More than 80% of SNAP-eligible seniors in Arkansas aren't getting benefits

An estimated 80% of older adults in Northwest Arkansas who are eligible for a 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 groceries — but those who qualify must apply in order to be helped.

The big picture: Just over 70% of Americans 65 and older who qualified for SNAP in 2018 weren't participating, per the report from the National Council on Aging (NCOA) and the Urban Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank.

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

Zoom in: With rates, it can be important to keep up with the actual numbers. In Benton County, the rate is 83%, which translates to 2,665 people, according to the report.

• Washington County's rate of 80% is nearly 1,600 people.
• Other NWA counties were calculated as a region, so numbers of individuals weren't available.

Almost 73% of Arkansans 65 and older who qualify — nearly 54,000 people — aren't participating.

Zoom out: SNAP participation varies greatly by state, with only 17% of eligible Californians ages 65 and up receiving benefits, compared with 51% in Rhode Island.

• SNAP is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture but is operated by states at the local level.

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

• And only 46% of those eligible for the Medicare Savings Program are participating.

What they're saying: "It's shocking and unacceptable to have 9 million eligible older adults not enrolled in benefits that can make the difference between them affording food or health care each month," 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."

The bottom line: Education and assistance is key — Americans who are eligible for these programs but not enrolled may not know about them, may not realize they can take part, or may need help signing up.