Sun City Community Assistance Network 10195 W. Coggins Drive Sun City, AZ
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By Hugh Duncan
The Mission of the Sun City Community Assistance Network is to, “Connect people with resources to enhance their standard of living.”
In other words, Sun City CAN helps people save money on things like property taxes, income taxes, utilities, Medicare premiums, prescription drugs and other things.
Many benefits go unclaimed simply because people are unaware that the benefits exist. In an effort to shed light on some of the help that is available to low-income seniors, I will write a guest commentary each month about a different senior help program.
Below is a listing of benefits available for low-income seniors that some may not realize are available.
Food stamps
Some readers, especially new Sun City residents, may be surprised to see an article about food stamps in the Sun City Independent.
“Are there really poor people in Sun City?” they might ask. Unfortunately, the answer is yes. The U.S. Census states that 9.9% of Sun City’s population is at or below the poverty line of $1,133 per month for a single person or $1,526 for a couple. This works out to be almost 4,000 of our neighbors. These are mainly elderly widows who get by on $1,133 or less each month. There is definitely a need for food stamps in Sun City.
But first, food stamps are a thing of the past. The food stamp program is now called SNAP, which stands for Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program. Instead of food stamps, SNAP participants receive a plastic card called an EBT card that works like a debit card.
Senior citizens 60 and older and disabled persons may be eligible for SNAP if their maximum monthly income does not exceed $1,771 per month for a single person or $2,396 for a couple. You cannot have more than $3,000 in savings; however, you can own a car and a house.
If you think you might qualify for SNAP, call Sun City Community Assistance Network at 623-933-7530 and make an appointment to meet with a benefits assistance counselor.
Editor's Note: Hugh Duncan is Sun City Community Assistance Network board president.
