The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), and the Social Security Administration (SSA) at present introduced a strengthened partnership to assist join Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) advantages. USDA and SSA’s new joint settlement, or memorandum of understanding, will enhance effectivity, serving to to advance meals and diet safety and cut back the hurdles households face to acquire the federal government help they want.
SSA continues its dedication to serving to folks entry SNAP advantages in two important methods. SSA workers notify SSI candidates and recipients of their eligibility for SNAP. And, when everybody in a family is making use of for or receiving SSI, SSA will assist them apply for SNAP. Under federal regulation, FNS reimburses SSA for time and sources spent on SNAP screenings and functions.
The up to date memorandum of understanding, which is renegotiated each 5 years, prioritizes effectivity by piloting alternate options to outdated paper-based software processes and gathering knowledge to tell future enhancements. Expanding digital functions and telephonic signatures will make it simpler for SSI recipients to finish their SNAP software. SSA may also present extra knowledge to USDA on the variety of SSI candidates not receiving SNAP and at what level they drop out of the applying course of.
“Social Security is dedicated to lowering obstacles and making certain people who find themselves eligible for advantages obtain them,” mentioned Acting Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi. “Partnering with USDA to check extra environment friendly methods to use, share info, and assist SSI households apply for SNAP help makes it simpler for folks to acquire the companies they want.”
“USDA is devoted to working collaboratively with our federal companions to enhance entry to our diet help applications,” mentioned Stacy Dean, deputy undersecretary for USDA’s Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services. “Allowing SSI candidates and recipients to use for SNAP with SSA prevents candidates from having to offer the identical paperwork to a number of workplaces and reduces the burden on state and native directors. We’re frequently working to make it simpler for all folks, particularly weak populations — like adults and youngsters with a incapacity or blindness and folks age 65 or older — to entry the diet help they want and deserve.”
This partnership helps Executive Order 13571 on Streamlining Service Delivery and Improving Customer Service and underscores the Biden-Harris Administration’s dedication to delivering higher outcomes for the American folks by modernizing authorities applications and increasing fairness in federal help applications. It additionally helps Pillar 1 of the Administration’s not too long ago launched National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, bettering meals entry and affordability.
USDA’s FNS works to finish starvation and enhance meals and nutrition security by way of a set of greater than 15 nutrition assistance programs, similar to the college breakfast and lunch applications, WIC and SNAP. Together, these applications serve 1 in 4 Americans over the course of a yr, selling constant and equitable entry to wholesome, secure, and reasonably priced meals important to optimum well being and well-being. FNS additionally gives science-based diet suggestions by way of the co-development of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. FNS’s report, “Leveraging the White House Conference to Promote and Elevate Nutrition Security: The Role of the USDA Food and Nutrition Service,” highlights methods the company will assist the Administration’s National Strategy, launched at the side of the historic White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in September 2022. To be taught extra about FNS, go to www.fns.usda.gov and comply with @USDANutrition.
SSA has supplied monetary safety for our nation’s folks for over 85 years. With retirement, incapacity, and survivors advantages, Social Security is without doubt one of the most profitable anti-poverty applications in our nation’s historical past. The SSI program is a Federal revenue complement program funded by common tax revenues (not Social Security taxes). SSI gives month-to-month funds to adults and youngsters with a incapacity or blindness who’ve revenue and sources beneath particular monetary limits. SSI funds are additionally made to folks age 65 and older with out disabilities who meet the monetary {qualifications}.
To be taught extra concerning the SSI program, go to www.ssa.gov/benefits/ssi. Visit www.ssa.gov to be taught extra about SSA applications and companies and go to www.ssa.gov/socialmedia for choices to comply with SSA on social media.
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