Monday, October 14, 2013
ALBANY, N.Y. — Advocacy groups are pushing for changes in New York policy to attack what they say is a rising tide of hunger among the working poor, children and the elderly while combating obesity and boosting farming. The Hunger Action Network is pushing for expansion of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Meanwhile, AARP is asking the state to streamline its procedures to make it easier for older New Yorkers to get monthly SNAP cash. The benefit averages $170 a month, and AARP says as many as 500,000 older New Yorkers could qualify but aren't applying for it.