A lot of seniors in Florida who are eligible are missing out on important food aid
Understanding the Gap in SNAP Participation
And according to a story from The Latin Times, many American adults who are eligible for important help programs are not getting them. The National Council on Aging (NCOA) says that only 30% of seniors who are eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition aid Program (SNAP) actually use it. This means that many seniors who need food aid are not getting it. Over 850,000 seniors in Florida are eligible for SNAP, and 38% of those people use it. This is higher than the national figure. On the other hand, this means that more than 500,000 seniors in Florida who are qualified are not getting these benefits.
More people are on SNAP in Miami-Dade, Duval, and Hillsborough counties; 50% of people in Miami-Dade are on SNAP. But 108,813 seniors who are qualified are not enrolled, even in these places. The numbers of participation are much lower in counties like Collier, St. Johns, and Charlotte. Supplemental Security Income and Medicare Savings Programs are better programs for seniors in Florida. Almost half of those who are qualified participate in these programs.
Unlocking Access to Food and Healthcare Benefits for Older Adults
There are efforts to get more people to use SNAP. Recent changes in Florida have made it easier for more people to get into job and training programs and changed the requirements for others. A new study from the NCOA with an interactive map shows how important it is to get more people to sign up for these important benefits right away. NCOA President and CEO Ramsey Alwin said, “It’s shocking and unacceptable that nine million older adults who are eligible are not signed up for benefits that can make a big difference in their ability to afford food or health care each month.”
The NCOA also found that older people need more education and marketing to help them learn about and get the benefits they are eligible for. Even though enrollment rates are better in some Florida counties, the fact that a lot of eligible seniors are still not using SNAP shows that there are problems that need to be fixed, such as a lack of information or hard-to-understand application processes. To close the gap, we need to improve tailored programs and support so that more seniors can get these important benefits. This will also improve their quality of life by lowering food insecurity and financial stress.