Appointments are still available for the next free private social service screenings for food stamps to help any Connecticut resident facing difficult times. Screenings will be done Thursday, Nov. 19, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Jewish Federation at 444 Main St. North in Southbury. The Federation’s Brownstein Jewish Family Service and StayWell Health Center continue to offer these free monthly social service screenings by appointment for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly food stamps.
The screenings have helped many Connecticut residents who are having a tough time making ends meet. People who are struggling to put food on the table, are unemployed or underemployed, and seniors in their 80s who live on fixed incomes all have been assisted.
Under the new income guidelines, the gross monthly income for SNAP eligibility is $1,815 for a single person, $2,456 for a household of two, and $3,098 for a family of three. You can own a home or a car and its value is not counted as an asset, and you can have a bank account. During the past year, dozens of local residents have been found eligible for food stamps during the screening. And some SNAP recipients may be eligible to participate in an employment and training program free of charge. This program can help SNAP households gain skills that will increase self-sufficiency.
Reservations are required for the half-hour screening, which is given by John Potusek, SNAP Outreach Worker at StayWell. To RSVP, call Debby Horowitz, the Brownstein Jewish Family Service director, at 203-267-3177, ext. 310. All calls are confidential.
