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**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
September 29, 2008
Contact: Sarah Krauss
212.669.4193; 917.541.0936
Release #: 035-2008
PA Gotbaum: New Law Increases Food Stamp Benefits
On October 1, some low-income families could see up to $500 in additional benefits
MANHATTAN – Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum stood with advocates today to raise awareness about improvements to the food stamp program that will help low-income families put food on their tables and to encourage New Yorkers, particularly immigrants with children, to apply.
On October 1, 2008, new federal provisions to the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 will increase the minimum amount of food stamp benefits. For example, the minimum benefit for most one-and two-person households will rise from $10 to $14 a month, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP). The new provisions remove the cap on the dependent care deduction, which means that the true costs of caring for children, the elderly or other dependents will now be considered in the calculations for food stamps. The CBPP estimates that this change will provide an approximately $500-a-year benefit to roughly 100,000 working households across the country that pay high child care costs.
Currently, undocumented immigrants are ineligible for most state and federal public benefits, but some benefits, like food stamps, are available to their citizen children. Many immigrants do not apply for benefits because they are afraid it will put their immigration status at risk or negatively affect their chances of becoming a legal resident or citizen. In fact, by law, city agencies are not allowed to ask about or disclose immigration status.
According to the Urban Justice Center July 2008 report, Nourishing NYC: Increasing Food Stamps Access in Immigrant Communities, HRA estimated in 2006 there were about 233,000 non-citizens eligible for food stamps but not enrolled.
Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum said, “During these uncertain financial times, food stamps are more needed than ever. Not only do we need to spread the word to immigrant communities that food stamps are available for their children, but we need to work to break down the barriers that keep parents from applying. These new federal regulations should help low-income families put food on their tables, but we still have a lot of work to do fighting hunger in our city and helping immigrant families and their children.”
Joel Berg, Executive Director of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, said, "Immigrant families work hard and pay taxes. If they still don't earn enough to feed their families, the least they should be able to do is to obtain the nutrition assistance for which their children are legally entitled."
Lucy Cabrera, President and CEO of the Food Bank For New York City said, “Public Advocate Gotbaum is highlighting what continues to be a critical need in New York City: that countless families who are eligible for the food stamp program are not aware of their eligibility and therefore never receive the critical food assistance food stamps provide. Sadly, more than one out of every five children in New York City has had to rely on a food pantry or soup kitchen, and food stamps can help lessen that need. With significant changes to the food stamp program only days away, the need for effective community-based outreach has never been greater. We look forward to working with the Public Advocate to ensure there are sufficient resources for food stamp outreach during this time of increasing need.”
Leslie T. Annexstein, Director of the Homelessness Outreach and Prevention Project at the Urban Justice Center said, “Our recent report, Nourishing NYC: Increasing Food Stamps Access in Immigrant Communities, found that outreach and application assistance helped immigrants overcome language barriers, immigration status concerns, and confusing eligibility requirements that have plagued immigrant food stamps participation in New York City. This is critical because 83,000 New York City immigrants are eligible for food stamps but not receiving them.”
This year, the federal legislation, commonly referred to as the Farm Bill, will direct $7.8 billion over the next 10 years toward the Food Stamp Program, now known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
A full list of changes to the Food Stamp Program can be found at: http://www.cbpp.org/5-23-08fa.htm.
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