. Households are encouraged to apply for disaster food stamp benefits as soon as possible.

Click here for more information and to download a detailed flyer with basic program guidelines.

U.S. Needs Food Stamps As Much As Ever

Hunger Solutions New York executive director Linda Bopp wrote a featured opinion piece in the Albany Times Union this Sunday. The piece highlights key concerns over Congressional proposals to significantly alter the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program/Food Stamp Program and the proposals' possible impact on hungry New Yorkers.

If you are looking for key arguments in defense of the Food Stamp Program, here is where to find them. For more information regarding the Congressional Proposal and what you can do about it, visit the Food Research and Action Center.

October 2010 version of the Food Stamp Prescreening Guide Now Available

The October 2010 version of "FOOD STAMPS IN NYS: An Eligibility Prescreening Guide" is now available.

This guide is designed for community based organizations, advocates and volunteers who are working with low-income households and want to:

• determine if a household may potentially qualify for food stamp benefits,
• help assist the household through the application process, and
• calculate an estimated food stamp benefit allotment.

To veiw or downloaded the guide from our website click here. Due to financial restraints we will not be able to provide printed copies of this guide.

For questions concerning information in the guide please contact Dawn Secor, Food Stamp Specialist at dawn.secor@nutritionconsortium.org or by calling 518-436-8757 x12.

Effort launched to fight senior hunger

October 26, 2010
Albany Times Union article by Paul Nelson

SCHENECTADY -- Only 1 in 10 senior citizens in the region eligible for food stamps take advantage of the assistance, according to advocates who have joined a statewide "Create the Good" effort to combat hunger among the elderly.

Linda Bopp, executive director with the Nutrition Consortium of New York, said Monday outside Schenectady Inner City Ministry's food pantry that older people often do not obtain the financial help because they are unaware they are eligible or they don't think the effort is worth the money they might receive.

Still, others think they are taking something from another person who is more needy.
The average benefit for a person 60 years and older is $100 a month, Bopp said.

Erin Mitchell, associate state director for AARP New York, said, "too many older New Yorkers are forced to choose between buying groceries and their medicine." She stressed that "the food stamp benefit is discreet and easy to use" because of the debit card system that funds are deducted from when purchases are made. By year's end, elderly residents with access to a computer will be able to register for assistance online, said authorities.

more...

USDA launches SNAP/Food Stamp Store Locator

USDA Unveils New Consumer Information Resources About SNAP for People in Need of Food Assistance

New SNAP Retail Locator and Signage Will Help Consumers Find Local Stores that Accept Benefits; Help Reduce Hunger and Promote Food Security Nationwide

WASHINGTON, May 19, 2010 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced new resources designed to increase participation and expand access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), including new promotional materials proclaiming “We Welcome SNAP Benefits.” The new display will be used nationwide by retailers participating in the program, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program.

The department is also premiering the SNAP Retail Locator, an online search tool to help recipients locate a SNAP-authorized store near their home or workplace. USDA Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Kevin Concannon made the announcement today on Vilsack’s behalf in an address to officials from the National Grocers Association, Food Marketing Institute, and Electronic Funds Transfer Association.

“Underscoring that SNAP benefits are welcome, rather than merely accepted, signals an important change in the way both retailers and program participants view these benefits,” Vilsack said. “These new tools will allow us to improve access and increase participation in SNAP, which serves as a vital resource to the most vulnerable Americans. Breaking down barriers to participation will help the Obama Administration deliver on its goal of reducing hunger and improving nutrition across the country.

To read the full press release

http://www.fns.usda.gov/cga/PressReleases/2010/0272.htm

Heat Wave, Power Outages and Replacement Food Stamp Benefits

There have been scattered power outages due to the heat wave we are experiencing this week. Remember that Food Stamp recipients who have lost power may be eligible for Replacement Food Stamps Benefits.

Things to Note about Replacement Food Stamps:

When food loss is due to a power outage or cutoff (of 4 hours or more) the district must provide a replacement issuance of food stamp benefits.

• Local Districts/HRA can issue replacement FS benefits up to the amount of the most recent food stamp benefit issuance for that current month.
• A household may not be denied replacement food stamps if it has applied for replacement issuances in the past.
• Districts should not require the household to bring in spoiled food as verification of a power outage.

Links to additional information and resources:

To veiw a memo by the Nutrition Consortium concerning Power Outages and Replacement Food Stamp Benfits click here.

To view a 2008 OTDA GIS concerning Issuing Replacement Food Stamp Benefits and Emergency Food Replacement click here.

To get form LDSS 2291 Request for Replacement of Food Purchased with Food Stamp Benefits (in both English and Spanish) click here.

NY Farmers Markets Accept EBT/Food Stamps

Did you know over 130 NY Farmers Markets Accept EBT/Food Stamp/SNAP cards?

Launched by the Farmers Market Federation of NY, the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, and the NY Department of Agriculture and Markets, this program encourages food stamp recipients to shop their local farmers market for wholesome, fresh food.

How the program works:
1) A food stamp recipient visits one of the over 130 NY Farmers Markets that accept tokens.

2) At the market, the recipient heads to the table with a “Use Your Food Stamp (EBT) Card Here!” banner.

3) The recipient uses their card to purchase as many $1 wooden tokens as they would like. These tokens act as cash within the market and can be used to purchase fresh produce, baked goods, meats, cheese, and much, much more!

To help increase awareness of this program among food stamp recipients and community agencies, a new website was created to familiarize organizations and individuals with the program. To visit the site click here . The Web site was launched with the purpose of being a resource for promoting the program, explaining how it works, finding a market in your community or getting great tips on buying and preparing fresh vegetables.

Spring is here and Farmers Markets are opening for business. Your help is needed in getting the word out about this exciting opportunity for food stamp recipients in communities across NYS.

More Households Receiving UIB Benefits Now Eligible for the Food Stamp Program

Good news! The $25 Unemployment Insurance Benefits (UIB) add-on no longer counts as income for food stamp purposes.The UIB add-on is an additional $25 weekly benefit provided to UIB recipients as part of the economic stimulus package – ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) of 2OO9 – enacted earlier this year. ARRA’s provisions allowed the $25 UIB add-on to be excluded for Medicaid but not for food stamps. In April some households lost their food stamp benefits due to these additional benefits.

Congress “fixed” this problem by adding a special provision into the UIB extension legislation signed into law by President Obama on November 6th. As of November 1, 2009, the $25 add-on is excluded as income for food stamp purposes.

This means that there are many UIB households who are now either (1) eligible for food stamps again or (2) eligible for the first time. These households will need to complete the FS application process.

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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

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

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.