CalFresh-Better Food for Better Living

Andrea Bricker, MS, RDCalifornia Department of Aging

Status of Older Adults in California Many seniors are struggling to make

ends meet. Living longer and outliving their savings. Lost their job, face job discrimination or

physically unable to find jobs. Impacting the ability to access nutritious

food.

Food Insecurity: Food insecurity: means the limited or

uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways.

Nationally, 28 M adults >50 and older face some level of food insecurity

Sources: Food Insecurity in the United States: Definition of Hunger and Food Insecurity. United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Center. http://www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/FoodSecurity/labels.htm

Ziliak, J.P. & Gundersen, C. Food Insecurity Among Older Adults. AARP Foundation. August 2011. http://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/aarp_foundation/pdf_2011/AARPFoundation_HungerReport_2011.pdf

Food Insecurity: How Does California Measure Up? California ranks 18th in food insecurity

rates among seniors. Food insecurity rates of Californian’s

>50 & older 14.59% Marginally food insecure 7.78% Food insecure 2.62% Very low food security

Sources: Ziliak, J.P., & Gundersen, C. Senior hunger in the United States: Differences across states and rural and urban areas. University of Kentucky Center for Poverty Research Special Reports. September 2009. http://www.mowaa.org/Document.Doc?id=193

Ziliak, J.P. & Gundersen, C. Food Insecurity Among Older Adults. AARP Foundation. August 2011. http://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/aarp_foundation/pdf_2011/AARPFoundation_HungerReport_2011.pdf

How Does Food Insecurity Impact Older Adults? Lower food and nutrient intakes Report fair or poor health Higher body mass index (BMI)

Risk factor for chronic disease Heart disease, hypertension, cancer & diabetes

Report higher rates of diabetes & depression More likely to be socially isolated, hospitalized more

often & more activity of daily living impairments Functionally impaired as if they are chronologically

14 years olderLloyd, J. & Wellman, N.S. Food Insecurity and Older Adults Brief. AARP Round Table. September 2011.

What is CalFresh? Federally known as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

(SNAP).

The new name for the Food Stamp Program. October 2011 – Name change/rebranding

“Cal” – Medi-Cal, CalWorks, etc “Fresh”-

Improved accessibility – Statewide hotline, apply online

Simple- New rules that make it easier to apply, Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card

Fresh- Encourages healthy eating/lifestyle

Empowerment

Program helps low-income families purchase nutritious foods by increasing their purchasing power.

CalFresh is a program that can help families: Purchase healthy food Use money to pay for other basic needs Benefits the economy Easy to use Can be used in restaurants (in some

areas)

California has Poor Participation Rates in CalFresh California ranks last for participation for

all eligible people at 53%. 10% of eligible older adults participate

in CalFresh. Approximately 444,000 older adults who

are eligible to receive CalFresh benefits.

Cunnyngham, K.E. Reaching Those in Need: State Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participation Rates in 2009. United States Department of Agriculture. December 2011. http://www.fns.usda.gov/ora/MENU/Published/SNAP/SNAPPartState.htm

Cunnyngham, Karen. State Trends in SNAP Participation Rates Among Elderly Individuals Preliminary Results. Mathematica Policy Research. October 2009. http://www.mathematica-mpr.com/publications/PDFs/nutrition/SNAP_elderly.pdf

Characteristics of Target Group for AB 69: CalFresh Eligible Households with a Social Security Recipient 60+. California Food Policy Advocates. California Food Policy Advocates. August 2011.

CalFresh Helps Stimulate the Economy Every dollar in SNAP benefits generates

$1.79 in economic activity. Taxable goods lead to state/county

revenue Supports business and farmers CalFresh participants:

Purchase ~$1B of retail food Generate ~3,300 farm jobs

Use money to pay for other basic needsHanson, Kenneth. The Food Assistance National Input-Output Multiplier (FANIOM) Model and Stimulus Effects of SNAP. ERR-103. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Econ. Res. Serv. October 2010.

CalFresh Fact Sheet 2011. California Department of Public Health - Network for a Healthy California. www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/cpns/Documents/CalFreshFactSheet0411.pdf

Potential Economic Benefit of CalFresh

Statewide Snapshot (dollars)

Sacramento County (dollars)*

Eligible Non-Participants

$3.5 M $174,543

Lost Federal Dollars (benefits)

$4.9 B $1.1 B

Lost Economic Activity

$8.7 B $195 M

Lost State Tax Revenue (GF)

$86 M $4.2 M

Lost County Tax Revenue

$51 M $4.7 M

Shimada, Tia. Lost Dollars, Empty Plates – The Impact of CalFresh Participation on State and Local Economies. California Food Policy Advocates. February 2012. http://cfpa.net/lost-dollars-empty-plates-2012 * Dollars are rounded

CalFresh Benefit is Simple to Use Electronic Benefit Transfer Card

Similar to ATM card Use at participating stores that accept

CalFresh benefits Other:

Certified Farmer’s Markets Restaurant Meals Programs

Only elderly, homeless & disabled

Regulations that make it easier to apply No resource limits Elimination of statewide finger printing Semi-annual reporting…coming soon Funds Senior Community Service

Employment Program (SCSEP) under Title V of the Older Americans Act shall be excluded as income only

WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS CODE (WIC) SECTION 18901.5 (PREVIOUSLY REFERRED TO AS ASSEMBLY BILL NO. 433, (STATUTES OF 2008), ALL COUNTY LETTER NO. 09-24

WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS CODE SECTION 10830; MANUAL OF POLICIES AND PROCEDURES (MPP) SECTIONS 63-300.451, 63-505.14, 63-601.12, 63-601.13, and 63-601.14; Assembly Bill (AB) 6 (Chapter 501, Statutes of 2011)

42 U.S.C. § 3056(g); MPP § 63-507(a)(15)

Senior Regulations Make it Easier to Apply for CalFresh Waive face-to-face interview Income Deductions Expense deductions

Shelter- No cap on shelter deduction Utility- up to $329 Medical-

A household with at least one elderly disabled household member can also deduct the member’s non-reimbursed medical expenses over $35.

Recertification every two years Unless there is a change in income/deductions

Restaurant Meals Program In some areas

Eligibility Guidelines Someone in the household (HH) must be a U.S.

citizen or meet certain immigration requirements and meet all other CalFresh eligibility requirements. A “household” is a person living alone or a

group of people living together (they do not have to be related) who buy food and make meals together.

All children born in the U.S. can get CalFresh if they qualify, no matter where their parents were born.

Eligibility, cont’d The HH must have a gross monthly income ≤130% Federal Poverty

Guidelines (FPG) and net income 100% FPG with the following exceptions: HH with elderly or disabled:

Gross income ≤165% FPG HH with ONLY elderly or disabled:

No gross income limit/Net income <100% FPG People who receive Supplemental Security

Income/Supplemental Security Payment (SSI/SSP) in California are not eligible. You can receive other retirement benefits and be eligible (SSA,

SSDI) Contact your social security office to determine the type of

benefit received. 2012 FPG: Persons in

family/household Poverty guideline1 $11,1702 15,1303 19,0904 23,050

United States Department of Health and Human Services. 2012 HHS Poverty Guidelines. http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/12poverty.shtml#guidelines

What is the individual benefit? Monthly benefit

Minimum of $16People in Household Maximum CalFresh Allotment

Effective Oct 1, 2011-Sept 30, 2012

1 $200

2 $367

3 $526

4 $668

5 $793

6 $952

7 $1,052

8 $1,202

Each Additional Member +$150http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/cpns/Documents/CalFreshOR-IncomeEligibilityInsert.pdf

The Benefit Amount is Not Worth the Effort? $16 doesn’t seem like much but:

That’s $16 more a month to purchase other basic necessities

$192/year: Save it up to use at Certified Farmers

Markets or a holiday Use coupons and stretch the benefit “Would you throw away a coupon for $16

off at a grocery store?”

Where to Apply? Call the CalFresh Hotline at:

1-877-847-3663 Contact your county office

Go online and apply at: www.benefitscal.org

What Happens Next? Once the application is turned in:

The county CalFresh office will contact applicant for an interview County determines eligibility

Documentation Once the application is approved

benefits will be received within 30 days!

Emergency benefits are also available

Senior Brochure General Market Brochure

Download brochures on line at: http://www.calfresh.ca.gov/PG2460.htm

Contact Information Andrea Bricker, MS, RD California Department of Aging abricker@aging.ca.gov 916-928-3324