AARP Eye Center
Search
Policymakers should increase food benefits and expand eligibility for food programs.
Policymakers should explore new, more consumer-centered systems for providing low-income assistance.
Congress and state legislatures should ensure that all lawfully present non-citizen residents who qualify for essential low-income benefits have access to them.
Asset limits for public-benefit programs should be increased to ensure that they do not discourage saving. These limits should then be indexed to keep up with inflation.
The federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit level should be increased to bring beneficiaries up to the poverty level. States should supplement those benefit payments.
The definition of household in SNAP regulations should be clarified. It should be easier for extended families to qualify for and receive adequate benefits.
Congress and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) should ensure that states do not deter the use of electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards needed for services.
Information about public-benefit programs should be shortened and simplified. This includes application forms, procedures, and program notices.
Outreach to older adults should be an integral component of low-income assistance programs and include targeted outreach to underserved communities, such as rural areas.
Policies and regulations should prioritize placing children in foster care with grandparents and other caregiver relatives whenever possible and appropriate.