SNAP Access Barriers Faced By Low Income 50-59 Year Olds

SNAP ACCESS BARRIERS FACED BY LOW INCOME 50 - 59 YEAR OLDS

SNAP Access Barriers Faced By Low Income 50-59 Year olds

A report submitted to AARP Foundation

April 2013

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SNAP Access Barriers Faced By Low Income 50-59 Year olds

A report submitted to AARP Foundation April 2013

Hiram Lopez-Landin HLopez@

SNAP ACCESS BARRIERS FACED BY LOW INCOME 50 - 59 YEAR OLDS

ABSTRACT

America has always been known as the land of opportunity, but for an alarming number of Americans ages 5059, opportunities feel distant, if not unattainable. In the midst of this slow economic recovery, 50-59 year olds have become especially vulnerable to food insecurity. This group has been plagued by high unemployment and underemployment, is often too young for Social Security and Medicare, and often ineligible for programs designed for households with children. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program) is the only nutrition assistance program available to most individuals in this group and studies have shown that participation in SNAP reduces the likelihood of being food insecure. However, participation rates for this population are low and their food insecurity rates have increased substantially since 2007. While scholars from diverse academic disciplines have studied SNAP nonparticipation among other age groups, 50-59 year olds have been largely overlooked in the literature. This study seeks to fill in the research gaps by collecting data on the reasons for nonparticipation in SNAP among 50-59 year olds. Data were gathered through a qualitative research approach that included: key informant interviews, in-depth interviews and focus groups with SNAP non-participants who were likely income- eligible. The research found that the most common barriers to SNAP participation were dissatisfaction with the quality of service received from local SNAP office staff; lack of knowledge; benefit estimates too low to justify the level of effort required to apply; and seasonal variation in income.

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This report is dedicated to the 50-59 year olds who participated in the research; your courage, wisdom, and perseverance serve as a constant source of inspiration to our work at AARP Foundation.

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