![]() ![]() AARP Foundation research and surveys of older SNAP recipients found many of them were struggling to afford a nutritious diet, which can exacerbate illnesses such as diabetes. AARP noted that food insecure, older Americans often are forced to make tough decisions - sacrificing their food budget to pay for other necessities, such as rent or other housing costs, transportation or medical bills. In June, AARP sent a letter to the USDA urging the agency to revise the TFP guidelines, noting that SNAP benefits are particularly important for lower-income older adults who also often face employment challenges, live on fixed incomes or live alone. More than 8.7 million low-income households that receive SNAP benefits include at least one adult age 50 or older, according to AARP Public Policy Institute research. “Ensuring low-income families have access to a healthy diet helps prevent disease, supports children in the classroom, reduces health care costs and more. “A modernized Thrifty Food Plan is more than a commitment to good nutrition - it’s an investment in our nation’s health, economy and security,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, announcing the revisions to the program. As a result, the USDA will increase the average monthly SNAP benefit by roughly 25 percent, an average increase of $36.24 per person, or $1.19 per day. That review determined that the current cost of a nutritious diet was 21 percent higher than the TFP allowed for in SNAP benefits. Following an executive order from the Biden Administration in January, the USDA launched a review of the TFP. Since 1975, the USDA has used a formula known as the Thrifty Foods Program (TFP) to figure out how much a typical person or family would need to pay in order to eat a nutritious diet daily.īut while the TFP formula hasn’t been updated in more than 40 years, the ways that Americans live - and eat - have changed significantly. The USDA manages the SNAP program, which was previously known as food stamps. Their monthly benefits automatically will be recalculated using the new guidelines set by the U.S. SNAP recipients will not need to take any additional steps to receive the increased benefits.
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