Food Stamp Program Overview

1
Food Stamp Program Overview
Michael Greene Dietetic Intern Network for a
Healthy California Los Angeles Region

• Suzanne Bogert, MS, RD
• Project Director
• Network for a Healthy California
• Los Angeles Region

2
Introduction/Agenda

• Food Access, Food Insecurity Food Assistance
  Programs
• Food Stamp Program (FSP)
• Food for LA
• Making America Stronger U.S. Food Stamp
  Program
• Food Stamp Promotion
• What can we do?

3
Food Access

• To help hungry Angeleno families access healthy
  foods through promotion of free and low-cost
  resources.
• Schools
• Educate teachers, nurses, and parent resource
  centers about food stamps.
• Effectively pass information to needy families.

4
Food Insecurity

• Definition
• Limited or uncertain availability of
  nutritionally adequate and safe foods, or
• Limited or uncertain ability to acquire
  acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways
• California
• Approx. 2.5 million low-income adults can not
  afford adequate food
• California Food Policy Advocates
• Shared Tables, Shared Struggles The Impact of
  Adult Food
• Insecurity on Families in California
• November 2007

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Food Insecurity

• Los Angeles
• More than 1 in 4 households experience Food
  Insecurity 2002-2003 LA County Health Survey.
• 27.9 Income Adults are Food Insecure
  California Health Interview Survey 2005
• Families with the lowest incomes are at greatest
  risk for food insecurity and obesity

6
Food Assistance Programs

• The Food Stamp Program
• Los Angeles CountyProgram Access Index(PAI) is
  0.379California Food Policy Advocates 2/2008
• Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC)
• The School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs
• Food Banks and Food Pantries

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Increase Food Security

• Key steps to ensure access to healthy, affordable
  food
• Every child starts the day with a school
  breakfast
• Access to healthy, affordable foods
• improved purchasing power with food stamps
• healthier school meals
• Remove unnecessary barriers to participating in
  the Food Stamp Program
• California Food Policy Advocates
• Shared Tables, Shared Struggles The Impact of
  Adult Food
• Insecurity on Families in California
• November 2007

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What is the Food Stamp Program?

• The Food Stamp Program (FSP) is the largest food
  assistance program in the country.
• 100 Federally funded through USDA
• State run program where Federal and State
  governments share administrative costs
• Help for low-income people and their families to
  purchase food
• Who can get food stamp benefits?
• People who do not have enough money to buy the
  food they need to stay healthy

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What is the Food Stamp Program?

• All persons who wish to apply for FS benefits
  must be given an opportunity to apply even if
  they do not appear to be eligibleFood Stamp
  Program Policy, LA Dept. of Public Social
  Services
• Who can qualify for food stamp benefits?
• Low-income people and their family
• Immigrants and children of immigrants
• Seniors
• Individuals residing in room and board
  arrangements, homeless individuals in shelters,
  and temporary residents of a shelter for battered
  women and children

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What is the Food Stamp Program?

• Who is eligible?
• Income below the lt 185 Federal poverty level.
• Households with an elderly or disabled member.
• Disaster Food Stamp Program
• People who receive SSI/SSP in California are not
  eligible
• How much food stamp benefits can people receive?
• The amount depends on income, expenses and family
  size
• Most families receive over 100 per month
• Minimum benefit increased to 14 per month

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Food for LA

• October 2008 amounts adjusted

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Food for LA

• Example family in Los Angeles
• Family of 4 - Income less than 2,297
• Rent in LA
• 2 bedroom apt. approx. 1,500/mo.
• Remaining 797
• Transportation
• Health care
• Education
• Utilities
• Food
• Food Stamp Benefits could be 588

13
Food for LA

• Advantage Card Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT)
  system
• Buy food with EBT card from any approved grocery
  store, farmers markets, and restaurants
• EBT card works like an ATM card

14
Process of Applying for Food Stamps
Food Stamp Hotline [phone] For office nearest you
Can also call this number to ask any additional questions about the food stamp program
Seniors, individuals With disabilities And/or CalWorks recipients can request a home visit
Note If you are already receiving any type of government help, like AFDC, GR, Medical, or other benefits and you are interested in receiving food stamps, your current eligibility worker may be able to help you with the process.
Call eligibility worker or EBT hotline [phone] for questions about EBT
All other individuals fill out application at office
Can have same day interview or schedule interview for another day
OR
Have application Mailed to you
Set up interview day over phone with food stamp office
Quarterly income status reports
Shop with EBT Cards at participating supermarkets and farmers markets
Finger imaging And digital photo
If you qualify, you should receive an EBT card in the mail within 30 days of applying
REMEMBER to ask your eligibility worker what documents you need to take to your interview
15
Food for LA

• Underutilization of FSP in Los Angeles
• Approx. 650,000 of the 1.3 million people
  eligible in Los Angeles do not participate
• This equates to about 948,066,231 in lost food
  stamp dollars for Los Angeles California Food
  Policy Advocates, 2008
• Families with the lowest incomes are at greatest
  risk for food insecurity and obesity

16
Myths and Misconceptions

• Food Stamps will affect your eligibility for
  permanent residency
• IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR IMMIGRANTSNew INS
  guidelines permit immigrants and their children
  to use certain non-cash benefits and special
  purpose cash benefits without affecting their
  immigration status including
• Food Stamps

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Myths and Misconceptions

• You must pay back the benefits that you receive
• Your children must pay back the benefits
• You could be deported if DPSS knows you are
  undocumented
• If both parents work, your family will not
  qualify
• Food Stamps are welfare

18
Myths and Misconceptions

• There are not enough Food Stamp benefits for
  everyone who qualifies
• Having a bank account disqualifies you
• You cannot own a home (or a car)
• Finger printing is used to determine your legal
  immigration status
• If you are homeless or a senior citizen, you do
  not qualify

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Food Stamp Program

• Making America Stronger U.S. Food Stamp
  Program
• http//video.google.com/videoplay?docid4227072942
  568227672

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Regional Food Stamp Promotion

• TV
• Univision
• Champion Mom
• Radio
• Champion Mom
• Print
• Bus Placards
• Champion Mom Billboards
• Brochures

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Social Marketing Campaign
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Food Stamp Promotion with Resources

• Brochures
• Food for LA
• The Peoples Guide
• Network brochure
• CMA Foundation

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Food Stamp Application Assistance

• District 1 DPSS Offices
• 211
• CBOs/FBOs
• Eligibility Outreach Workers
• Schedule with Rosalind Taylor rosalindtaylor_at_dpss.
  lacounty.gov
• MediCal Workers
• Mobile Units

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What can we do?

• Be aware of current outreach efforts
• Talk about FSP with teachers and administrators
• Promote Food Stamp Program within our schools
• Provide referral resources to families
• Share success stories

25
Thank you!Contact Information

• Suzanne Bogert, MS, RD
• Project Director
• Network for a Healthy California--Los Angeles
  Region
• 3530 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 800
• Los Angeles, CA 90010
• 213.351.7875
• sbogert_at_ph.lacounty.gov

• Michael Greene
• Dietetic Intern
• Network for a Healthy California--Los Angeles
  Region
• 3530 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 800
• Los Angeles, CA 90010
• 213.351.7335
• migreene_at_ph.lacounty.gov