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.
More
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
New York State Council on Food Policy Recommends Ending Childhood Hunger by 2015, Passing a Strong Child Nutrition Reauthorization Bill
Today, Governor David A. Paterson received the New York State Council on Food Policy’s annual report and recommendations titled, “Making Connections: Developing a Food System for a Healthier New York State.” Authorized by Executive Order #13, the Council on Food Policy works to preserve and enhance agricultural food production in New York and to ensure that all New Yorkers have adequate access to safe, affordable, fresh and nutritious foods. Some of the significant steps the Council recommends New York State take in 2010 include:
1. Join the campaign to end Childhood Hunger by 2015
2. Support a strong Child Nutrition and Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Reauthorization Act
3. Maximize federal funding for nutrition and food programs operating in New York.
Click here for the full press release on the Council's report.
For a copy of the Council on Food Policy’s annual report and all of its recommendations, please visit http://www.nyscfp.org and click on “Report to Governor”.
To learn more about the Council on Food Policy, visit http://www.nyscfp.org or contact the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets at 518-485-7728.
1. Join the campaign to end Childhood Hunger by 2015
2. Support a strong Child Nutrition and Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Reauthorization Act
3. Maximize federal funding for nutrition and food programs operating in New York.
Click here for the full press release on the Council's report.
For a copy of the Council on Food Policy’s annual report and all of its recommendations, please visit http://www.nyscfp.org and click on “Report to Governor”.
To learn more about the Council on Food Policy, visit http://www.nyscfp.org or contact the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets at 518-485-7728.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Living on Nothing but Food Stamps
New York Times Article By JASON DEPARLE and ROBERT M. GEBELOFF
Published January 3, 2010
CAPE CORAL, Fla. — After an improbable rise from the Bronx projects to a job selling Gulf Coast homes, Isabel Bermudez lost it all to an epic housing bust — the six-figure income, the house with the pool and the investment property.
Now, as she papers the county with résumés and girds herself for rejection, she is supporting two daughters on an income that inspires a double take: zero dollars in monthly cash and a few hundred dollars in food stamps.
With food-stamp use at a record high and surging by the day, Ms. Bermudez belongs to an overlooked subgroup that is growing especially fast: recipients with no cash income.
About six million Americans receiving food stamps report they have no other income, according to an analysis of state data collected by The New York Times. In declarations that states verify and the federal government audits, they described themselves as unemployed and receiving no cash aid — no welfare, no unemployment insurance, and no pensions, child support or disability pay.
More
Published January 3, 2010
CAPE CORAL, Fla. — After an improbable rise from the Bronx projects to a job selling Gulf Coast homes, Isabel Bermudez lost it all to an epic housing bust — the six-figure income, the house with the pool and the investment property.
Now, as she papers the county with résumés and girds herself for rejection, she is supporting two daughters on an income that inspires a double take: zero dollars in monthly cash and a few hundred dollars in food stamps.
With food-stamp use at a record high and surging by the day, Ms. Bermudez belongs to an overlooked subgroup that is growing especially fast: recipients with no cash income.
About six million Americans receiving food stamps report they have no other income, according to an analysis of state data collected by The New York Times. In declarations that states verify and the federal government audits, they described themselves as unemployed and receiving no cash aid — no welfare, no unemployment insurance, and no pensions, child support or disability pay.
More
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Winter 2010 Child Nutrition e-News
The Winter 2010 edition of Child Nutrition e-News is now available!
Child Nutrition e-News is a quarterly digest of research and reports related to the School Breakfast Program (SBP), National School Lunch Program (NSLP), Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Click here to view CN e-News from our website in pdf format. Click here to sign-up and receive CN e-News directly via e-mail.
Child Nutrition e-News is a quarterly digest of research and reports related to the School Breakfast Program (SBP), National School Lunch Program (NSLP), Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Click here to view CN e-News from our website in pdf format. Click here to sign-up and receive CN e-News directly via e-mail.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Nutrition Consortium Praises New York State Assembly Social Services Committee for Continued Support of the Nutrition Outreach and Education Program
On December 15, 2009, the Nutrition Consortium of New York State testified at the New York State Assembly Standing Committee on Social Services Hearing. The topic of the hearing was "The Impact of the 2009-2010 State Budget on the Programs and Services of the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA)." The Nutrition Consortium spoke about the many benefits of OTDA's continued funding for the Nutrition Outreach and Education Program (NOEP) in 2009-2010. Here is an excerpt from the testimony:
"By the end of 2009-2010, we project that NOEP will bring at least $70 million in federal food stamp benefits into the state. This is 35 times what the state will have invested in it. A program that returns 35 times what the state invests in it, improves public health, promotes self-sufficiency, helps people from all backgrounds, ethnic groups, ages, and geographic areas, is a wonderful example of good, sound public policy, and we commend the New York State Assembly for recognizing it as such, and maintaining its funding..."
Read the full testimony
Nutrition Consortium Press Release Commends Congressman Tonko for Universal Classroom Breakfast Bill
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Casey Dinkin, Manager of Advocacy and Communications
Nutrition Consortium of NYS
(518)229-8845
www.nutritionconsortium.org
Anti-Hunger Advocates Commend Congressman Paul Tonko for Bill to Expand Universal Classroom Breakfast
Albany, NY, 12/23/09—Anti-hunger advocates commended Congressman Paul Tonko for introducing a bill to expand Universal Classroom Breakfast programs by offering startup grants to schools. The Universal Classroom Breakfast Expansion Act (H.R. 4325) is aimed at replicating the successful model of universal breakfast in the classroom. Studies show that universal breakfast in the classroom is the most effective way to deliver morning nutrition to students, and a wide body of research documents the many positive academic, health, and social benefits of school breakfast consumption on children.
“The Nutrition Consortium of NYS applauds Congressman Paul Tonko for introducing this well-timed legislation, which will have a positive impact on children’s health, education, and well-being,” said Linda Bopp, Executive Director of the Nutrition Consortium of NYS, a statewide anti-hunger organization. “73% of New York’s low-income children miss out on school breakfast, despite rising numbers of children in New York who struggle with hunger.”
Bopp continued, “Research shows that moving breakfast from the cafeteria to the classroom more than doubles the number of children who participate. Congressman Tonko’s legislation is based on the well-documented link between increased school breakfast consumption and improved academic performance, including higher test scores, fewer nurse visits and disciplinary office referrals, and less absenteeism and tardiness. Making sure that children have nutritious breakfast to start their day is good for New York’s children, schools, and future.”
For more resources on School Breakfast, and Universal Classroom Breakfast see the following:
http://www.frac.org/pdf/breakfastforlearning.PDF
http://www.nutritionconsortium.org/childnutrition/documents/abcfinal.pdf
http://www.nutritionconsortium.org/childnutrition/documents/2007-2008ShinewithSBReport.pdf
http://www.nutritionconsortium.org/childnutrition/documents/BreakfastAftertheBellSlideshow.pdf
-END-
Contact: Casey Dinkin, Manager of Advocacy and Communications
Nutrition Consortium of NYS
(518)229-8845
www.nutritionconsortium.org
Anti-Hunger Advocates Commend Congressman Paul Tonko for Bill to Expand Universal Classroom Breakfast
Albany, NY, 12/23/09—Anti-hunger advocates commended Congressman Paul Tonko for introducing a bill to expand Universal Classroom Breakfast programs by offering startup grants to schools. The Universal Classroom Breakfast Expansion Act (H.R. 4325) is aimed at replicating the successful model of universal breakfast in the classroom. Studies show that universal breakfast in the classroom is the most effective way to deliver morning nutrition to students, and a wide body of research documents the many positive academic, health, and social benefits of school breakfast consumption on children.
“The Nutrition Consortium of NYS applauds Congressman Paul Tonko for introducing this well-timed legislation, which will have a positive impact on children’s health, education, and well-being,” said Linda Bopp, Executive Director of the Nutrition Consortium of NYS, a statewide anti-hunger organization. “73% of New York’s low-income children miss out on school breakfast, despite rising numbers of children in New York who struggle with hunger.”
Bopp continued, “Research shows that moving breakfast from the cafeteria to the classroom more than doubles the number of children who participate. Congressman Tonko’s legislation is based on the well-documented link between increased school breakfast consumption and improved academic performance, including higher test scores, fewer nurse visits and disciplinary office referrals, and less absenteeism and tardiness. Making sure that children have nutritious breakfast to start their day is good for New York’s children, schools, and future.”
For more resources on School Breakfast, and Universal Classroom Breakfast see the following:
http://www.frac.org/pdf/breakfastforlearning.PDF
http://www.nutritionconsortium.org/childnutrition/documents/abcfinal.pdf
http://www.nutritionconsortium.org/childnutrition/documents/2007-2008ShinewithSBReport.pdf
http://www.nutritionconsortium.org/childnutrition/documents/BreakfastAftertheBellSlideshow.pdf
-END-
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Congressman Paul Tonko Introduces Bill to Expand Universal Classroom Breakfast for Low-Income Children
From Representative Tonko's website (http://tonko.house.gov/2009/12/rep-tonko-introduces-bill-to-expand-univeral-school-breakfast-program.shtml):
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Paul Tonko introduced a bill today in the U.S. House of Representatives that will help thousands of low-income children receive a free, nutritious breakfast at school. The Universal Classroom Breakfast Expansion Act will create a competitive grant program that will assist schools serving low-income children to establish a universal classroom breakfast program.
"Every child deserves a healthy breakfast to start their day, but the current school breakfast program misses too many students," said Congressman Tonko. "That is why I am proud to introduce the Universal Classroom Breakfast Expansion Act, to help our schools ensure that every child has access to a good breakfast every day. Especially in these difficult economic times, for our municipalities, schools and families, it is important that we give our nation’s children the opportunity to succeed and enhance their mind, body and soul. Daily breakfast does just that."
The Nutrition Consortium's Executive Director, Linda Bopp, is quoted in the press release:
Linda Bopp, Executive Director of the Nutrition Consortium of NYS, said, "We commend Congressman Paul Tonko for introducing the ‘Universal Classroom Breakfast Expansion Act’, and urge all members of the New York State Congressional delegation to co-sponsor this legislation that allows for universal classroom breakfast start-up grants. At a time when so many families across the state are struggling to make ends meet, the School Breakfast Program offers a healthy and affordable option to ensure children begin their school day without hunger. Research shows that schools with universal breakfast in the classroom programs have double and triple the breakfast participation rates of those who serve in the cafeteria."
For the full press release, go to: http://tonko.house.gov/2009/12/rep-tonko-introduces-bill-to-expand-univeral-school-breakfast-program.shtml
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Paul Tonko introduced a bill today in the U.S. House of Representatives that will help thousands of low-income children receive a free, nutritious breakfast at school. The Universal Classroom Breakfast Expansion Act will create a competitive grant program that will assist schools serving low-income children to establish a universal classroom breakfast program.
"Every child deserves a healthy breakfast to start their day, but the current school breakfast program misses too many students," said Congressman Tonko. "That is why I am proud to introduce the Universal Classroom Breakfast Expansion Act, to help our schools ensure that every child has access to a good breakfast every day. Especially in these difficult economic times, for our municipalities, schools and families, it is important that we give our nation’s children the opportunity to succeed and enhance their mind, body and soul. Daily breakfast does just that."
The Nutrition Consortium's Executive Director, Linda Bopp, is quoted in the press release:
Linda Bopp, Executive Director of the Nutrition Consortium of NYS, said, "We commend Congressman Paul Tonko for introducing the ‘Universal Classroom Breakfast Expansion Act’, and urge all members of the New York State Congressional delegation to co-sponsor this legislation that allows for universal classroom breakfast start-up grants. At a time when so many families across the state are struggling to make ends meet, the School Breakfast Program offers a healthy and affordable option to ensure children begin their school day without hunger. Research shows that schools with universal breakfast in the classroom programs have double and triple the breakfast participation rates of those who serve in the cafeteria."
For the full press release, go to: http://tonko.house.gov/2009/12/rep-tonko-introduces-bill-to-expand-univeral-school-breakfast-program.shtml
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