Veterans Access To Snap Must Be Protected: Column
Veterans Day reminds us of our duty to support Americans who have served our nation in uniform. Its an opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices theyve made and to re-examine the ways we can help them when they return home and re-enter civilian life. As we support them, we can certainly all agree that no veteran should go hungry.
Unfortunately, for too many veterans in New York and across the country, hunger remains a serious concern. Thats one of the reasons the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program , formerly known as food stamps, is so important: It plays a critical role in helping veterans put food on the table. In fact, more than 64,000 veterans in our state use SNAP to help them and their families make ends meet.
But now this critical support is in jeopardy for tens of thousands in our state as Congress tries to reconcile two competing visions for SNAP: The Senate passed a bipartisan farm bill that protects and strengthens SNAP while House Republicans are pushing their own version of a farm bill that would take away benefits from more than 2 million Americans and expand harsh SNAP work requirements. The House approach would be particularly devastating for our veterans.
SNAP is one of the best anti-poverty programs in the country. It provides only modest benefits, $1.52 per meal per day, but it makes a big difference. By helping people afford groceries, SNAP lifted 8.4 million people including 3.8 million children out of poverty in 2015.
Appendix A: Defining Disability For Snap
SNAP considers a person as disabled if they receive one of the following forms of disability benefits:
- Supplement Security Income
- Railroad Retirement disability payments
- Veterans disability benefits for service-connected disabilities or non-service-connected disabilities rated or paid as total
- Veterans disability benefits or disability benefits for the spouse of a veteran, if the Department of Veterans Affairs has determined that the veteran or spouse is permanently housebound or needs regular care
- Veterans benefits for surviving children of veterans whom the VA has determined can never support themselves
- Veterans pensions for surviving spouses and children of veterans, if the spouse or child has a disability that Social Security considers long-lasting
SNAPs definition of disability, for purposes of receiving special consideration within the program, does not cover all individuals who may have disabilities. It excludes:
Veteran Food Stamps: Stats And Contributing Factors
Having assistance from SNAP is the perfect way to reduce the pressure from Veteran food insecurity. In fact, roughly 1.1 million Veterans, 22,000 active-duty service members, and 213,000 National Guard members and Reservists receive aid from SNAP.
For those whove served in the military, food insecurity can be a regular issue. Its very common for Veterans to receive Veterans food assistance, as they may have issues obtaining food because of unemployment or low-income jobs.
Veterans ages 18 to 24, along with Latino and Black Veterans, are more likely to be unemployed. On top of that, having served in the military does not provide Veterans with much work experience outside of the military, which can make it difficult for them to have the knowledge and skills needed to obtain or work certain jobs.
Many Veterans may also suffer from homelessness or disabilities and medical problems. Veterans may deal with mental and physical issues from serving in the military. Being subject to disorders, poor health, and a reduced quality of life due to service-based disabilities greatly increase a Vets personal bills.
Having to deal with housing issues, paying for necessary resources, and medical bills may shift a Vets importance to spending money on things other than food.
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How To Get Food Supplements
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides food supplement benefits to low-income families. SNAP food supplement benefits used to be known as food stamps. Generally, you must work 20 hours each week or attend a work program 20 hours each week to get SNAP benefits. If you are not working or attending a work program, you can only get SNAP benefits for three months in any three-year period. This is called the time limit.
Fortunately, the time limit is not currently being enforced during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the time limit is expected to return once the federal government has announced the pandemic is over.
But take comfort if you are:
- a person under the age of 18, or
- a person older than 50 years old, or
- a parent of a minor child, or
If you qualify as any of the above, you are exempt from this work requirement and the time limit will not apply to you!
Appendix B: Measuring Disability In National Surveys
Measures of disability tend to vary across surveys, due to differences in definitions and methods. Many ongoing national surveys, including the American Community Survey , Current Population Survey , Survey of Income and Program Participation , National Health Interview Survey , and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System , have adopted a set of six questions to identify functional and physical limitations associated with disability.
The analyses in this report uses data from two sources: the NHIS and SNAP household characteristics data from the Quality Control system, described below.
The annual NHIS collects data on the health of the civilian noninstitutionalized population in the United States. It collects data on a variety of health and disability indicators many more than the six reported in the CPS or the ACS. However, it still asks about the six core questions found in other datasets, allowing us to compare incidence of disability across datasets.
For instance, NHIS either directly or indirectly asks:
Some research suggests that these six questions do not adequately capture all those who receive SSI and SSDI disability benefits. It recommends augmenting this sequence with a question about work limitations, specifically whether anyone in the household has a health problem or disability that prevents them from working or limits the kind or amount of work they can do.
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Snap Serves Diverse Group Of Low
This section looks at the characteristics of SNAP participants identified as disabled using SNAP administrative data, which find that about 5.2 million non-elderly participants, or about 12 percent of all participants , had a disability in 2015.
These figures are less than half the number and share of individuals receiving SNAP with a disability in the NHIS data used earlier in this paper, who represent individuals of all ages identified as having an impairment or work limitation or, among the non-elderly, receiving SSI or SSDI. These figures also are significantly lower than the number and share of non-elderly individuals identified in the NHIS data as having a disability: the NHIS data show 8.1 million non-elderly SNAP participants with disabilities, constituting about 22 percent of non-elderly SNAP participants. See Table 1 for a comparison of these estimates by age.
There are two major reasons why these figures differ so substantially. First, the SNAP administrative data use a narrower definition of disability to simulate disability as defined under SNAP rules, largely based on receipt of SSI and other government benefits. In contrast, the NHIS data capture the broader group with an impairment, many of whom may not qualify for or receive government benefits such as SSI and therefore would not be considered disabled under SNAP rules.
| TABLE 1 |
|---|
Ssdi And Va Disability How Do They Compare
Social Security and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs pay disability benefits to eligible people and their qualified dependents. However, the programs, processes, and criteria for receiving benefits are very different. Each agency must follow its own definition and requirements.
See the fact sheet for a side-by-side comparison of the differences between SSDI and VA compensation.
| Disability Criteria | SSDI |
|---|---|
| Injury/Illness must be due to military service | |
| Impairment must prevent the ability to work at substantial gainful activity level at time of application | |
| Disabling condition must last at least 12 months or end in death | |
| Age, education, and work history can affect eligibility | |
| Monthly benefit amount and eligibility are not affected by the other program | |
| Offers partial payments based on scale of disability | |
| All or nothing disability payment |
Social Security pays disability benefits to people who cant work because they have a severe medical condition that is expected to last at least one year or result in death. Federal law requires this very strict definition of disability. While some programs give money to people with a partial disability or a short-term disability, we do not.
The VA pays disability compensation to veterans who have a service-connected disability resulting from a condition that was incurred during or aggravated by active military service.
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Total Disability Individual Unemployability Benefits
VA Total Disability Individual Unemployability , is an extra scheduler benefit for qualifying disabled veterans to be paid at the 100% disability rate, even if they may be below 100 percent. While this isnt a traditional 100 VA disability benefit, we listed this as a 100 VA Disability benefit because it basically acts as such.
Generally, you must be unable to maintain substantially gainful employment to qualify for TDIU. You may be able to qualify for this regardless of your VA disability rating.
Can An Application Be Mailed To Me
Yes, to request a mailed application you should call or write your local Department of Social Services office or, in New York City, your local SNAP Center.
Also, you may download and print a SNAP application from this website or ask that someone pick one up for you from your local County Department of Social Service office or center.
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What Does It Mean To Be 100 Percent Disabled
A 100 percent disability rating, otherwise known as a total disability rating, is the highest percentage that can be given for service-connected compensation.
This rating is reserved for veterans who have debilitating service-connected disabilities that make them unable to maintain gainful employment and potentially unable to care for themselves or maintain quality of life.
Can You Get Food Stamps If You Are A Veteran With A 100% Service Connected Disability
- on Jun 10, 2018
It depends on your household size and income. Your VA disability compensation counts as income.
This post is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. This post also does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you think my answer is the best answer and/or helpful to you, please indicate.
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What Exactly Is The Time Limit
The “time limit” means that you can only get SNAP benefits for three months during any three-year period unless you are exempt from the time limit. Again, you are exempt if:
- You meet the work requirements
- You are under the age of 18 or over the age of 50
- You are the parent of a minor child or
- You are disabled
This means if you fall into any of the categories above, the time “limit” does not apply you.
Social Security Cost Of Living Adjustment Disregard
IM-#76 December 23, 2014IM-#114 December 13, 2013 IM-#100 December 7, 2012IM-4, January 7, 2008
Senate Bill 577 amended Section 208.153 RSMo to specify that programs in which income eligibility is determined by Federal Poverty Level will not be adjusted for annual Cost of Living Adjustment changes in OASDI or SSI benefits until the next FPL adjustment.
FAMIS disregards the COLA amount entered for January’s income for the MO HealthNet for Aged, Blind and Disabled Spend down and Non Spend Down Programs until the next FPL adjustment for April. SSA and SSI incomes for individuals in any FAMIS EU entered after the adjustment must include the pre-COLA adjusted amount for December and the COLA-adjusted amount for January with a verification code of CO .
Example 1: Applications Made After COLA Mass Adjustment
On February 8, Ms. Foster applies for Food Stamps and MO HealthNet for Aged Blind and Disabled benefits. Ms. Foster has been receiving Social Security Disability Income for five years. Enter Ms. Foster’s pre-COLA adjusted SSA income for the month of December with the appropriate verification code of HC or TC. Enter her COLA-adjusted SSA income for the budget month of January and ongoing with verification code of CO. The Food Stamp EU eligibility determination budgets the current SSA amounts the MHABD eligibility determination budgets the pre-COLA adjusted SSA amount.
Example 2: Active EUs with Participants that Begin Receiving SSA/SSI Between COLA and FPL Mass Adjustments
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Snap Resources And Income Limits
SNAP benefits require households to meet tests that measure resources and income. Some of these changed temporarily or were waived during the coronavirus pandemic, so check with your state to make sure what the current standards are. For the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia, the requirements are:
Hunting and Fishing Licenses for Permanently & Totally Disabled Veterans
Visit the following website for more information:
Veterans rated permanently and totally disabled by the VA or DOD are eligible for a discounted sportsmans license.
Discounted disability hunting and fishing licenses are available to residents of Georgia. This license type cannot be obtained or renewed onlineyou will need to complete the application form and mail it with supporting documents to the address on the form. If you require application review accommodations, please call 1-800-366-2661.
Link to Application form:
Individuals are strongly encouraged to consider purchasing three-year disability license types, rather than annual types. Renewal of the annual license requires submitting documents each year dated with the past year to show continued disability, versus once for the three-year license. Payment of transaction fees each year for the annual license types means that persons pay an extra $6 over a three-year periodthe three-year license will save $6 over the three year period and doesnt require yearly paperwork.
Reduced State Park Admission Fees for Disabled Veterans
Emergency Care Outside Of The Va
If you must be seen at a medical facility outside of the VA for a service-connected disability, the VA may be able to pay for the care you receive. For the VA to pay for care outside of the VA on an emergency basis there is a certain criterion that must be met:
In order to have the VA pay for the emergency service, you must file a claim for reimbursement as soon as possible because there are time limits that may apply.
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Special Home Adaptation Grant
You can receive up to $12,756 to pay for adaptive modification to your current home or to buy a new home. Eligible veterans can apply for both the SHA Grant and the SAH Grant. If you feel you meet the criteria for both housing grants, the next step is to complete Form 26-4555 and submit it to the closest regional office of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Snap Employment And Training Program
The SNAP Employment and Training program is funded by a grant with US Department of Agriculture , Food and Nutrition Services . The SNAP E& T program only assists SNAP recipients and focuses on Able Bodied Adults without Dependents . SNAP E& T assists participants in discovering, reaching and maintaining their employment goals. Depending on the availability of funds SNAP E& T funds may be used to support a variety of education, training, and employment related supportive services for SNAP E& T participants. If you reside in Yellowstone, Missoula, or Lewis & Clark counties and are interested in participating in the SNAP E& T program, contact the Montana Public Assistance Helpline at 1-888-706-1535 or your local Office of Public Assistance for a referral.
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Veteran Food Stamps: Eligibility How To Apply And How It Works
When it comes to food insecurity, its normal for people to apply for food stamps in order to relieve the problem. Unfortunately, this is a common issue among Veterans, but Vets are also able to apply for Veteran food stamps through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Read on to learn more about this program and all that it has to offer.
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Additional State Benefits Available
There are multiple state benefits available to 100 percent disabled veterans. Each state has its own set of benefits and can range from health care benefits, hunting and fishing license exemptions, free passes to state parks and property tax exemption. You can also be eligible for specialized license plates.
For more specific information on the benefits available in your state and enrollment details, please click here.
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Free Lifetime Vehicle Registration
When my husband first received his rating, we lived in Washington state. I was so excited to learn that we were now eligible for free lifetime vehicle registration!
We were given permanent registration tags for one vehicle, and we never had to renew it. Of course, we moved out of state and ruined that but it was great while it lasted!
Many states offer discounts on vehicle registration for veterans, usually those with a 100% rating and sometimes those with a 25-50% rating as well. This is one of my favorite extra benefits for 100% disabled veterans, so we have a full list here.
