Food Assistance Expansion for Students and Seniors in New York

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says community college students, older adults and disabled New Yorkers facing food insecurity are getting some help.

The State is expanding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or “SNAP” eligibility to low-income college students enrolled in career or technical education courses and is shortening the SNAP application process for those on fixed incomes.

Income-eligible students must be enrolled at least half-time in a career or technical education program offered at the State University or City University of New York to be able to get food assistance.  That includes remedial courses, basic adult education, literacy or English as a second language as well as the career courses.  Previously, those students didn’t qualify unless they worked at least 20 hours a week, were caring for a child or unable to work.

The other portion of the expansion directs the state Office of Disability Assessment to seek permission from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to offer a simpler application for SNAP benefits to encourage the elderly or disabled to apply, making the form a simple sheet, front and back, that will reduce time and effort for applying or recertifying for benefits.