nutrition

Here’s what we know about older SNAP households and what they need at this point to weather the pandemic.

Increased need calls for higher SNAP benefits during COVID-19.

SNAP, formerly "food stamps," needs additional investments and flexibility to respond to the pandemic.

Recently passed legislation will allow food programs to ramp up home meal delivery.

One in four older black and Hispanic Medicare beneficiaries is food insecure.

A proposed rule would disproportionately impact SNAP households with seniors.

Recent federal proposals would add additional barriers to an already underused program, including efforts to require older adults to prove they’re engaging in work activities for a certain number of hours per week or risk losing SNAP after three months

Imagine living alone, being frail or living with a disability, and unable to leave your house without help. Now imagine feeling a hunger pang, opening up your fridge to find it empty, or wondering how you are going to get your next meal.

As the U.S. population ages and SNAP faces the prospect of changes that could affect the future of the program, it becomes all the more important to examine the dynamics around this large segment of SNAP users. AARP Public Policy Institute’s recently released fact sheet takes a closer look at SNAP households with older adults.

“Without SNAP, I don’t know how I’d be able to afford to eat.”