My friend Pauline and I go grocery shopping together every other Tuesday. Last month, standing in the checkout line at the supermarket, I watched her quietly take the salmon out of her cart and put it on the candy rack. Then the blueberries. Then the good bread.
In the car, she admitted she'd been skipping lunch most days to make her Social Security check stretch. "Cindy, everything costs double what it used to." I asked her if she'd ever applied for SNAP. She looked at me like I'd suggested she rob a bank. "Food stamps? That's not for people like me."
Oh, Pauline. It absolutely is. And she's far from alone in thinking it isn't.
What is SNAP, and can seniors get it?
SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is what many of us still call food stamps. It helps people with limited income buy groceries. Benefits come on an EBT card that works like a debit card at most grocery stores, and even many farmers markets. NCOA's guide on what SNAP is and how to apply is a good place to start.
Yes, older adults can get SNAP, and lots of seniors who qualify never apply. Some think they'll only get a few dollars. Some feel embarrassed. Some just don't know. Your state decides eligibility and your benefit amount based on your household, income, and certain expenses.
Are there special SNAP rules for people over 60?
In plain words, there are some helpful rules if someone in your household is 60 or older. Medical costs you pay yourself that are over $35 a month, like prescriptions, copays, and Medicare premiums, can be counted and may raise your benefit. Housing costs like rent and utilities count too. And the income rules are often more flexible for older households.
One important change: under a federal law passed in 2025, adults ages 55 to 64 may now have to meet work rules to keep SNAP beyond a short time, unless they qualify for an exemption, such as a disability. If you're in that age group, ask your state SNAP office which rules apply to you before you assume anything.
How do I apply for SNAP?
Here are the steps in words. Find your state's SNAP application online or at your local office. Gather proof of your income, rent, utilities, and medical costs. Apply, and do the interview, which is often a short phone call. Then keep copies of everything and watch the mail for letters with deadlines.
You don't have to do it alone. NCOA's free BenefitsCheckUp tool can show you programs you may qualify for, and your local Area Agency on Aging can help with the forms.
What other food help is available?
While you wait on SNAP, ask your Area Agency on Aging about senior meal programs, like community lunches and home-delivered meals. Local food pantries often have special days for older adults. And be cautious about TV ads promising a "grocery card." Bob explained what those Medicare grocery card ads really mean.
If other bills are squeezing your grocery money, look into help with heating bills and a discount on your phone bill.
What happened with Pauline
Pauline applied with a little help from her Area Agency on Aging. She brought her pharmacy receipts, which the caseworker counted toward her medical costs. She was approved in about a month. Now, every other Tuesday, the salmon stays in the cart, and she hasn't skipped lunch since.
Take good care of yourself, and take even better care of each other.
Did you know older adults can get SNAP? Share this with a friend who might need it, gently, and tell me in the comments if you have questions.
