SNAP & Medicaid Changes
Likely to Affect Participant Workers at Employment Social Enterprises (ESEs)
Learn how ESEs can help workers navigate and mitigate the impact
SNAP: WHAT IS THE CHANGE? ➢ SNAP (a.k.a. food stamps) payments have decreased due to the expiration of temporary pandemic related bonus payments. ➢ ESE workers are likely to lose upwards of $140 per month per person in SNAP benefits. | MEDICAID: WHAT IS THE CHANGE? ➢ Medicaid is requiring re-verification of eligibility to maintain enrollment due to the expiration of a pandemic related provision. |
WHO DOES THIS AFFECT? ➢ All ESE workers who receive SNAP benefits | WHO DOES THIS AFFECT? ➢ All ESE workers who receive Medicaid |
WHEN DO THESE CHANGES TAKE EFFECT? ➢ All changes have already taken effect. Your ESE workers have likely already seen a significant drop in their benefits. Working households may now experience reductions of $250 a month or more. | WHEN DO THESE CHANGES TAKE EFFECT? ➢ Depends on the state. Some states have already begun reverification. The last states to reverify plan to do so in June, July, or October. |
WHAT CAN YOU DO AS AN ESE LEADER?
▪ Notify your ESE workers in a way that doesn’t cause more stress. ▪ Increase the frequency with which you inquire specifically about food security. For example, bring up the topic of the rising cost of food and ask questions like: o Have you noticed a change in your ability to afford the types or amount of food you like to eat? o Has your family changed your shopping or dining habits recently? ▪ The lack of food can be traumatic for ESE workers. Stay attuned to behavioral and mood changes as well as disciplinary issues. ▪ Keep an emergency supply of food on hand for those in crisis among ESE workers that may reflect hunger or food access issues. ▪ Learn more about the specifics in your state, share information and invite dialogue with workers and alumni about the implications and impact. | ▪ Review information previously collected or pull a report from your data system about benefits receipt to identify those individuals most likely to be affected so that employee success staff can engage them directly in conversation. ▪ Assist ESE workers and alumni – especially those who are not very tech savvy – in updating their information with your Medicaid administering agency. ▪ Encourage participants and alumni to be on the lookout for, and responsive to, any communication from your state’s Medicaid program. ▪ Identify and partner organizations in your community that can assist workers in navigating Medicaid renewal. Resources can be found at Localhelp.healthcare.gov ▪ If workers are terminated from Medicaid, but believe that they are still eligible and the termination was made in error, ESEs should encourage them to contact their state Medicaid office and request a “fair hearing process” to appeal the decision. |
For more tips and information on these important changes please read the pages that follow which provide more details on the changes to SNAP and Medicaid, why REDF believes these changes are important for ESEs to be aware of, and additional tips on how to best support ESE workers.
June 2023 (updated from April 2023)