From the Community Action Association of Pennsylvania (http://www.thecaap.org):
In Pennsylvania, there are almost 2 million citizens who receive medical assistance and qualify for SNAP (supplemental nutrition assistance program). Out of that 2 million, only 62% receive both SNAP and medical assistance. That missing 38% (740,000 people) is more commonly referred to as the SNAP gap. This gap highlights the amount of people in Pennsylvania that qualify for both SNAP and medical assistance, but only receive medical assistance. When SNAP benefits go unused, millions of government dollars are lost, and a significant number of Pennsylvanians miss out on necessary resources that could improve their financial stability and health.
Despite the SNAP gap, PA SNAP is one of the better administered programs in the country. Annually, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), gives performance bonuses to states in multiple categories for exemplary SNAP administration. Due to the state’s 2017 performance, Pennsylvania was awarded an $11 million performance bonus from the USDA. That performance bonus included $2 million for the 5th best program access rate at 90%, and over $2.7 million for 2nd best SNAP application timeliness rate at 98%.
There are ways Pennsylvania could use their performance bonus from the USDA to diminish the state’s SNAP gap. For example, the state could streamline their medical assistance applications. Other states like Colorado have begun putting “I want SNAP too” check boxes on their online medical assistance applications. If Pennsylvania implemented this improved function, it would ensure that less people go hungry and more get the benefits they need.
Another solution to close the SNAP gap is to authorize telephonic signatures for SNAP. Pennsylvania has already implemented Medicaid renewal by phone, meaning they have the technology to allow SNAP renewal by phone. In Pennsylvania, SNAP recipients must interview to renew their benefits. By allowing these interviews to occur over the phone, renewing both SNAP and Medicaid can be streamlined into one process. In conjunction with permitting telephonic signatures for SNAP, Pennsylvania’s SNAP administration could use their performance bonus to boost call center staffing and infrastructure. By investing in call centers, Pennsylvania can ensure that more eligible SNAP recipients receive their benefits. Additionally, the state will continue to improve their high-performance results.
Over 2.8 million Pennsylvanians benefit yearly from medical assistance, whereas 1.8 million Pennsylvanians benefit from SNAP. Given this disparity, hundreds of thousands of people who access medical assistance but not SNAP is a problem that can be remedied with smart investments using the USDA bonus money. Food and nutrition are basic human needs. By supporting and pushing our state’s administration to use their federal bonus on infrastructure improvements, we can make sure that Pennsylvanians will not go hungry.
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