Most people who go through the Social Security disability process struggle financially somewhat. One necessity every household has is food and nutrition. Most people have heard of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) formerly known as food stamps, which helps low-income people purchase food, but there are many other food programs out there that people can access during difficult times.
Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
The WIC program provides federal grants to states for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education to low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, or non-breastfeeding postpartum women; and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk. WIC is administered at the federal level by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants, and children up to age five who meet certain requirements are eligible. These requirements include income eligibility and state residency. In addition, the applicant must be determined to be at “nutrition risk” by a health professional or a trained health official. Besides the benefits offered through WIC, the WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program is available in some areas and provides WIC participants with coupons to purchase fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs at farmers’ markets and roadside stands. For more information, contact your state or local health department or visit https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/women-infants-and-children-wic.
Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)
The CSFP works to improve the health of low-income elderly persons at least 60 years of age by supplementing their diets with nutritious USDA foods. CSFP is administered at the federal level by FNS, an agency of the USDA. Through CSFP, USDA distributes both food and administrative funds to participating states and Indian Tribal Organizations. State agencies store CSFP food and distribute it to public and non-profit private local agencies. Local agencies determine the eligibility of applicants, distribute the foods, and provide nutrition education. For more information about this program, visit https://www.fns.usda.gov/csfp/commodity-supplemental-food-program-csfp.
The USDA administers other food programs:
- Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
CACFP reimburses eligible day care centers, family day care homes, and other care centers that offer meals and snacks to children as well as to functionally impaired adults and elderly people in day care situations.
- National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP)
NSLP and SBP reimburses participating schools for offering meals to children during the school day. Low-income households may apply for children to receive these meals free or at a reduced price, while other children have access to reasonably priced meals.
- Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
SFSP offers free meals and snacks to needy children during the months when school is not in session.
- Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)
SFMNP awards grants to states, U.S. territories, and federally recognized Indian tribal governments to provide low-income seniors with coupons that can be exchanged for fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, honey, and herbs at farmers’ markets, roadside stands, and community-supported agriculture programs.
- The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
TEFAP is a federal program that helps supplement the diets of low-income Americans, including elderly people, by providing emergency food and nutrition assistance at no cost. It provides food and administrative funds to states to supplement the diets of these groups. States provide the food to local agencies that they have selected, usually food banks, which in turn distribute the food to local organizations, such as soup kitchens, food pantries, and community action agencies.
For more information about these nutrition programs administered by USDA, contact your local social services, health or agriculture department, state aging office, Indian tribal organization offices, school, or visit https://www.fns.usda.gov/schoolmeals/child-nutrition-programs.
