Many Minnesota seniors are missing out on federal food aid: Report

Eight in 10 Minnesota seniors who are eligible for federal food assistance aren't receiving it, according to a new report.

Why it matters: A growing number of older Minnesotans are at risk of going hungry due to sky-high grocery prices, advocates say.

• However, many eligible low-income seniors may be missing out on critical aid that could help them pay their grocery bills.

The big picture: Minnesota has one of the nation's highest rates of residents 65 and older who qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) but aren't collecting benefits, the analysis from the National Council on Aging (NCOA) and the Urban Institute found.

Threat level: Anti-hunger advocates say rising food prices and other broader economic factors driving food bank visits to record levels can especially hit seniors hard.

What they're saying: "Wage growth for those who are still in the workforce has been slow but has offset at least some of that inflationary pressure," Zach Rodvold, director of public affairs for Minnesota's Second Harvest Heartland, told Axios. "For seniors on fixed incomes, it's not that same situation."

Case in point : The food bank, one of the largest in the nation, estimates that 50% to 75% of the calls to its assistance hotline in 2023 came from seniors.

Driving the enrollment gap: Many Minnesotans may not know about the program or realize they're eligible, experts say. Others may need signing up.

• Mesa Siebert, Second Harvest Heartland's neighbor services outreach manager, said stigma about accepting benefits and difficulty completing the application, which can involve uploading documents online, are common barriers.

Plus: Those who do apply can face processing backlogs. Getting a hold of a county worker who can answer questions and help them get approved over the phone is a major pain point, especially in the metro.

The fine print: NCOA used census data from 2018 because it was the most comprehensive recent year of available data, its authors wrote .

• Advocates say the state's hunger crisis has only gotten worse since then.

What we're watching: Second Harvest Heartland and other groups working to end hunger plan to renew their push for more state help when the Legislature returns in January.

• Their list of asks includes raising the minimum monthly benefit for seniors 55 and older from $23 to $50.

Go deeper: Seniors with questions about eligibility and how to apply can visit Hunger Solutions Minnesota or call the food helpline at 1-888-711-1151.