In an effort to combat food insecurity among seniors, Democrat Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced the Senior Hunger Prevention Act on Thursday.
Gillibrand noted that despite the availability of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), half of New York State’s eligible seniors are not utilizing it, primarily due to its complex application process. She further highlighted the struggles faced by seniors in affording groceries and those with physical disabilities in securing food.
The Senior Hunger Prevention Act aims to alleviate these issues through several measures. It proposes an increase in the minimum monthly SNAP benefit by $23 to $95 to enable older adults to afford better quality food.
The legislation also simplifies the SNAP application process for older individuals and those with disabilities, and expands food delivery options for the homebound and disabled. Additionally, it supports initiatives to enroll more seniors and adults with disabilities in nutrition programs and offers grants to nonprofits and local aging and disability service providers to deliver fresh, local food to accessible locations.
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