AARP DECEMBER 2021 PUBLIC POLICY INSTITUTE Fact Sheet Millions of Adults Ages 50 and Older Rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Olivia Dean and Carlos Figueiredo AARP Public Policy Institute The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the nation's largest antihunger program and a lifeline for millions of people, including adults ages 50 and older, who are at risk for food insecurity (i.e., limited or uncertain access to adequate food).' SNAP provides financial assistance to low-income individuals and families to help buy the food they need. The program reduces food insecurity and poverty and is linked to improved health outcomes, including reduced hospitalizations among low-income older adults." Because SNAP is designed to respond to the needs of low- income populations, it has been a particularly important program during the COVID-19 pandemic. Millions of people enrolled in SNAP during the pandemic and associated economic downturn,' which likely played a role in keeping the share of adults ages 50 and older who were food-insecure unchanged at 8 percent (or 9.5 million people) during that time period.* This Fact Sheet describes selected characteristics of adults ages 50 and older who participate in SNAP and the benefits their households receive.* The paper includes analysis of SNAP participants ages 50 to 59 as well as those ages 60 and older, and state-level data are included in the appendices. Characteristics of Older Adults Participating in SNAP Almost Half of SNAP Households Have an Older Adult In 2019, 46 percent (8.7 million) of all SNAP households included at least one adult age 50 or older. That share varied by state and territory, from 30 percent in Utah to 58 percent in Florida and New York (appendix A, table 1). While the number of SNAP households with at least one adult age 50 or older stayed about the same between 2018 and 2019, the share increased slightly from 2018 (from 44 percent) due toa decrease in overall SNAP participation. What Is a SNAP Household? Eligibility for SNAP is determined at the household level. A household can be composed ofa single individual or a group of people who live together and purchase and prepare food together. For the program's determination of household eligibility, the household typically must apply using aggregate income, expenses, and assets.° DECEMBER 2021 The number of SNAP households with adults ages 50 to 59 decreased from about 3.8 million in 2018 to 3.6 million in 2019, but the overall share stayed the same. Conversely, the number of SNAP households with adults ages 60 and older increased from 5.1 million in 2018 to nearly 5.3 million in 2019. As a result, the share of households with adults 60 or older rose from 26 percent in 2018 to 28 percent in 2019. Most Older SNAP Enrollees Live Alone Older SNAP participants are more likely than younger SNAP participants to live alone. In 2019, 77 percent of SNAP households with an adult age 50 and older were single-person households, compared to 30 percent of younger households (without any person age 50 or older). Households with adults ages 50 and older had an average SNAP household size of 1.3 people, compared to 2.6 among households without any adult age 50 and older.' Among older households, household size varied by state and territory, from 1.1 people in Connecticut to 1.8 in Alaska and 2.1 people in Guam (appendix A, table 2). FIGURE 1 Households with adults ages 60 and older were most likely to be the smallest, with an average household size of 1.2 people compared to 1.5 people among households with adults ages 50 to 59. Most Older SNAP Households Live below the Poverty Line SNAP households must have incomes below a certain amount to be eligible for benefits. The average gross monthly income of SNAP households with at least one adult age 50 or older was about $860 in 2019, or $10,316 a year (appendix A, table 2). Three-quarters (75 percent) of the 8.7 million SNAP households with adults ages 50 and older had incomes below the federal poverty level (FPL), which in 2019 was $12,490 a year for a one-person household and $16,910 a year for a two-person household. The Virgin Islands had the highest share of older SNAP households in poverty (92 percent; appendix A, table 2), while Vermont had the lowest (53 percent). About one-sixth (16 percent) of SNAP participants ages 50 to 59 were reported to be working in 2019, compared to 5 percent of Race/Ethnicity of SNAP Participants Ages 50 and Older, 2019 1.7% 13.3% 1.1% Bi White (non-Hispanic) m Black (non-Hispanic) Asian (non-Hispanic) m@ AIAN/NHPI (non-Hispanic) Hispanic § Multiple Races/Ethnicities © Unknown Note: AIAN refers to American Indian/Alaska Native and NHPI refers to Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander. SNAP enrollment data by race/ethnicity should be interpreted cautiously due to low rates of race/ethnicity reporting in several states. Source: AARP Public Policy Institute analysis of SNAP Quality Control data, 2019 those ages 60 and older. However, recording employment at a given point in time overstates joblessness because many SNAP participants have unstable or temporary work and may be working on and off throughout the year.® Relatively low employment rates among adults ages 50 to 59 could also be driven by high rates of disability (see section below). Nearly Half of SNAP Participants Ages 50 to 59 Have a Disability Food insecurity tends to be more common and more severe among SNAP households affected by disabilities, making these households some of the most vulnerable.' Older SNAP participants are also more likely to have disabilities than younger participants. At the individual level, nearly half-47 percent-of the 3.7 million SNAP participants ages 50 to 59 had a disability in 2019."° Among SNAP participants under age 50, the share with disabilities was only about 9 percent. Half (49 percent) of SNAP households with adults ages 50 to 59 included at least one person age 50 to 59 with a disability. Older SNAP Recipients Represent Different Races and Ethnicities Among SNAP participants ages 50 and older, 13 percent are Hispanic, 44 percent are non- Hispanic White, 21 percent are non-Hispanic Black, 5 percent are non-Hispanic Asian, 1 percent are non-Hispanic American Indian/ Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and 14 percent are of unknown race/ ethnicity (figure 1). Race/ethnicity data are unavailable for 14 percent of SNAP participants ages 50 and older due to low rates of race/ ethnicity reporting in several states. SNAP Benefits Are Based on a Very Low-Cost Food Plan SNAP benefits are calculated using the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Thrifty Food Plan (TFP), a very low-cost food plan that is supposed to be based on average consumption while meeting adequate nutrition and price targets. The TFP varies by household size, with larger SNAP households receiving larger benefit amounts. SNAP households are expected to spend about 30 percent of their net income on food. Thus, a monthly benefit allotment is calculated by multiplying net monthly income by 0.3 and subtracting that amount from the maximum monthly allotment for household size. NUE ea eee ee wyatt CT ome Mary is 65 years old, lives alone, and receives $500 in Social Security income per month. In October 2020, she would have normally received $54 in prepandemic monthly SNAP benefits. However, with pandemic emergency allotments, she received $204. This amount increased to $234 in January 2021 due to another temporary 15 percent boost. In October 2021, the 15 percent boost expired, but at the same time, a reevaluation of the USDA's Thrifty Food Plan-the basis on which SNAP benefits are calculated- took effect. As a result, her SNAP benefit increased from $234 to $250 per month. When emergency allotments end, her monthly benefit will decrease to $100, which is more than the $54 she received before the pandemic because of the TFP reevaluation. DECEMBER 2021 Nearly One-Third of Older SNAP Households Receive the Maximum Benefit Under normal SNAP rules, SNAP households with no net income receive the maximum SNAP benefit allotment for their household size (see maximum allotments by household size in appendix B)."* These lowest-income households do not have disposable income available to purchase food and often rely solely on SNAP. In 2019, nearly a third (29 percent) of households with adult(s) ages 50 or older received the maximum benefit (appendix A, table 3). This share varied by state, from 15 percent in Hawaii to 51 percent in New York. Among households without an older adult, a larger share received the maximum benefit (43 percent). On average, SNAP households with at least one adult age 50 and older received $142 per month in 2019, or $1.56 per meal (appendix A, table 3)." The maximum benefit of $192 in 2019 for a one-person household equates to approximately $2.10 per meal (appendix B)."* However, in 2019, people who were food insecure reported spending an average $3.13 per meal. Thus, even the maximum SNAP benefit was likely insufficient to cover all meal costs even before the pandemic caused an economic downturn. One in Six Older SNAP Households Receive the Minimum Benefit The federal government has established a nominal SNAP benefit floor. In 2019, that minimum SNAP benefit was $16 per month for one- and two-person households in most states and the District of Columbia." Beginning in October 2021, the minimum monthly benefit increased to $20 for most states." While most SNAP households with adults ages 50 and older receive more than the minimum benefit, 17 percent received the minimum benefit in 2019. The share receiving the minimum benefit varied by state and territory, from 1 percent in Guam and Hawaii to 34 percent in Wisconsin (appendix A, table 3). Older SNAP households were more likely than younger SNAP households to receive the minimum benefit. Among households without adults ages 50 and older, only 4 percent received the minimum benefit. In fact, of all SNAP households receiving the minimum benefit, three-quarters (77 percent) were households with adults ages 50 and older. Households that qualify for the minimum benefit are still low-income households that must meet SNAP income requirements. Under typical SNAP rules, gross income must not be higher than 130 percent of the FPL (about $16,700 for a single-person household in 2021), while net income must not be higher than 100 percent of the FPL. However, under federal rules, households with people ages 60 and older or people with disabilities need to meet only the net income limit. While the minimum benefit can help, it is a small supplement that covers only about five meals a month." Fewer Than One in Six SNAP Households with Adults 60 and Older Claim the Medical Expense Deduction SNAP allows households that include adults ages 60 and older or people with disabilities to deduct medical expenses from their income for SNAP benefit calculation purposes. Any medical expenses over $35 a month that have not otherwise been reimbursed can be deducted, which can help these households qualify for higher SNAP benefits. There are a wide range of allowable deductions, including health insurance premiums and copayments, prescription drug costs, dental and hearing costs, and transportation to medical appointments.'® Some states allow additional expenses not listed in federal regulations, such as home modifications and alternative therapies. Many seniors face significant out-of-pocket medical costs,"° but only 15 percent of SNAP households with at least one adult age 60 or older claim the medical expense deduction. This share varies widely by state and territory, from just 4 percent in Maine and Washington, DC, to 41 percent in North Dakota and 69 percent in the Virgin Islands (appendix DECEMBER 2021 A, table 4). One of the potential reasons why the share claiming the medical deduction is so low is that medical expenses must be verified. To reduce the administrative burden on caseworkers and SNAP participants, some states use a standard medical deduction (set amount) when participants can prove medical expenses over $35. A Critical Program for Older Adults, Especially during the COVID-19 Pandemic SNAP is an essential federal nutrition program that helps millions of older adults put food on the table. A countercyclical program, SNAP is designed to expand when the economy weakens and contract when the economy strengthens. Thus, the program has taken on heightened importance during the COVID-19 pandemic, as factors such as increased unemployment have cut into people's incomes and higher food prices have made it even more difficult for many low-income older adults to afford food." Federal and state governments temporarily increased SNAP benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic in response to the economic downturn. Several legislative and policy changes have occurred since March 2020, and as of October 2021 SNAP households are still seeing a modest increase of about $12 to $16 per month." Average benefits will drop once pandemic emergency allotments end but will remain higher than prepandemic benefits due to the Thrifty Food Plan reevaluation. Between fiscal years 2019 and 2020, over 4 million more people of all ages (in 2.6 million households) enrolled in SNAP."* SNAP enrollment has continued to climb since, and as of October 2021 over 6 million more people were enrolled in SNAP than in fiscal year 2019. Data presented in this report demonstrate a significant prepandemic need for SNAP among households with older adults, and the need has only increased during the pandemic. DECEMBER 2021 Appendix A: State-Level Tables TABLE 1 SNAP Enrollment among Households with Adult(s) Ages 50 and Older, 2019 Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana lowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Guam Bele] Oy) Households CI NeTXS] 336,117 36,106 368,321 154,330 1,912,235 222,621 208,386 62,376 64,967 1,522,372 635,011 79,688 66,179 867,365 249,918 149,892 90,508 238,005 371,079 81,831 331,408 445,234 610,601 203,969 210,106 316,872 51,744 71,454 217,684 39,044 353,632 213,873 1,483,787 614,748 23,176 675,942 258,127 346,536 934,629 85,936 275,813 37,657 420,474 1,440,379 71,797 38,978 328,254 473,593 158,503 312,535 11,755 15,293 Total Households Tew LT LC) Bolt 149,402 16,008 158,520 58,542 695,495 103,965 101,375 31,363 29,885 877,574 255,847 40,612 26,731 371,292 102,358 53,790 38,974 107,696 152,250 43,670 172,173 231,241 306,474 88,613 90,353 138,335 23,908 28,777 92,633 18,098 198,163 78,108 858,528 266,512 9,863 335,812 108,285 175,195 475,763 43,846 123,985 15,489 187,076 579,092 21,368 22,247 158,160 206,844 82,573 141,935 4,598 6,203 Households Ti) Adult(s) 50-59 75,110 8,385 73,114 29,120 313,915 40,426 37,367 17,361 14,090 290,415 102,461 14,798 12,143 157,461 46,191 28,544 17,555 54,519 78,280 17,177 63,400 82,981 149,090 38,873 47,428 64,548 10,797 12,313 36,677 9,212 58,939 40,738 267,974 112,453 3,865 158,873 56,713 70,197 186,458 14,728 60,209 6,935 94,290 234,012 10,094 8,262 73,290 75,913 40,319 63,500 2,413 2,728 LES -litel Ce hy ht) Adult(s) 60+ 78,655 8,537 91,727 29,934 395,667 65,638 64,979 14,629 16,017 611,085 158,466 26,826 14,968 222,594 57,575 26,539 22,228 56,439 74,706 27,253 112,483 150,347 164,390 50,663 44,728 76,607 13,506 17,070 56,471 9,480 144,350 39,514 605,022 162,720 6,064 184,651 54,464 108,769 292,582 29,533 65,559 8,748 98,720 346,945 11,650 14,316 86,648 133,261 45,191 80,860 2,226 3,727 ir Tewey eB) LCC RMN a] Poe) Bett 44% 44% 43% 38% 36% 47% 49% 50% 46% 58% 40% 51% 40% 43% 41% 36% 43% 45% 41% 53% 52% 52% 50% 43% 43% 44% 46% 40% 43% 46% 56% 37% 58% 43% 43% 50% 42% 51% 51% 51% 45% 41% 44% 40% 30% 57% 48% 44% 52% 45% 39% 41% Virgin Islands 11,160 5,072 1,724 3,465 45% OTe 18,802,000 8,710,673 3,588,375 5,289,192 oy Note: SNAP households with adults 50+, 50-59, and 60+ refer to households with at least one eligible adult 50+, 50-59, and 60+, respectively. Source: AARP Public Policy Institute analysis of SNAP Quality Control data, 2019 DECEMBER 2021 TABLE 2 Characteristics of SNAP Households with Adult(s) Ages 50 and Older, 2019 Average Single-Person Average Gross Monthly Share of Households with Gross Household Size Households Household Income Income under Poverty Line Alabama 1.4 80% $812 84% Alaska 1.8 66% $1,039 715% Arizona 1.5 72% $822 77T% Arkansas 1.4 75% $783 83% California 1.4 70% $805 71% Colorado 1.2 84% $855 T4A% Connecticut 11 89% $898 66% Delaware 1.5 70% $921 75% District of Columbia 1.2 84% $682 85% Florida 1.3 78% $852 76% Georgia 1.4 75% $846 75% Hawaii 14 56% $894 85% Idaho 1.4 7T% $919 1T% Illinois 1.3 80% $875 71% Indiana 1.3 84% $798 81% lowa 1.2 86% $881 69% Kansas 1.3 67% $806 82% Kentucky 1.4 53% $699 89% Louisiana 1.3 80% $724 89% Maine 1.3 81% $1,024 64% Maryland 1.2 84% $871 73% Massachusetts 1.2 81% $989 69% Michigan 1.2 84% $899 71% Minnesota 1.3 85% $980 70% Mississippi 1.3 81% $755 86% Missouri 1.3 59% $822 80% Montana 1.3 69% $908 71% Nebraska 1.3 82% $887 76% Nevada 1.2 80% $879 70% New Hampshire 1.2 85% $930 72% New Jersey 1.2 79% $901 74% New Mexico 1.4 7TT% S776 83% New York 1.3 80% $988 72% North Carolina 1.3 70% $924 68% North Dakota 1.3 86% $881 70% Ohio 1.3 82% $859 74% Oklahoma 1.4 56% S774 84% Oregon 1.2 83% $917 68% Pennsylvania 1.3 82% $955 70% Rhode Island 1.2 64% $971 66% South Carolina 1.3 64% $773 84% South Dakota 1.3 80% $920 71% Tennessee 1.3 81% $759 82% Texas 1.3 81% $668 86% Utah 1.3 81% $731 82% Vermont 1.3 60% $1,093 53% Virginia 1.3 83% $737 85% Washington 1.2 83% $852 76% West Virginia 14 58% $912 75% Wisconsin 1.3 64% $1,025 63% Wyoming 13 84% $787 79% Guam 2.0 50% $871 84% Virgin Islands 1.3 75% $574 92% Te SEL 1.3 rah $860 ri Source: AARP Public Policy Institute analysis of SNAP Quality Control data, 2019 DECEMBER 2021 TABLE 3 Benefits among SNAP Households with Adult(s) Ages 50 and Older, 2019 Households Households Households Households Households Households Households Households Households with Adult(s) with Adult(s) with Adult(s) with Adult(s) with Adult(s) with Adult(s) with Adult(s) with Adult(s) with Adult(s) ate 50+ 50-59 60+ 50+ 50-59 60+ 50+ 50-59 60+ Alabama $127 $161 $98 19% 33% 5% 17% 10% 23% Alaska $275 $373 $229 30% 41% 21% 29% 15% 39% Arizona $140 $190 $103 25% 39% 13% 21% 10% 29% Arkansas $112 $150 $78 19% 31% 8% 28% 15% 41% California $172 $216 $140 44% 58% 34% 12% T% 16% Colorado $130 $174 $107 24% 33% 18% 23% 12% 29% Connecticut $152 $172 $143 47% 58% 41% 14% 9% 17% Delaware $148 $183 $104 27% 29% 23% 22% 12% 35% District of Columbia $134 $175 $99 35% 51% 20% 19% 13% 25% Florida $144 $194 $122 25% 42% 17% 18% 12% 22% Georgia $136 $191 $102 25% 39% 16% 20% 9% 28% Hawaii $306 $389 $270 15% 25% 10% 1% 1% 1% Idaho $132 $177 $97 16% 25% 8% 17% 9% 23% Illinois $144 $177 $122 31% 42% 22% 16% 8% 21% Indiana $126 $156 $102 24% 36% 14% 20% 14% 25% lowa $121 $158 $85 24% 39% 7% 24% 13% 36% Kansas $128 $162 $104 20% 30% 11% 18% 13% 21% Kentucky $129 $178 $83 19% 33% 5% 17% 9% 25% Louisiana $135 $149 $120 24% 35% 11% 10% 9% 11% Maine $126 $151 $112 21% 31% 15% 25% 20% 29% Maryland $120 $163 $96 21% 33% 14% 24% 13% 30% Massachusetts $152 $178 $142 35% 41% 32% 13% 9% 14% Michigan $133 $155 $114 28% 34% 22% 18% 15% 20% Minnesota $109 $131 S91 16% 23% 10% 30% 27% 33% Mississippi $113 $145 $82 20% 31% 7% 18% 10% 28% Missouri $127 $157 $106 19% 33% 7% 17% 10% 24% Montana $132 $165 $112 25% 36% 17% 18% 11% 23% Nebraska $119 $161 $93 18% 29% 9% 21% 10% 29% Nevada $114 $157 $87 25% 44% 13% 27% 11% 37% New Hampshire $129 $146 $115 26% 31% 21% 15% 13% 16% New Jersey $147 $161 $146 30% 36% 27% 13% 20% 10% New Mexico $134 $162 $109 25% 34% 14% 20% 13% 28% New York $178 $204 $166 51% 51% 50% 9% 9% 10% North Carolina $118 $162 $89 20% 32% 11% 27% 18% 33% North Dakota $142 $180 $128 27% 37% 21% 19% 11% 23% Ohio $141 $188 $104 30% 44% 18% 23% 12% 32% Oklahoma $129 $175 $86 24% 35% 12% 20% 11% 29% Oregon $131 $173 $106 24% 40% 14% 19% 9% 26% Pennsylvania $141 $171 $124 29% 40% 22% 15% 9% 19% Rhode Island $131 $146 $123 27% 32% 25% 21% 17% 23% South Carolina $121 $157 $91 21% 30% 13% 19% 13% 24% South Dakota $162 $188 $142 31% 38% 26% 6% 6% 6% Tennessee $124 $171 $87 24% 39% 9% 27% 13% 39% Texas $133 $165 $112 17% 25% 11% 11% T% 14% Utah $137 $180 $103 28% 37% 20% 21% 16% 26% Vermont $158 $190 $140 42% 49% 38% 13% 11% 14% Virginia $130 $180 $87 24% 41% 8% 21% 10% 29% Washington $135 $158 $124 24% 35% 17% 13% 11% 13% West Virginia $111 $136 $86 16% 24% 9% 29% 20% 37% Wisconsin $103 $133 $82 21% 32% 13% 34% 24% 42% Wyoming $136 $200 $70 18% 29% 9% 25% 10% 40% Guam $373 $495 $287 39% 46% 33% 1% 0% 2% Virgin Islands $217 $304 $180 26% 51% 14% 8% 4% 10% United States $142 96 $120 29% 39% 22% 17% 11% 21% Note: SNAP households with adults 50+, 50-59, and 60+ refer to households with at least one eligible adult 50+, 50-59, and 60+, respectively. Source: AARP Public Policy Institute analysis of SNAP Quality Control data, 2019 DECEMBER 2021 TABLE 4 Share of SNAP Households with Adult(s) Ages 60 and Older Claiming Medical Expense Deduction, 2019 IK: Number Percent Alabama 15,318 19% Alaska 508 6% Arizona 8,588 9% Arkansas 3,263 11% California 42,115 11% Colorado 8,496 13% Connecticut 4,598 T% Delaware 1,203 8% District of Columbia 650 4% Florida 59,191 10% Georgia 34,913 22% Hawaii 3,392 13% Idaho 2,458 16% Illinois 37,729 17% Indiana 4,804 8% lowa 5,065 19% Kansas 4,587 21% Kentucky 4,960 9% Louisiana 6,008 8% Maine 1,088 4% Maryland 15,823 14% Massachusetts 28,803 19% Michigan 27,742 17% Minnesota 5,969 12% Mississippi 5,052 11% Missouri 18,942 25% Montana 2,625 19% Nebraska 3,160 19% Nevada 6,830 12% New Hampshire 1,059 11% New Jersey 20,827 14% New Mexico 2,052 5% New York 132,627 22% North Carolina 28,603 18% North Dakota 2,492 41% Ohio 18,488 10% Oklahoma 4,758 9% Oregon 19,753 18% Pennsylvania 46,642 16% Rhode Island 6,568 22% South Carolina 10,269 16% South Dakota 2,444 28% Tennessee 14,633 15% Texas 36,206 10% Utah 879 8% Vermont 4,664 33% Virginia 11,211 13% Washington 13,233 10% West Virginia 6,250 14% Wisconsin 23,445 29% Wyoming 799 36% Guam 1,013 27% Virgin Islands 2,394 69% TS eS aE EY 15% Source: AARP Public Policy Institute analysis of SNAP Quality Control data, 2019 9 DECEMBER 2021 Appendix B: Maximum SNAP Benefits TABLE 1 Changes in SNAP Maximum Monthly Allotment, 2018-22 Maximum Monthly SNAP Allotment Oct. 2018- Oct. 2019- Oct. 2020- Jan. 2021- Oct. 2021- Household Size Sept. 2019 Sept. 2020 Dec. 2020* Sept. 2021 Sept. 2022** $192 $194 $204 $234 $250 2 $353 $355 $374 $430 $459 3 $505 $509 $535 $616 $658 4 $642 $646 $680 $782 $835 5 $762 $768 $807 $929 $992 6 $914 $921 $969 $1,114 $1,190 7 $1,011 $1,018 $1,071 $1,232 $1,316 8 $1,155 $1,164 $1,224 $1,408 $1,504 Each additional person $144 $146 $153 $176 $188 *The maximum allotments shown here were originally slated to continue through September 30, 2021. However, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 increased the maximum allotments in January 2021 through June 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 extended these increases through September 2021. ™ Reflects Thrifty Food Plan update. Note: The allotments described here are for households in the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia. The allotments are different in Alaska, Guam, Hawaii, and the Virgin Islands. 1 "Definitions of Food Insecurity," US Department of Agriculture, September 2021, https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition- assistance/food-security-in-the-us/definitions-of-food-security.aspx. 2 Laura J. Samuel et al., "Does the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Affect Hospital Utilization among Older Adults? The Case of Maryland," Population Health Management 21, no. 2 (April 2018): 88-95, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ PMC5906726/. 3 "SNAP Data Tables," US Department of Agriculture, September 2021, https://www.fns.usda.gov/pd/supplemental-nutrition- istance-program-sn 4 AARP Public Policy Institute analysis of Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement, 2020. 5 Although the US Department of Agriculture defines elderly as ages 60 and older, this Fact Sheet generally uses the term older households to refer to SNAP households with adults ages 50 and older. Throughout the paper, references to households with older adults mean SNAP households with at least one older adult who is eligible for SNAP. 6 For eligibility purposes, individuals who are ages 60 or older and are unable to purchase food and prepare meals with others in the household because of a permanent disability may be considered a separate SNAP household if the aggregate income of the other individuals they live with is less than 165 percent of the federal poverty level for their household size. 7 While most households with older adults are single-person households, some households have two or more people, raising the average to 1.3 persons per household. 8 Brynne Keith-Jennings and Raheem Chaudhry, "Most Working-Age SNAP Participants Work, but Often in Unstable Jobs," Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, March 15, 2018, https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/most-working-age-snap- participants-work-but-often-in-unstable-jobs. 10 DECEMBER 2021 9 Alisha Coleman-Jensen and Mark Nord, "Disability Is an Important Risk Factor for Food Insecurity," 'US Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, May 6, 2013, https: for-food-insecurity#:~:text=Not%20only%20is%20food%20insecurity,than%20other%20food%2Dinsecure%20households. 10 Disability data are available only for adults under age 60 and likely undercount the true number of individuals with disabilities. Nonelderly individuals are identified as having a disability based on receipt of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) ora combination of hours worked, work registration status, receipt of Social Security, veterans' benefits, or workers' compensation, and/or unit medical expense deduction. 11 Stacy Dean, "Thrifty Food Plan Re- evaluation Puts Nutrition i in Reach for SNAP Participants," US Department of Agricultute, August 30, 2021, h a alua J J a a ants. 12 Net income refers to gross income minus allowable deductions. For example, elderly or disabled members may deduct medical expenses that are over $35 for the month. More information on deductions is available at "SNAP Eligibility," US Department of Agriculture, October 1, 2021, https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/recipient/eligibility. 13 There are differences in average monthly allotments by state, impacted largely by household size. In addition, because of the high cost of living in Alaska, Guam, Hawaii, and the Virgin Islands, these states and territories have different income eligibility requirements and benefit maximums. 14 The maximum benefit is higher in Alaska, Guam, Hawaii, and the Virgin Islands due to higher cost of living. 15 "Food Insecurity in the United States," Feeding America, 2021, https://map.feedingamerica.org/. 16 The minimum benefit is higher in Alaska, Guam, Hawaii, and the Virgin Islands due to higher cost of living. See "Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) Information," US Department of Agriculture, October 1, 2021, https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/allotment/COLA. 17 The Consolidated Appropriations Act, enacted in December 2020, increased the minimum benefit from January through June 2021. The American Rescue Plan Act, enacted in March 2021, extended this increase through September 2021. The minimum benefit increased to $20 in October 2021 as a result of the Thrifty Food Plan reevaluation. 18 Based on the 2019 minimum benefit and average amount spent per meal by people who were food insecure in 2019 ($3.13). 19 "Maximizing the SNAP Medical Expense Deduction," National Council on Aging, December 2, 2020, https://www.ncoa.org/article/ nap-medical-expen ion. 20 Claire Noel-Miller, "Medicare Beneficiaries' Out-of- Pocket Spending for Health Care," AARP Public Policy Institute, June 11, 2020, 22 In March 2020, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act allowed USDA to grant state waiver requests for emergency SNAP allotments. All states used these waivers to increase households' SNAP allotments up to the maximum amount allowed for their household size. However, those already receiving the maximum benefit-the lowest-income households-did not receive an increase. USDA took action to remedy this, and beginning April 2021, all SNAP households were eligible to receive emergency allotments. Additionally, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 increased maximum allotments by Fact Sheet 1275402, December 2021 15 percent from the June 2020 value of the TFP for January through June 2021. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 further extended this maximum allotment increase through September 2021. While the temporary 15 percent benefit increase ended after September 2021, this loss was offset by a recent reevaluation © AARP PUBLIC POLICY INSTITUTE 601 E Street, NW Washington DC 20049 of the TFP, which resulted in permanent benefit increases for nearly all SNAP Follow us on Twitter @AARPpolicy participants beginning in October 2021. As a result, SNAP households saw a on facebook.com/AARPpolicy modest increase in benefits in October: about $12 to $16 per person per month. www.aarp.org/ppi 23 "SNAP Data Tables," US Department of Agriculture, September 2021, For more reports from the Public Policy https://www.fns.usda.gov/pd/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap. Institute, visit http://www.aarp.org/ppi/. 24 The 2021 data reflect preliminary data from USDA as of October 1, 2021. https://doi.org/10.26419/ppi.001 2 ~AARP 11