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SNAP and Farmers Markets

More than half of the adults 60 and older who qualify for SNAP never sign up. Some assume the help is meant for someone else.

Some hear it is only a few dollars and skip the paperwork. For a person living alone, the average benefit runs just under $200 a month. Checking costs nothing. Apply through your state SNAP agency, request support from a Care Expert, or use the free BenefitsCheckUp tool at ncoa.org.

Here is the part most people miss. SNAP works at a lot of farmers markets, not just grocery stores. Bring your EBT card to the market information booth, say how much you want to spend, and they hand you tokens the farmers take like cash. Many states also match what you spend on fruits and vegetables, under names like Double Up Food Bucks or Market Match. The match is not automatic, so ask the market manager what they offer.

Adults 60 and older with limited income may also qualify for the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program. It pays for fresh produce, herbs, and honey at farmers markets and farm stands, usually $20 to $50 a year, and it runs through a state agency. Applications often open in spring and close once the money runs out, so ask early. Your Family First Care Team can help you find the right office.