Table of Contents
Overview 3
Goals 3
Campaign Dates 3
Slogan 3
Disclosures 3
Outreach Budget Considerations 3
Audience 4
Cultural Considerations 4
Age and Disability 5
Diversity in Older Adults 5
Individual and Family Dynamics 5
Shame and Failure 6
Tips for Performing Outreach 6
Make Activities as Accessible as Possible 6
Talk About Accessibility 6
Talk About the Health Benefits 7
Talk About Medical Deductions 7
Emphasize Confidentiality 7
Be Ready to Explain Entitlement Programs in Simple Terms 7
Talk About the Economic Benefit 8
Potential Sites for Outreach Activities 8
Potential Collaborations and Referral Sources 8
SNAP Rules 9
SNAP Definition of Senior Household 9
Budgeting Rules 9
NYSNIP 10
Recertification Periods 10
Overview
Goals
Our goal is to increase the number of people age 60 and over applying for SNAP and getting approved. We’ll be achieving this through activities aimed at increasing awareness about:
· The benefits of SNAP.
· The increased income guidelines for older adults.
· How medical deductions affect the potential benefit amount.
· The reduced barriers to applying (e.g., online applications, authorized representatives and requesting a Face-to-Face Interview Waiver).
· Services NOEP offers that could be helpful (e.g. home visits, gathering paperwork)
Campaign Dates
· The campaign runs from April 20 – May 31.
· The first outreach activity must be placed by Monday, April 20.
· The second activity must be placed by Friday, May 1.
Slogan
The campaign slogan is Stay Healthy with SNAP.
Disclosures
The standard funding disclosure and anti-discrimination clause are used for this campaign:
Prepared by a project of Hunger Solutions New York, USDA/FNS, and NYSOTDA. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Outreach Budget Considerations
This is the fifth campaign. That means there is just one more campaign left until the end of the contract year. As you begin to plan your outreach for this campaign, check the Campaign Schedule form you completed at the beginning of the year and compare it to your Outreach Bank Account on NOEP Online (http://www.noeponline.org) to make sure you are still on point to spend all of your outreach money by the end of the year.
Remember, the final campaign is Summer Meals which can be funded with any remaining child nutrition dollars you have left in your Outreach Bank Account. Keep this in mind as you’re budgeting for this campaign and the remainder of the contract year. If you think you will have money left, talk with your Contract Manager about ways you can spend down the money.
Audience
The main target of this campaign is people age 60 and over. This is a very large group of people to target, spanning multiple generations, which is diverse in race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and health status.
Because this is such a large group of people, we are going to break this target down into three segments:
1. Builders. Those born before 1945 (age 70+).
2. Baby Boomers. Those born between 1945 and 1964 (age 50-69). These people were born during the “baby boom” (a huge wave of births) after World War II. They are working longer, retiring later, and living 10-15 years longer than the previous generation.
3. Caregivers. Those who are caring for an older loved one.
Cultural Considerations
There are many considerations when working with older adults. As stated above this a vast population. While reading through the cultural considerations, it’s important to keep the following in mind:
1. The points in this companion are based on U.S. culture.
2. The following are all generalizations about a large group of people. While generalizations can be helpful in getting a broad understanding of a culture, we must always appreciate that we are all people and people are all very different. We all identify with our given culture differently, or not at all, so we should always treat everyone as an individual. The most important thing to remember is that we must always honor, respect, and validate how each individual person chooses to identify or describe themselves.
Age and Disability
According to Cornell (http://www.disabilitystatistics.org) a significant percentage of people 65 and over are living with a disability:
· 21.8% of people age 65-74
· 48.5% of people over 74
It’s important to treat a person with a disability the same way you would treat anyone else – be kind and never make any assumptions.
The brochure at http://www.unitedspinal.org/pdf/DisabilityEtiquette.pdf offers some practical tips for interacting with people with disabilities. It is broken down into sections that deal with almost every specific type of disability.
Diversity in Older Adults
The older adult population, along with the rest of the U.S. population, is becoming more diverse at an ever increasing rate. In the last 10 years the minority population over 65 has grown from 16% to 21%, a 28% increase. This trend is expected to continue until at least 2060. Along with ethnic diversity, the number of older adults that openly identify as LGBTQ is increasing as well.
The following resources offer a wealth of information about working with diverse communities of older adults, along with some cultural considerations unique to older minority populations.
Administration on Aging
http://www.aoa.gov/AoA_programs/Tools_Resources/diversity.aspx
Provides several resources on cultural competency, including a toolkit for working with diverse communities.
LGBT Aging Center
http://lgbtagingcenter.org/
Provides a host of resources for older adults that identify as LGBTQ, including a list of local resources here in New York State.
Individual and Family Dynamics
For some older adults, relying on a caregiver (especially a child) involves a role reversal and a loss of autonomy that can be difficult to accept for everyone involved. When you add the need to participate in SNAP to maintain their health, this feeling can be amplified. Being sensitive to the effect this has on both the older adult and the caregiver individually, along with the family as a whole, can go a long way towards building a trusting relationship.
Shame and Failure
We all know there can be a stigma attached to people who participate in programs like SNAP, regardless of need. On top of this, some older adults may feel shame and a sense of personal failure for needing to rely on SNAP to buy groceries. We know there should be no sense of shame or failure when relying on SNAP!
Explaining that many older adults buy groceries with SNAP can help older adults overcome the feeling that they are the only person who participates in SNAP. Here’s just one idea for reframing these feelings:
“You’re taking control of your health and fueling your body for a better life, just like the 545,000 older people in New York who bought groceries with SNAP last year.”
Tips for Performing Outreach
Make Activities as Accessible as Possible
It’s always best to try to make flyers, posters, and brochures as accessible as possible. As the age of your target audience increases, this becomes increasingly more important because eye sight tends to weaken with age. Some helpful tips for making it easier for potentially eligible older adults to read your materials:
· Use at least a 14pt font wherever possible.
· Print black ink on yellow paper for people with visual impairment.
· Avoid script fonts (anything that looks like cursive writing).
Talk About Accessibility
For some older adults, physical and computer access is a barrier to applying. This is especially true for older adults living with a disability. Taking time to create an opportunity to learn about the application process and the many services you provide as a NOEP Coordinator can be helpful. Some examples include:
Changes to the Application Process
· Face-to-face interview waivers
· Online applications
· Phone interviews
· Authorized representative (Tip: the form is in Appendix prescreening guide)
· Elimination of finger imaging
NOEP Services
· Home visits
· Application assistance, including submission
· Gathering and copying paperwork
· Collecting and sorting medical deductions
Talk About the Health Benefits
As we age, our physical and mental health becomes an increasingly greater consideration in our lives. There are many benefits to eating healthy for older adults, from the effectiveness of prescription medication to the prevention and management of chronic diseases.
Here are some resources for nutrition and aging:
http://www.helpguide.org/life/senior_nutrition.htm
http://nutritionandaging.org/resources-tools/client-education-materials?view=docman
http://www.choosemyplate.gov/food-groups/
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/nutrition/facts.htm
Talk About Medical Deductions
As many of you know, medical deductions can dramatically affect whether someone is potentially eligible for SNAP. Outlining some of the common medical deductions on outreach can help raise awareness.
Emphasize Confidentiality
For some older adults, particularly those in the “Builder” segment, privacy is highly valued. It’s always important to let clients know about confidentiality, but it might be a good idea to explain the steps you take to maintain confidentiality before you begin asking for financial information and a social security number.
Be Ready to Explain Entitlement Programs in Simple Terms
Some older adults may be reluctant to apply for SNAP because they think they are taking benefits from others. Explaining how entitlement programs like SNAP work in a simple and easy to understand way can help bust this myth. Here is an idea to get you started:
“SNAP is like Social Security or Medicare. If you are eligible and you apply, you will get your benefit. It won’t change the amount of SNAP dollars other people get. “
Talk About the Economic Benefit
Explaining the economic benefit of SNAP in a simple way can help people understand that when they participate in SNAP, they are helping their community. This is especially true for communities that have experienced hard economic times. Here are some ideas for explaining the economic benefit in simple terms:
“When you buy groceries with SNAP, you are bringing Federal tax dollars back to our community.”
“When you buy groceries with SNAP, you are helping the local grocery stores and farmers stay in business and keep people employed.”
Potential Sites for Outreach Activities
Most counties have a guidebook that lists every agency and program that provides services for older adults. This is a useful resource for finding outreach locations and potential collaborations. You can usually get a copy of the guidebook from your county Office for the Aging. Some other ideas for sites include
· Community Residences (formerly known as “halfway houses”)
· County or City Center for Disability Services
· Community Recreation Centers
· Community Cultural Centers (such as the Polish or Italian Community Club)
· Independent Living Centers
· Libraries
· Community Pride Centers
· Senior housing
· Caregiver support groups
· Community dining halls
· Social organizations (for example, American Legion, Knights of Columbus, Rotary, etc.)
Potential Collaborations and Referral Sources
· Partner with other agencies and programs that serve seniors to glean trusted referral sources. (i.e. home bound and home health programs; adult day care programs; Meals on Wheels programs; farmers who participate in Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program; food pantries/soup kitchens; Housing and Weatherization).
· County Office for the Aging’s Caregiver Coordinator and Dieticians
· AARP
· Community Action Programs (check the weatherization program)
· Ask your local office for the aging if your materials may be included when they both advertise and then distribute Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program coupons each June.
· Coordinate with your county’s Lifeline and HEAP outreach.
· Social Security office (the public affairs department usually work on these things)
· RSVP (http://www.cssny.org/programs/entry/retired-and-senior-volunteer-program)
SNAP Rules
SNAP Definition of Senior Household
For SNAP purposes a person is considered “senior” when they are 60 years of age or older. Only one senior needs to be part of a SNAP case to qualify for the senior household rules.
There are special rules for people who are both senior and disabled residing with others. The rule states that if food is being purchased and prepared together because the senior is unable to shop and cook, the senior can qualify as their own SNAP case. The only time this is possible is when meals are shared and the income of the other people in the house does not exceed 165% of the poverty level (Prescreening Guide, p. 30).
Senior households may be able to waive the face-to-face interview. Sometimes this happens automatically when an electronic application is submitted or in NYC when an application is submitted by MARU. In addition, waivers can be requested due to illness, transportation difficulties and if all adults are elderly and/or disabled and there is no earned income in the household (Prescreening Guide, p.12).
Budgeting Rules
Special budgeting rules apply to SNAP cases that include a senior:
1. These households are able to use the 200% gross income limit when checking income guidelines. In most instances, if they are under the 200% gross income limits then they do not need to meet resource limits or the net income test because they are categorically eligible. One and two person cases that fall into this category would be entitled to at least the minimum benefit of $15. For more information please see pages 32-34 of the Prescreening Guide.
2. If the household’s income is over 200% they still may be eligible, but they must have resources be below the resource limit and pass the net income test. The resource limit is higher for these SNAP cases and they can have up to $3,250 in resources and still qualify. For more information on resources please see page 33 of the Prescreening Guide.
3. All SNAP cases where a senior is paying more than $35 per month in out of pocket medical expenses can use this cost as a deduction in their budget. Some of the more common costs include prescription costs, insurance premiums, co-pays, outstanding medical bills and dental/eye glass costs. Only the senior can apply their own medical costs to the budget. For more information see pg. 41 of the Prescreening Guide.
NYSNIP
Some seniors who receive SSI may be eligible to participate in the New York State Nutrition Improvement Project (NYSNIP). NYSNIP is designed to get SSI live-alone recipients SNAP benefits without having to complete a SNAP application, interview or provide separate verification. The certification period for NYSNIP can be up to four years and the SSI recipient is enrolled automatically. For more information please see pages 61-63 of the Prescreening Guide. In addition, the NYSNIP matrix can be found in the News and Resources section of the HSNY website.