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Page 16 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – Friday, January 17, 2020 Savvy Senior Food Assistance Programs Can Help Seniors in Need Dear Savvy Senior, I would like to find out if my 73-year-old aunt is eligible for food stamps or any other type of food assistance program. It seems that she has a difficult time affording enough food each month, and I would like to help if I can. What can you tell me? Searching Niece Dear Searching, Sadly, millions of older Americans, like your aunt, struggle with food costs. According to a recent study by Feeding America, 5.5 million U.S. seniors age 60 and older are food insecure. Fortunately, there are several programs that may be able to help. Here’s what you should know. SNAP Benefits While there are millions of seniors who are eligible for food stamps, less than 40 percent actually take advantage of this benefit. Food stamps are now referred to as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. However, your state may use a different name. For seniors to get SNAP, their net income must be under the 100 percent federal poverty guidelines. So, households that have at least one-person age 60 and older, or disabled, their net monthly income must be less than $1,041 per month for an individual or $1,410 for a family of two. Households receiving TANF or SSI are also eligible. Net income is figured by taking gross income minus allowable deductions including a standard monthly deduction, medical expenses that exceed $35 per month out-of-pocket, and shelter expenses (rent or mortgage payments, taxes and utility costs) that exceeds half of the household’s income. In addition to the net income requirement, a few states also require that a senior’s assets be below $3,500, not counting their home, retirement or pension plans, income from SSI or TANF, and vehicle (this varies by state). Most states, however, have much higher asset limits or they don’t count assets at all when determining eligibility. To apply, seniors or an authorized representative will need to fill out a state application form, which can be done at the local SNAP office or, it can be mailed or faxed in. In many states it can be completed online. If eligible, benefits will be provided on a plastic card that’s used like a debit card and accepted at most grocery stores. The average SNAP benefit for 60-and-older households is around $125 per month. To learn more or apply, contact your local SNAP office – call 800-221-5689 for contact information or visit fns.usda.gov/snap. Other Programs In addition to SNAP, there are other federal programs that can help low-income seniors, age 60 and older, like the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) and the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP). The CSFP (see fns.usda. gov/csfp) is a program that provides supplemental food packages to seniors with income limits at or below the 130 percent poverty line. The SFMNP (fns.usda.gov/ sfmnp) provides seniors coupons that can be exchanged for fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers’ markets, roadside stands and community supported agriculture programs in select locations throughout the U.S. To be eligible, your aunt’s income must be below the 185 percent poverty level. There are also many Feeding America network food banks that host “Senior Grocery Programs” that provide free groceries to older adults, no strings attached. Contact your local food bank (see feedingamerica.org/findyour-local-foodbank) to find out if a program is available nearby. In addition to the food assistance programs, there are also various financial assistance programs that may help your aunt pay for medications, health care, utilities and more. To locate these programs, and learn how to apply for them, go to BenefitsCheckUp.org. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. THE HOUSE AND SENATE: There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week. This week Beacon Hill Roll Call reports on some of the bills that were approved by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Charlie Baker in the 2019 sessions. Of the more than 6,000 bills that have been filed for consideration, only 148 have been approved and signed by the governor. And only 25 of those were bills that affect the entire state while the vast majority were either sick leave banks, local land taking measures or other local-related measures applying to just one city or town. Sick leave banks allow public employees to voluntarily donate sick, personal or vacation days to a sick leave bank for use by a fellow worker so he or she can get paid while on medical leave. Land takings are local land measures that usually only affect one city or town. Here are five of the 25 important, statewide-related bills signed into law: BAN CONVERSION THERAPY FOR ANYONE UNDER 18 (H 140) House 148-8, Senate 34-0, approved and on April 8 Gov. Baker signed into law a bill that would prohibit psychiatrists, psychologists and other health care providers from attempting to change the sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression of anyone under 18. Conversion therapy exposes the person to a stimulus while simultaneously subjecting him or her to some form of discomfort. The therapy is primarily used to try to convert gays and lesbians to be straight. (A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Yes Sen. Sal DiDomenico Yes ALLOW UNIONS TO CHARGE NON-UNION MEMBERS FOR SOME COSTS (H 3854) House 154-1, Senate 39-1, on September 19th, overrode Gov. Baker’s veto of a bill that would allow unions to charge non-members for the cost of some services and representation. The measure would also give unions several new rights including access to state workers’ personal contact information with their home addresses, home and cell phone numbers and personal e-mail addresses. The bill was filed as a response to a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the Janus v. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees case that public employees cannot be forced to pay fees or dues to a union to which he or she does not belong. Freedom of speech advocates hailed the decision while labor advocates said it was an unjust attack on unions. (A "Yes" vote is for the bill. A "No" vote is against it.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Yes Sen. Sal DiDomenico Yes REPEAL CAP ON WELFARE BENEFITS FOR KIDS (S 2186) House 155-1, Senate 373, on April 25 overrode Gov. Baker’s veto of a bill that repeals the current law that denies an additional $100 in welfare benefits to children conceived while—or soon after— the family began receiving welfare benefits, or if they had received family welfare benefits in the past. The law was adopted in 1995 as part of a welfare reform package that was aimed at discouraging families already receiving public support from having more children. (A “Yes” vote is for repealing the cap. A “No” vote is against repealing it.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Yes Sen. Sal DiDomenico Yes COLLEGE CLOSURE (H 4099) House 158-0, Senate 37-0. approved and on November 14 the governor signed into law legislation that would require colleges and universities to post financial information online in a publicly accessible fashion, undergo regular budgetary screening and alert state officials if they face imminent closure. The possible closure information would remain private to allow struggling institutions to recoup without alarming the public. The measure also requires board members at every college and university to undergo regular fiduciary and accreditation training. If the board determines that a school does in fact face closure, the school would be required to create a contingency plan with details outlining how students can complete their programs, how their records would be maintained and how deposits would be refunded. The board would impose a fine of up to $1,000 per day if it determines that an institution has failed to comply with this new law. The board would also have the power to suspend state funding to the institution or revoke degree-granting authority. (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Yes Sen. Sal DiDomenico Yes BAN FLAVORED VAPING AND TOBACCO PRODUCTS (H 4196) House 119-33, Senate 326, and on November 22 Gov. Baker signed into law a bill that would ban the sale of flavored vaping and tobacco products— including mint and menthol cigarettes—and impose a 75 percent excise tax on e-cigarettes. Businesses that don’t comply with the bill’s provisions could have their Lottery licenses temporarily suspended. The bill also requires commercial health insurers and MassHealth to cover the costs of smoking cessation programs and nicotine replacement therapy. Another provision raises the penalties on retailers for illegal tobacco sales. (A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Yes Sen. Sal DiDomenico Yes HOW LONG WAS LAST WEEK'S SESSION? Beacon Hill Roll Call tracks the length of time that the House and Senate were in session each week. Many legislators say that legislative sessions are only one aspect of the Legislature's job and that a lot of important work is done outside of the House and Senate chambers. They note that their jobs also involve committee work, research, constituent work and other matters that are important to their districts. Critics say that the Legislature does not meet regularly or long enough to debate and vote in public view on the thousands of pieces of legislation that have been filed. They note that the infrequency and brief length of sessions are misguided and lead to irresponsible late-night sessions and a mad rush to act on dozens of bills in the days immediately preceding the end of an annual session. During the week of January 6-10, the House met for a total of one hour and ten minutes while the Senate met for a total of three hours and 16 minutes. Mon. January 6 House 11:01 a.m. to 11:13 a.m. Senate 11:12 a.m. to 11:16 a.m. Tues. January 7 No House session Wed. January 8 No House session Fri. January 10 No House session No Senate session No Senate session Thurs. January 9 House 11:02 a.m. to 12:01 p.m. Senate 11:13 a.m. to 2:25 p.m. No Senate session Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com

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