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The
Aging Network
Information Memoranda
July 8, 1997
INFORMATION MEMORANDUM
AoA-IM-97-17
TO : STATE AGENCIES ADMINISTERING PLANS UNDER TITLE III
AND TITLE VII OF THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT OF 1965, AS AMENDED
SUBJECT : State Option to Issue Food Stamp Benefits to
Legal Noncitizens Made Ineligible by Welfare Reform
REFERENCES: Supplemental Appropriations Act for FY 1997
(P.L. 105-18)
The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation
Act of 1996
Attached for your information, and to guide action you may wish
to take, is a section of the FY 1997 Supplemental Appropriations
Act that provides a state option to issue food stamp benefits
to legal immigrants made ineligible by welfare reform. The states
may purchase food stamps from the federal government for use in
a state-funded food assistance program. The states have complete
flexibility in structuring their food assistance program.
This option is available permanently to all states. Terminations
of food stamp benefits have been phased in and will be completed
by August 22. Transitioning current recipients to a state-funded
program will be easier than first terminating them and then taking
reapplications.
If your state has or considers establishing a state-funded food
assistance program, you may wish to consider seeking coverage
for low-income older legal noncitizens.
INQUIRIES : Inquiries should be addressed to
Regional Administrators on Aging, HHS regional offices.
William F. Benson
Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aging
Attachment:
Pub.L. No. 105-18, State Option to Issue Food Stamp Benefits to
Certain Individuals Made Ineligible by Welfare Reform
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