Many eligible seniors in Florida are missing out on crucial benefits like SNAP, SSI, and Medicare Savings Programs, with participation rates varying widely across different counties.
Thousands of Florida Seniors Missing Out on SNAP, SSI, and Medicare Benefits
According to the Tallahassee Democrat, many seniors in Florida are not getting the benefits that could help them with food and healthcare. The National Council on Aging (NCOA) found that about 858,000 seniors in Florida who qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are not signed up. This program helps low-income people buy healthy food. Even though Florida’s participation rate is a bit better than the national average, many seniors still miss out.
Other important programs like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) are also not fully used by seniors who need them. SSI provides monthly cash to seniors who are 65 or older or disabled, but nearly 222,000 eligible Floridians are not enrolled. MSPs help pay for Medicare costs, yet more than half a million eligible seniors in Florida are not getting this help.
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858,000+ Eligible Seniors in Florida Missing Out on Vital Benefits: SNAP, SSI, and MSPs Underutilized Across the State (PHOTO: www.tallahassee.com)
Florida Counties Show Wide Gaps in Senior Participation for SNAP, SSI, and Medicare Programs
The NCOA’s data shows that some counties in Florida have very low participation rates in these programs. For example, only 15.2% of eligible seniors in Hernando County are enrolled. On the other hand, Miami-Dade County does much better, with over 90% of eligible seniors signed up for SNAP, SSI, and MSPs. This difference shows that more work is needed to help all seniors get the benefits they deserve.
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