Responsibility for actually conducting outreach is lodged

with State agencies; the Department must monitor their

efforts to determine whether effective outreach is actually being conducted.

While the 1974 suit resulted in a flurry of outreach activities within the States (and expenditures of $1.9 million in FY 76---of which half was Federal matching funds) there is no conclusive evidence that these activities and expenditures significantly increased participation. In fact, participation has declined from a high of 19.3 million in the spring of 1975 to a level of 16 million in July of 1977. This decline principally reflects improvements in the economy. Would participation be still lower in the absence

of outreach activities?

We really don't know.

We do know that it is time to assess systematically the effectiveness of various outreach techniques and to design regulations that will make it as easy as possible for all eligible households to enter and use the program. We also know that outreach must mean far more than simply providing information. It must mean a program that is readily accessible and easy to use, so that people can act on the information they have.

This Administration is committed to making assistance programs serve---and serve well---the people for whom they are intended. One instance of this commitment is our recent cancellation of the Federal match for outreach costs to the State of Indiana for its failure--since corrected---to submit an acceptable outreach plan. A special FNS review team examined other aspects of program administration in Indiana this summer and we are now taking action to remedy

other problems which affect participation in that State. Similarly, a special FNS review team is currently assessing food stamp operations in New York State to identify program violations. If corrective action is found to be necessary, we will take it.

A formal warning to the State of Iowa for deficiencies in its outreach program resulted in the State's taking corrective action. We are going to continue to increase our monitoring the State performance and to impose sanctions on those States that do not meet our requirements.

As I mentioned before, the new food stamp act gives us many of the tools we need to overcome barriers to

participation by the elderly.

what these barriers have been.

There is no mystery as to

They include:

1. Lack of clear information explaining eligibility and where and how to apply for assistance.

2. Stigma associated with receipt of assistance.

3.

Transportation problems which make it difficult or impossible for the elderly to reach certification and issuance offices.

4.

5.

Complexity of the application process.

Lack of civility and helpfulness on the part of

some certification workers.

6.

Lack of cash to purchase food stamps.

While it would be naive to hope that the new law will remove all of these barriers, we do believe that the provisions of the law coupled with close monitoring and tight enforcement can significantly reduce obstacles to participation by the elderly. Here are the features of the law which address these problems:

1.

Probably the most important provision in the new

law is the elimination of the requirement that households purchase their food stamps. Because many households have been unable to come up with the cash to "buy into" the program, they have been unable to obtain the benefits to which they are legally entitled. Studies conducted by the

Maryland State Office of Aging in 1975-76 and by the University of Mississippi in 1974 found that the purchase requirement posed a significant obstacle for elderly

persons. Elimination of the purchase requirement will make it easier for the elderly and for all households to use the

program.

2. Because the food stamp program requires that people shop with food coupons, which are conspicuous, some people-particularly the elderly--may feel embarrassed at being readily identifiable as food stamp users. With elimination of the purchase requirement, households will receive only their bonus stamps rather than an entire allotment representing both the bonus and their purchase requirement. With fewer food stamps to use, this sense of stigma will be somewhat reduced.

3. The new legislation directly addresses the problems of program accessibility in several ways. It calls upon the Secretary of Agriculture to set standards for points and hours of certification and issuance. Congress' intent is that these services be provided in such a way that people need not travel long distances to apply for and obtain their food stamps. The use of "roving certifiers" who make

periodic visits to senior citizen and other community

centers to take application for food stamps can certainly

help to improve accessibility.

4. Additionally, the Department is directed to

prescribe standards under which States are required to use the mails, telephone interviews and/or home visits to certify people who because of age, disability or transportation problems are unable to reach a certification office or to apply through an authorized representative. other words, where the elderly cannot reach the program, the program must reach the elderly.

In

5. Furthermore, one of the most important provisions of the law as regards the elderly is the requirement that households in which all members receive SSI be able to apply for food stamps in SSI offices. This will completely eliminate the need for these households to make a separate trip to the food stamp office. We have already begun planning the implementation of this policy with SSA and feel it is going to significantly increase the number of SSI households served by the program. I should note that categorical eligibility for SSI households is terminated under the new bill, but this should have a minimal effect on SSI recipient's actual eligibility.

6.

Simplification of the application process through replacement of eight itemized deductions by two standard and two itemized deductions should help to make that process less forbidding, as well the use of a simplified, easy-toread national application form.

7. The Secretary is also directed to prescribe

standards for State staffing which will determine the

maximum number of cases an eligible worker can handle in an

efficient manner.

Short-staffing of local food stamp

State

offices has created lengthy delays in the certification prodcess in many places and contributes to less than courteous and careful treatment of many applicants. agencies will also be responsible for a continuing and comprehensive training program for certification staff, which should serve to ensure more courteous and accurate processing of applicants. And the law requires that bilingual certification workers be hired in localities where significant percentages of the population speak a language other than English.

For the elderly who are not fluent in

English, this will mean a decided improvement in service.
Under the new law, eligible households must be

8.

For

given an opportunity to submit an application for food stamps on the day they request it, and an opportunity to obtain their food stamps within 30 days from the date of application. This, too, will ensure prompter service to all households. For elderly households, certification periods of up to 12 months will be permitted, and all households must be notified of the expiration of their certification period in time to reapply without loss of benefits. eligible households with no income, food stamps must be issued on an expedited basis and households with good cause will be permitted to designate an authorized representative to apply for, obtain and use food stamps for them. While these features may seem technical, they contribute to a more responsible program that recognizes the urgency of the need for food assistance and the difficulties faced by many households in obtaining it.