A healthy diet is essential to living well. If you find you are running out of money before the month is over, you could qualify for assistance programs. The National Council on Aging has an online screening tool called Benefits Checkup that can help determine if you are qualified to receive assistance.
Several programs include:
- SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) was once called the Food Stamp Program. Less than half of the seniors who qualify are enrolled in this program. Talk with your senior center director about enrolling if you need assistance.
- SFMNP (Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program) is a federally funded program that awards grants to states to give vouchers to lower-income seniors to spend on fresh fruits and vegetables.
- CSFP (Commodity Supplemental Food Program) is for people 60 years or older. It supplements their diet with nutritious USDA foods like milk, juice, cereal, rice, pasta, peanut butter, dried beans, etc.
If you do not always have enough money to get the foods you need to stay healthy, contact your senior center director to see if you might be eligible for one or all of these programs.