Eat Right – Even When Money is Tight

Alabama is one of the states that has recognized it was harder for senior citizens to get the food assistance they needed, and so, began the new Alabama Elderly Simplified Application Project (AESAP) to make it easier for older adults to participate.  The application process is private and easy: no office visit is required; and the application can be mailed, faxed, emailed, or completed online.  Persons with no earned income (job or business) can self-declare their income.  Everyone in the household must be 65 years or older to use the AESAP application process.

The application is approved for three years, with only annual re-certifications, and seniors can submit actual medical expenses to increase their award amount.  Benefits are awarded on a debit card mailed to your home, allowing for privacy when shopping at grocery and convenience stores.  And, there are no taxes on SNAP purchases.  This innovation by Alabama has removed many barriers to participation, such as lengthy office visits, getting social security statements and privacy concerns.