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Food Stamp Network News  
2011 Food Stamp Prescreening Guide Now Available

 

The October 2011 version of "FOOD STAMPS IN NYS: An Elgibility Prescreening Guide" is now available to download from our website.  


This guide is designed for community based organizations, advocates and volunteers working with low-income families in New York State. It will help determine if a family/individual may be eligible to recieve food stamp benefits and is a great tool for those to help families/individuals apply for the Food Stamp Program. The guide also provides detailed information on how to calculate an estimated food stamp benefit allotment for a family/individual.

    

This year's web version includes new features like interactive, clickable links to sections and appendices for navigating the document and many clickable links to additional web resources. 


Members of the Food Stamp Network can order a paper copy of the guide on a first come first serve basis by e-mailing dawn.secor@hungersolutionsny.org.

 

USDA Warning about Phony SNAP Application Assistance


SCAM Alert:   SCAMMERS OFFER PHONY SNAP APPLICATION ASSISTANCE

  

There have been reports of individuals placing ads on the internet, sometimes located on the side of legitimate articles, offering assistance for filling out SNAP applications.

  

The links go to another website where unsuspecting consumers may be asked to provide personal information, including credit card information. Do NOT provide this information. It can be used to allow other individuals to make unauthorized purchases on credit cards, or gain access to bank accounts.

 

And the Award Goes To...

The Outreach Coaliton of the USDA Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) seeks nominations each year for the Hunger Champion Award.  This award honors local food stamp offices that have unique and creative apporaches to serving thier clients.

  

Learn more about the Hunger Champions Award on the USDA website.


Two Silver 2011 Hunger Champion Awards were given in New York State for the following food stamp offices:

   

New York Human Resources Administration, New York City, NY is recognized for working with the Food Bank of New York to develop a city-wide "mediation model" communications process between HRA processing centers and 72 community organizations providing application assistance.     

Onondaga County Department of Social Services, Syracuse, NY is recognized for streamlining their application process using an electronic program called myWorkspace. Through this, they have been able to improve timeliness and accuracy as well as make available cross-eligibility and case management data from one location.

 

Click here to read more... 

Rise in Veterans and Military Families Seeking Food Assistance

In recognition of Veterans Day, two reports have come out highlighting the rising struggles of our veterans and military families. Stars and Stripes reports that food stamp use at military commissaries is up sharply from four years ago. Nearly $88 million worth of groceries were purchased using food stamps at military commissaries in 2011, more than double the amount spent in 2008, according to the Defense Commissary Agency.

Additionally, the Food Bank for New York City reports on a similar rise in need among veterans. According to their report, From the Front Lines to the Bread Lines: Food Poverty Among Veterans, veterans' households are making a range of sacrifices in order to make ends meet: more than 1 in 10 are unable to buy food because of rent or utilities; many more are reducing the quantity and quality of food they are purchasing. Further, the data show more than one third of veteran households would not be able to afford food for their families within three months of losing their household income.

Connect struggling veterans and military families to their local Nutrition Outreach and Education Program. 
 

Determining Foods Covered Under Nutrition Assistance Programs is Not Always a SNAP

From The Network for Public Health Law:

"The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, is under the microscope lately. People are debating about what foods and beverages should be eligible for SNAP benefits, and which businesses should be eligible to accept SNAP benefits. USDA recently updated the website page where it describes the foods eligible for SNAP.
 
...Can we end hunger and malnutrition and eliminate obesity and diet-related disease? Are there ideas on which the public health and anti-hunger communities can agree?"  

click here to read more...
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