Section 4-261.05 - [Not funded.] Senior SNAP participation.To increase the number of eligible seniors enrolled in SNAP, the Department of Human Services shall:
(1) Within one year after the applicability date of the No Senior Hungry Omnibus Amendment Act of 2022, passed on 2nd reading on December 6, 2022 (Enrolled version of Bill 24-419) ("No Senior Hungry Omnibus Amendment Act"), allow community-based organizations engaged in SNAP outreach and enrollment to access the SNAP enrollment system on behalf of SNAP participants; except, that the Department of Human Services may certify specific community-based organizations or allow individual SNAP participants to designate a proxy; (2) Within 180 days after the applicability date of the No Senior Hungry Omnibus Amendment Act, adopt the Elderly Simplified Application Project, as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture's guidance document Elderly Simplified Application Project Guidance; (3) Within one year after the applicability date of the No Senior Hungry Omnibus Amendment Act, create a standard medical deduction to simplify the collection of medical expense information for SNAP participants who are elderly or non-elderly and living with disabilities and obtain a demonstration waiver from the United States Department of Agriculture; (4) Within one year after the applicability date of the No Senior Hungry Omnibus Amendment Act, streamline the submission process for rent, utilities, and other information to increase SNAP benefit amounts; (5) Within 180 days after the applicability date of the No Senior Hungry Omnibus Amendment Act, develop and implement senior-targeted outreach and communications for online SNAP, including assistance in online ordering; and (6) Within one year after the applicability date of the No Senior Hungry Omnibus Amendment Act, update the online portal to make it more user friendly, including making it possible for SNAP applicants to view the status of their application. Added by D.C. Law 24-294,§ 3, 70 DCR 000560, eff. 3/10/2023.