Older Utahns are missing out on food assistance

Nearly three-quarters of older Utahns who are eligible for food assistance 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 .

By the numbers: 70.5% of Utahns 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 Washington, D.C.-based think tank.

• That's more than 23,000 people who may be struggling to afford groceries but haven't tapped this major source of government aid.

Zoom in: Participation rates are lowest in northern Utah, with almost 84% of eligible older residents not receiving aid in Cache, Morgan, Rich and Summit counties.

• More than 80% are also missing out in Washington and Utah counties.

The big picture: 70.2% of older Americans who qualify aren't participating — about 9 million people.

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

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

• And just 46% of those eligible for Medicare Savings Programs are taking part.

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 are 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 getting signed up.