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As a Matter of SNAP:A Dialogue of Assistance
Kurt Messner
Acting Regional Administrator
USDA, Food and Nutrition Service
(Northeast Regional Office)
2
Topics Covered
• Overview of SNAP• By the Numbers• Error Rates / Timeliness• Integrity• Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT)• Disaster Assistance• Employment and Training• Education (SNAP-Ed)• Farmers’ Markets• Grants• Outreach• Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs)
4
Overview of SNAP
• Food Stamp Acts of 1964 and 1977
• First Food Stamp Transaction in Rochester, NY
• The same mission to combat hunger and reduce poverty remains strong.
7
By the NumbersSNAP – NY FY2013 FY2014 FY2015 JAN 2015
Persons Participating (Avg)
3,170,465 3,122,879 3,064,533 3,055,942
Households Participating (Avg)
1,710,501 1,698,559 1,676,357 1,673,567
Value of Benefits ($) $5,621,405,245 $5,200,758,093 $1,703,099,721 $422,875,286
Benefit/Person/Month ($) (Avg)
$147.75 $138.78 $138.94 $138.38
Benefit/Household/Month ($) (Avg)
$273.87 $255.16 $253.99 $252.68
Administrative Cost ($) $383,915,922 $352,348,051 $47,008,829 --
Total SNAP Cost $6,017,792,106 $5,571,547,033 $1,750,108,550 $422,875,286
8
By the Numbers
SNAP New York% Change
Jan 2014 toJan 2015
United States% Change
Jan 2014 toJan 2015
Persons Participating
(Avg)3,055,942 -2.94% 46,029,343 -1.08%
Households Participating
(Avg)1,673,567 -2.05% 22,615,839 -0.14%
Total SNAP Cost ($)
$422,875,286 -0.97% $5,846,002,311 1.14%
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Error Rates / Timeliness
• Payment Error Rates– Quality Control determined that the household received an
incorrect benefit amount. Examples are an overpayment or an underpayment.
• Case and Procedural Error Rates– Quality Control determined that the decision to deny, suspend
or terminate the household was incorrect.
• Timeliness– The percentage of a State’s approved SNAP initial applications
that were approved within SNAP statutory processing requirements.
• 7 days for expedited service• 30 days for non-expedited service
12
Integrity
• SNAP integrity is a long standing FNS priority.
• Removing retailers who break the rules.
• Working with state partners to fight recipient fraud.
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Integrity
• Reducing the incidence of replacement cards.
• State Law Enforcement Bureau Agreements (SLEBs)
15
Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT)
• Implementation of initial pilot: March 1999• Operational statewide: February 2001• Current contractor: Xerox State and Local Solutions, Inc.• Programs available on EBT Card: SNAP, TANF, and
HEAP• Expiration of contract: October 2020, with two 1-year
options to extend• Other information of interest: Lead State for the
Northeast Coalition of States (NCS), which also includes Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire
17
Disaster Assistance
• D-SNAP is a completely different program from regular SNAP.
• Nothing is more important than providing food when people find themselves suddenly, and often critically, in need following a storm, earthquake, flood or other disaster emergency.
• FNS coordinates with State, local and voluntary organizations.
18
Disaster Assistance
• Allows the Secretary of Agriculture to operate aD-SNAP when affected areas have received a Presidential disaster declaration for assistance from FEMA.
• Eligible households receive one month of benefits equivalent to the maximum amount of benefits issued to a SNAP household of their size.
• Benefits are issued via an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card which can be used to purchase food at most grocery stores.
• During a D-SNAP operation, ongoing SNAP clients can also receive disaster food assistance.
• Good planning is crucial to achieving a successfulDSNAP operation.
20
Employment and Training (E&T)
• States use SNAP E&T programs to prepare individuals for the following:• In-demand jobs• Help employers find qualified workers• Strengthen the state’s economy
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Employment and Training (E&T)
• Federal funding for E&T Programs is contingent upon approval of a State E&T Plan by FNS and the availability of Federal funds.
• Funding with Three Different Grants:• E&T Program Grants• ABAWD Grants• 50 Percent Reimbursements
• Administrative and Participant
23
Education (SNAP-Ed)
• The goal of SNAP-Ed is to improve the likelihood that persons eligible for SNAP will make healthy choices within a limited budget and choose active lifestyles consistent with the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPlate.
• All 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands provide nutrition education for SNAP and other eligible low-income individuals.
25
Farmers’ Markets
• The number of farmers' markets licensed to accept SNAP benefits is increasing nationwide.
• MarketLink partnership for SNAP vendors
• Health Bucks in NYC and Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) in upstate NY
NEW YORK FY2013 FY2014 FY2015
Farmers' Markets Authorized
270 365 147
Farmers' Markets Redemptions ($)
$2,300,680 $2,810,730 $791,310
27
Grants
Process & Technology
(formally Participation
Grant)
• FY13 City of New York for creation of Electronic Application and Scanning Express (EASE) Self-Service Areas in five SNAP
Centers and ten CBOs: $650,000• FY13 Jefferson County to purchase call center software: $24,157
• FY11 Broome County to establish a call center, caseload management software, and to conduct a BPR analysis: $74,596
Combined Application
Project (CAP)
• New York State Nutrition Improvement Project(Approved 3/26/03. Implemented 01/05)
USDA Food Insecurity Nutrition
Incentive (FINI) Grant Program
• International Rescue Committee NYC $564,231
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Outreach
• SNAP helps low-income people buy nutritious food such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains, needed for good health.
• Plan focuses on reaching the newly unemployed, working poor, older adults, veterans, legal immigrants, and those who do not apply for the program.
Federal Fiscal Years2013-2015
Total Federal and State Funding
Total of Federal Reimbursement
FFY13 $13,488,086 $6,724,043
FFY14 $13,277,676 $6,638,838
FFY15 $13,139,453 $6,569,727
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Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs)• ABAWD eligibility for SNAP is limited to any three (3)
months in a 36-month period.
• 3-month time limit does not apply to individuals who are:1) under 18 or 50 years of age or over2) medically certified as physically or mentally unfit for
employment3) responsible for a dependent child or residing in a
household where a household member is under age 184) exempt from SNAP work requirements5) pregnant
• As of FY2015, New York is approved for the Statewide ABAWD time limit waiver.
33
Summary
• SNAP offers nutrition assistance to millions of eligible, low-income individuals and families and provides economic benefits to communities. SNAP is the largest program in the domestic hunger safety net.
• The Food and Nutrition Service works with State agencies, nutrition educators, and neighborhood and faith-based organizations to ensure that those eligible for nutrition assistance can make informed decisions about applying for the program and can access benefits.
• FNS also works with State partners and the retail community to improve program administration and ensure program integrity.
35
Contacts
Kurt Messner
Acting Regional Administrator
USDA, Food and Nutrition Service (Northeast Regional Office)
(617) 565-6370
Bonnie Brathwaite
Director, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
USDA, Food and Nutrition Service (Northeast Regional Office)
(617) 565-6397