Food Assistance for Older Adults

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A senior Asian couple is cooking a healthy meal together in their kitchen.

As America recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, food insecurity among low-income seniors remains high. Learn about some resources that can help.

Apr 11, 2024

Help to Gain Access to Healthy Food: Resources for Older Adults Read Article

A "We Accept Supplemental Nutrition Assitance Program (SNAP)" sign appears on the window of a grocery retailer.

Jan 24, 2024

Where to Get Food Help Now: A Guide for Older Adults Read Article

Need Help Paying for Food?

Millions of older adults are eligible for food assistance from SNAP but often don't apply. Use our tool to find out if you're eligible and get help paying for groceries.

Learn how the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps many older Americans afford healthy food every month.

Changing states? Avoid lapses in coverage: follow this step-by-step guide to ensure you keep your SNAP, Medicaid, and other benefits when you move.

Jun 24, 2024

Can I Transfer My Benefits Across State Lines? Read Article

Jun 21, 2024

Did Your Benefits Lapse? Here’s What to Know Read Article

Jun 21, 2024

Why Are My SNAP Benefits Delayed? Read Article

May 24, 2024

How the Government Is Securing SNAP Benefits from Scammers Read Article

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Most older adults don’t have enough put aside for retirement. If you’re one of them, here are some benefit programs that can help you save money.

Apr 18, 2024

Your Guide to Money-Saving Benefits in Retirement

A grocery budget calculator can give you a basic idea of how much you should be spending on groceries each week or month.

Apr 11, 2024

How to Create a Grocery Budget That Works for You

Read about low-income older adults who learned they qualify for financial help through local and government benefits programs. See if you’re eligible, too.

Apr 4, 2024

How One 68-Year-Old Found More Than $7,000 in Life-Changing Benefits

Services to Enhance Potential Cheri Hardin helps Dori Bryant with the food nutrition labels while shopping at Focus: HOPE, a local agency located in Detroit, Michigan that operates the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) in a client choice model so that participants can select the foods they want in each food category.

Mar 22, 2024

How to Boost Your Diet with the Senior Food Box Program

Learn how the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps many older Americans afford healthy food every month.

Mar 22, 2024

What Is SNAP and How Do I Apply?

Which stores accept EBT? They range from small convenience stores to major grocery chains and superstores like Walmart.

Mar 22, 2024

Where Can I Use SNAP Benefits?

Inflation hits older adults hard. Discover crucial benefits programs that help bridge the gap between income and the rising costs of daily living.

Mar 21, 2024

Benefits Programs That Can Help Older Adults Reduce Monthly Expenses

Learn some of the myths surrounding SNAP for non-citizens and whether you or someone you know may be eligible for vital food assistance.

Mar 21, 2024

Can I Get Food Stamps? A Non-Citizen’s Guide to SNAP Benefits

If you’re an older adult that's hungry, the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) can help—whether you receive SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) or not.

Mar 21, 2024

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP): A Guide for Older Adults

Four senior Black women in Detroit, Michigan shop the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), selecting the foo

Feb 15, 2024

Nutritious Food: An Ultimate Necessity as We Get Older

Benefits Enrollment Centers (BECs) help Medicare-eligible, low-income older adults and younger adults with disabilities find and enroll in all the benefits programs for which they qualify.

Feb 12, 2024

How Do Benefits Enrollment Centers Help Older Adults?

The Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program helps older adults obtain fresh food from local farms, roadside stands, and CSAs at no cost.

Feb 7, 2024

The Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program: Key Facts for Older Adults

An elderly caucasian woman is sitting in a motorized wheelchair picking out produce at the grocery store. If you're wondering if you qualify for SNAP while on disability, the answer is yes. It’s possible to qualify for and receive SNAP benefits while you also collect Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments.

Jan 25, 2024

Can I Get SNAP if I’m on Disability?

Age and disability status can limit employment and lead to income-related hardships, yet many veterans aren’t aware they qualify for food stamps.

Jan 25, 2024

SNAP Assistance: Are Veterans Entitled to Benefits?

You can use your SNAP benefits to start a small garden

Jan 25, 2024

What Can You Buy With SNAP?

The Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides food benefits to people who have been financially impacted by a disaster. Learn how it works and find out if you qualify.

Jan 24, 2024

What Is the SNAP Emergency Application?

A senior woman is talking to her daughter and granddaughter at the island in her kitchen, smiling. More than 25% of SNAP-eligible households include adults over 60. Income guidelines change each year—we’ll help you see if you qualify for this helpful benefit.

Jan 16, 2024

What Is the Income Limit for SNAP?

If trips to the grocery store are a challenge, many retailers and stores allow you to use your SNAP EBT card for grocery delivery and pickup. Find out which ones.

Jan 16, 2024

What Stores Accept EBT for Online Grocery Delivery and Pickup?

Disaster survivors need quick and helpful assistance, including information, services, support and quick access to programs to provide relief. These programs and agencies can help.

Jan 5, 2024

Disaster Assistance: 6 Helpful Programs for Older Adults

If you have Medicare and get SNAP, you may wonder how that affects your eligibility for the Part D Low Income Subsidy (LIS). Here's what you need to know.

Dec 7, 2023

Does Getting SNAP Affect My Eligibility for Part D LIS/Extra Help?

DoorDash accepts EBT cards for online grocery delivery and pickup orders. Learn where you can use your SNAP benefits and how to get started.

Oct 30, 2023

How to Use Your EBT Card on DoorDash

Most SNAP applicants, caseworkers, and retailers adhere to program rules. Discover a few situations where that may not be the case and what you can do about it.

Oct 30, 2023

How Do I File a SNAP Complaint? A Guide for Recipients and Caregivers

A senior Asian woman is looking at produce in the grocery store.

Oct 30, 2023

How Can You Stretch Your SNAP Benefits Further?

How hard is the SNAP interview? It doesn’t have to be hard at all. When you know exactly what to expect, you can go into yours prepared.

Oct 30, 2023

Your SNAP Interview: 5 Tips for Success

Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs) are opportunities to make changes to your Medicare coverage outside the normal enrollment windows. Learn what they are and how to qualify.

Jul 17, 2023

How Long Do SNAP Benefits Last?

Congregate meals bring older adults together in convenient community settings. Learn how these programs support overall health and well-being.

Feb 9, 2023

What Is a Congregate Meal? How Do They Benefit Older Adults?

Older adults can prepare simple, nutritious meals for one using items from the Commodity Supplemental Food Program—and you’ll save time and money, too.

Oct 3, 2022

Cooking for One: Unboxing the Possibilities of the Commodity Supplemental Food Program

If you’re unhappy with your SNAP benefits decision, you have the right to an appeal. See how to request one for yourself or someone else.

Sep 29, 2022

How Do I Appeal a SNAP Benefits Decision?

When using SNAP isn’t practical, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) offers an alternative way for Native Americans to get food assistance.

Sep 28, 2022

What is the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)?

While many older adults worry that applying for SNAP is too complex or time-consuming, it isn't as difficult as you might expect. Learn how.

Sep 3, 2022

How to Apply for SNAP in Your State: 4 Simple Steps

Learn more about the Restaurant Meals Program that allows certain SNAP recipients to purchase prepared meals at authorized restaurants with their EBT card.

Jul 14, 2022

What Is the SNAP Restaurant Meals Program?

If you or an older adult you care for has concerns about applying for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, there are resources available to help.

May 23, 2022

Lifting Barriers to SNAP: Real Stories from Older Adults

Published by the Department of Agriculture (USDA), MyPlate provides a wealth of valuable information on planning, prepari

Apr 28, 2022

Making Every Bite Count: 3 Steps to Healthier Eating with MyPlate

Approximately 5.2 million older Americans (7.1%) faced food insecurity in 2019. Learn what it means to be food insecure—and what help is available for older adults.

Apr 15, 2022

Get the Facts on Food Insecurity and Older Adults

While food prices aren’t expected to go down, smart shopping and budgeting habits can help older adults save on groceries.

Apr 6, 2022

How Much Have Food Prices Gone Up, and How Can I Save?

A farmers market stand loaded with fresh fruits and vegetables (Pike Place in downtown Seattle).

Mar 10, 2022

Do Farmers Markets Accept SNAP?

A senior Black woman is picking out carrots in the produce section.

Jan 24, 2022

7 Important Health Benefits of SNAP

Older/senior hands are placed on top of a stack of one dollar bills.

Jan 19, 2022

How to Get Help Paying for Food, Housing, and Healthcare

A senior Hispanic woman wearing a mask is shopping at a farmer's market picking out fresh produce.

Jun 2, 2021

How to Maximize Your Food Benefits

Senior Asian man is paying at the grocery register with his two granddaughters, while all are wearing their masks during the pandemic.

Apr 9, 2021

How Seniors Can Get Help Paying for Food with SNAP

A lone piece of bread sits on an empty plate with a fork close by, indicating hunger.

Feb 15, 2021

Get the Facts on SNAP and Senior Hunger

An older hispanic woman unpacks groceries with her daughter and granddaughter in the kitchen.

May 7, 2015

Food Assistance Benefits for Seniors

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