Many D.C.-area seniors are missing out on federal food aid

Thousands of older Washingtonians eligible for a key federal food assistance program are not taking part, a new report finds.

Why it matters: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, can help low-income Americans afford today's sky-high grocery bills — but those qualifying need to apply .

The big picture: 70.2% of Americans 65 and older who qualify for SNAP aren't participating in the program, per a new report from the National Council on Aging (NCOA) and the Urban Institute, a D.C.-based think tank.

• That's about 9 million people who may be struggling to afford groceries or health care, but haven't tapped this major source of government aid.

Zoom in: SNAP participation varies greatly by location. In Virginia, Maryland, and the District, between 34% and 37% of eligible seniors 65 and up are receiving benefits – higher than California, where only 17% of eligible people participate, but lower than 51% in Rhode Island.

• In the DMV, Maryland has the highest number of eligible non-participants, over 134,000. In D.C., more than 15,700 eligible seniors aren't participating.

Meanwhile, only 49% of older Americans eligible for Supplemental Security Income — that's Social Security payments — are enrolled.

• In Virginia, it's much lower, just 35%.

What they're saying: "It's shocking and unacceptable," NCOA president and CEO Ramsey Alwin said in a statement accompanying the report.

• "These individuals are struggling to afford basic necessities, and they are missing out on critical assistance."

Friction point: The District's SNAP program is under fire. SNAP is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, but it's operated by local governments. In July, the USDA smacked D.C. with a $4.4 million federal fine for repeated errors in processing SNAP benefits.

• USDA data shows that D.C. overpaid or underpaid benefits in 20% of cases, according to the Washington Post , ranking it among the worst-performing states or territories nationwide.

Flashback: Around 140,000 D.C. SNAP recipients were set to get a 10% increase to their monthly benefits at the start of the year — a boost Mayor Bowser's office rescinded, then reinstated after legal threats.

• Still, participants reported delays in getting their benefits, an issue city officials say is caused by understaffing and budget constraints.
• In 2022, D.C. had the slowest processing rate for SNAP applications in the nation, according to the Washington Post .

What we're watching: The District, which is already struggling with budget issues , will need to come up with funds to pay the federal penalty.

• One option, which city officials say they'll pursue, is to reinvest half of the fine towards improving SNAP.