There is a false perception that senior citizens and the elderly no longer have to worry about finances because of Medicare, pensions and retirement programs.

For many aging Americans, however, the opposite is true. According to statistics from the National Council on Aging, more than 25 million Americans aged 60 and older are economically insecure, or living at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level ($29,425 per year for a single person).

A recent report by the United Health Foundation on food insecurity found 18 percent of Alabamians aged 60 and older have faced the threat of hunger over the past 12 months. That number is down from a high of 21 percent in 2014, but it’s still higher than the 17 percent reported in 2016 and 2017.

In an effort to help Limestone County seniors who may be struggling to afford healthy food, the local Retired Senior Volunteer Program is again urging adults aged 60 and older to sign up for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. According to RSVP, more than 70,000 seniors in Alabama use the program.

“RSVP is excited to part of this proven effort that has the potential to help low-income older adults in Limestone and surrounding counties improve their health and financial security,” said Betty M. Ruth, executive director of Athens-Limestone County RSVP.

For seniors who are retired or unemployed with no earned income, there is no office visit necessary. Benefits are awarded for three years unless maximum income is exceeded, no assets are counted, income is self-declared, and a standard medical deduction is available to increase benefits.

According to RSVP, more than 70 percent of the seniors who qualify for the SNAP program never apply, leaving an average of $850 in benefits on the table. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates just 2 out of every 5 seniors who are eligible for SNAP are enrolled in the program.

“This means that millions of low-income older adults are missing out on this vital program, which nationally provides an average monthly benefit of $110 to participants buy healthy food,” said a release from RSVP.

Seniors whose income does not exceed $1,301 per month for one person or who have high medical expenses are urged to see if they qualify. For more information, call RSVP at 256-232-7207.