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Law Services News -March/April, 2004

Automatic Food Stamps for SSI Live-Alone Recipients

A New Food Stamps Program
A new demonstration project has been started by New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTADA) called the New York State Nutrition Improvement Program (NYSNIP). This program will automatically enroll all of New York State’s SSI live-alone recipients in the Food Stamps Program. This means that they will no longer have to fill out a separate food stamps application, go to an interview, nor will they need to provide a separate verification.

How Does it Work?
OTADA will automatically get information from the Social Security Administration through the state data exchange. SSI live-alone recipients will need to use their existing Medicaid benefit card to access their food stamps benefits. They will be entitled to food stamps benefits up to 48 months. Existing SSI live-alone recipients automatically put into NYSNIP at the minimum benefit, should also fill out the short form included in their notice, so that their benefits can be adjusted to the highest possible level.

Unfortunately, SSI live-alone applicants will not be entitled to this food stamp benefit. However, if they become SSI recipients, they will start receiving food stamps within the first or second month after the first ongoing SSI check is issued. Also, this food stamps benefit is not retroactive to the application date as with regular food stamps. This is why it is important that SSI applicants apply for food stamps through the regular food stamps application process, so that food stamps will be retroactive.

What Amount of Food Stamps Can SSI Living-alone Recipients Receive?
The amount of the food stamp benefits to SSI living-alone recipients is standardized and will be determined by a number of factors:

cost of shelter

eligibility for standard utility allowance

geographic location

any other income

Generally, all NYSNIP participants should get the same or more food stamps than they would receive under the regular food stamp program. New food stamp recipients under NYSNIP (those now getting SSI who had not been receiving food stamps) will initially receive the minimum benefit level ($16 –$20 per month). However, once they fill out and return a short form which asks about their shelter and utility costs, which will be attached to their opening notice, the amount they receive will be adjusted and may go as high as $141.

When Will All This Happen?
Not all existing SSI live-alone recipients will receive their notices at the same time. OTADA is gradually enrolling everyone and should be done over a 6 month period, beginning in February, 2004. All new NYSNIP participants who weren’t already receiving food stamps must access at least some of their benefits within 90 days or their NYSNIP case will be closed. The certification period under NYSNIP is 4 years. Clients will be sent a short mail-in questionnaire at the required two-year point. Anyone who is no longer in the live-alone status at that time will not be eligible for ongoing NYSNIP but can still receive regular food stamps benefits if eligible.

This article is an excerpt from an article written by Cathy Roberts, Food Stamp Specialist, Nutrition Food Consortium of NYS. For more information regarding this new program and the complete article you can contact Cathy at hungerFS@aol.com.

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