Rep. Moore Calls On Gov. Walker to Restore Seniors’ FoodShare Benefits
"Had DHS correctly followed federal laws and regulations, affected seniors and persons with disabilities would have likely seen an increased monthly food benefit and had more resources available to provide for themselves."
In response to news that the State of Wisconsin may be denying tens of thousands of the most vulnerable individuals, including seniors and those with disabilities, their full FoodShare benefits, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04) wrote to Governor Scott Walker urging him to take immediate action to restore full benefits to seniors and retroactively credit those impacted.
Recent administrative and court hearings have found that the Wisconsin Department of Health and Human Services (DHS) failed to comply with federal regulations by not providing seniors living in subsidized housing a proper utility credit, resulting in them receiving a much smaller monthly benefit than they were otherwise entitled to. This oversight has massive consequences for seniors on fixed incomes who depend on FoodShare to put food on the table. Food insecure seniors are at a much higher risk of diabetes, depression, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, and more life-threatening illnesses.
“Had DHS correctly followed federal laws and regulations, affected seniors and persons with disabilities would have likely seen an increased monthly food benefit and had more resources available to provide for themselves,” wrote Congresswoman Moore. “Instead, the State’s policy has improperly denied seniors and those with disabilities resources to maintain an adequate and nutritious diet, which is critically important to their health and well-being.”
In the letter, Congresswoman Moore pressed Governor Walker to swiftly identify seniors who were shortchanged because of the State’s flawed interpretation of federal law, correct the error in their benefit calculations, and ensure that impacted seniors are retroactively credited for lost benefits.
“Again, you have the opportunity to correct this injustice and to help put additional dollars into the food budgets of needy seniors and persons with disabilities at little cost to the State,” continued Congresswoman Moore. “I urge you to seize it.”
To read the full letter to Governor Walker, click here.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
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