Senior Shift

Anyone who works promoting participation in the Food Stamp Program is bound to see a lot of seniors. After all, a good percentage of eligible seniors don’t take advantage of the program, so targeting them is a priority. It’s pretty easy to locate and identify potential recipients through senior centers and housing sites and as an outreach worker I visit many on a regular basis.

The tough part is that thanks to the safety net provided by the combination of social security and subsidized housing, many low-income seniors only qualify for the minimum benefit. That translates into a $10.00 monthly food stamp allotment for a large percentage of them.

The usual response to $10.00 in food stamps? “Too”…too much trouble, too much paperwork, too little money.

Lately though, I’m seeing a shift. It’s nothing earthshaking, mostly a blip on the social Richter scale, but enough to be noticeable. Some seniors have come to the conclusion that at least it’s “something.” Maybe they can’t buy an awful lot more, but it could be an extra milk, eggs and bread. That “something” might just make the difference between buying some fresh fruit and vegetables this month or not. Considering the rising burden of inflation, that $10.00 might be just the “something” they need.

The good news is that the minimum benefit is scheduled to increase this October….the first time in 30 years. The new minimum: $14.00. It will also be indexed to the maximum benefit to assure future increases are in line with inflation. Now that really is “something.”

PTC