NCOA's SNAP Challenge
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NCOA's SNAP Challenge

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February 8, 2012 SNAP and Seniors
  • 2.85 million older adults (aged 60+) nationwide are enrolled in SNAP
  • Only 1 in 3 eligible older adults are participating in SNAP—5.7 million are missing out
  • The average SNAP benefit for a senior living alone is $119/month (FY 2010)
  • 80% of older adults participating in SNAP live alone

Could you eat healthy on $3.84 per day?

That’s the challenge for the 2.85 million seniors who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for food help—on only $119 per month (national average in 2010; most recent data puts the average at $122/month).

And that was NCOA’s challenge, too.

From March 5-9, 2012, NCOA sponsored the first-ever SNAP Challenge by a national organization serving older adults. Participants in the NCOA SNAP Challenge replicated the experience of living on a SNAP budget—choosing recipes, shopping for groceries, and cooking healthy meals.

Millions of older adults will experience hunger this year, yet only 1 in 3 who qualify participate in SNAP. As a leading national voice for low-income and vulnerable older Americans, NCOA advocates for the protection of SNAP for hungry seniors. The upcoming reauthorization of the Farm Bill provides an opportunity to maintain and improve access to SNAP and other nutrition assistance for low-income Americans, including seniors.

You can see how NCOA did by reading our blog.

Interested in hosting your own SNAP Challenge? Check out these pages:

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