HIV Initiative HIV Initiative Companion

Transcription

1 HIV Initiative HIV Initiative Companion 1

2 Contents OVERVIEW...3 GOAL 3 DATES 3 SLOGAN 3 DISCLOSURES 3 OUTREACH BUDGET 3 TIPS FOR PERFORMING OUTREACH...4 KNOW THE BASICS OF HIV 4 REVIEW THE OLDER ADULTS CAMPAIGN COMPANION 4 CONFIDENTIALITY AND HIV 4 TALKING POINTS AND MESSAGING 5 POTENTIAL SITES TO VISIT 6 SNAP RULES...7 SNAP DEFINITION OF DISABLED HOUSEHOLD 7 BUDGETING RULES 7 NYSNIP 8 RECERTIFICATION PERIODS 8 2

3 Overview GOAL Our objective is to increase the number of individuals and families living with HIV\AIDS who apply for SNAP and get approved. Our activities will increase awareness about: The positive aspects of self-care and maintaining good health through proper nutrition The ways SNAP supports health and medical treatment for people living with HIV\AIDS How medical deductions and dependent care costs affect the potential benefit amount The reduced barriers to applying Helpful services NOEP offers DATES Initiatives are ongoing and have no set dates, but World AIDS Day (December 1) is an ideal time to perform HIV Initiative activities. Look for tabling opportunities at events related to this day of awareness. SLOGAN Initiatives do not have specific slogans that must be used. Some ideas include: Health is Valuable. Health is Victory. DISCLOSURES Outreach pieces for this initiative require the standard funding disclosure/anti-discrimination clause: Prepared by a project of Hunger Solutions New York; funded by NYSOTDA and USDA/FNS. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. OUTREACH BUDGET Unlike the six campaigns, you are not required to participate in initiatives. When you re planning your activities for the HIV Initiative, check your Outreach Bank Account on NOEPOnline.org to make sure you will have enough money left to meet the campaign requirements for the rest of the year. If you need help reviewing your Outreach Bank Account, contact your Contract Manager. 3

4 Tips for Performing Outreach AUDIENCE According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC): In 2014, an estimated 44,073 people in the U.S. were diagnosed with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. About one in eight people with HIV in the U.S. do not know they are infected. In 2014, approximately 3,800 adults and adolescents were diagnosed with HIV in New York. New York ranked 4th among the 50 states in the number of HIV diagnoses in Although HIV\AIDS is identified as a pandemic disease, according to the CDC, certain populations are more susceptible to it: Older Adults While the majority of HIV diagnoses occur before age 40, the vast majority of persons living with HIV infection are over 40. Nearly half of them are 50 or older. Race/ethnicity In 2014, 43 percent of those diagnosed with HIV in the Northeast were black, 28 percent were Hispanic, and 24 percent were white. Asians, Native Americans, Native Hawaiians and multi-race individuals represented a small percentage of those diagnosed. KNOW THE BASICS OF HIV It s good to have a general understanding of HIV: what it is, how it s contracted, the symptoms, etc. Find the basics and more here. REVIEW THE OLDER ADULTS CAMPAIGN COMPANION Since the majority of people living with HIV are age 40 and over, many of the cultural considerations and tips for performing outreach for older adults will apply to your outreach efforts. CONFIDENTIALITY AND HIV Many of our current health information privacy laws (HIPAA, for example) came about because the stigma and misunderstanding of HIV/AIDS led many people living with it to be concerned about the privacy of their diagnosis. With this in mind, it s important to take extreme care regarding the confidentiality of an HIV/AIDS diagnosis and be vigilant about following confidentiality protocols. 4

5 TALKING POINTS AND MESSAGING Emphasize health benefits Illustrate how SNAP can bolster clients monthly food budget, helping those living with HIV to buy the food they need to better their health and maintain a healthy immune system. Promote life and focus on health management. Stay on topic Exhibit positive imagery and messaging regarding the SNAP program. It is not our purpose to offer an opinion on the politics or stigma related to HIV\AIDS. Highlight medical deductions Medical deductions can dramatically affect potential SNAP eligibility. Outlining some of the common medical deductions on outreach materials can help raise awareness. Discuss dependent care costs When assisting clients with families, remember that in many cases, dependent care costs (daycare costs) can be used in the budgeting process. Keep in mind: In order to use dependent care costs, all adults in the household must be working, looking for work, attending employment training programs, or pursuing education to prepare for employment. There is no limit for dependent care costs, and all out-of-pocket daycare costs can be counted in their entirety. Traditional daycares, as well as informal daycare (ex. family friend, relative), are allowable as costs as long as they can be verified as out-of-pocket dependent care expenses. Applicants eligible to use the dependent care deduction should be evaluated using the 200% income guideline. See the Prescreening Guide for more information. Review changes to the application process Let clients know the SNAP application process has been simplified in the following ways: Face-to-face interview waivers Online applications Phone interviews Authorized representative (Tip: the form is in the Prescreening Guide Appendicies) Elimination of finger imaging 5

6 Explain how NOEP can help Be sure to highlight NOEP services including: Home visits Application assistance, including submission Gathering and copying paperwork Collecting and sorting medical deductions POTENTIAL SITES TO VISIT The following are good places to reach low-income people living with HIV, as well as create collaborations and cross-referrals. The list is not exhaustive and we appreciate you sharing with us any locations and organizations you have found to be great places for outreach activities. Recovery centers HIV community organizations Nutritionists Health advocacy groups Health-related community centers Homeless shelters Domestic violence programs Community-based organizations that provide comprehensive poverty assistance 6

7 SNAP Rules Certain people living with HIV are considered disabled for the purposes of SNAP. The following is a review of the rules related to households considered disabled. SNAP DEFINITION OF DISABLED HOUSEHOLD A person is considered disabled when they are receiving a federally-related disability benefit including: SSI, SSD, disability-related Medicaid, VA disability 100% (See theprescreening Guide). The SNAPSB goes into more detail on page 56 about other instances when a household is considered disabled under the SNAP definition. There are special rules for severely disabled people who are elderly and residing with others. If food is being purchased and prepared together because the disabled person is unable to shop and cook, the disabled person can qualify as their own SNAP case. The only time this is possible is if meals are shared and the income of the other people in the house does not exceed 165% of the poverty level. Disabled households are able to waive the face-to-face interview. Sometimes this happens automatically when an electronic application is submitted, or in NYC when an application is submitted by MARU. In addition, waivers can be requested due to illness, transportation difficulties and if all adults are elderly and/or disabled and there is no earned income in the household. BUDGETING RULES Special budgeting rules apply to SNAP cases that have a disabled household member: 1. These households are able to use the 200% gross income limit when checking income guidelines. If they are under the 200% gross income, then they do not need to meet resource limits or the net income test because they are categorically eligible. In this case, for one- and two-person cases, the household would be entitled to at least the minimum benefit of $15. For more information, see the Prescreening Guide. 2. The resource limit is higher for these SNAP cases and they can have up to $3,500 when there is a disabled person on the case. If the household s income is over 200% they still may be eligible, but must have resources below the resource limit and pass the net income test. For more information on resources, see the Prescreening Guide. 3. All SNAP cases where a disabled person is paying more than $35 per month in out-of-pocket medical expenses can use this cost as a deduction in their budget. Some of the more common costs include: prescriptions, insurance premiums, co-pays, outstanding medical bills and dental/eyeglass costs. Only the person with the disability can apply their medical costs to the budget. For more information, see the Prescreening Guide. 7

8 NYSNIP New York State Nutrition Improvement Project (NYSNIP) is designed to get SSI live-alone recipients SNAP benefits without a SNAP application, interview or separate verification. The certification period for NYSNIP can be up to four years and the SSI recipient is enrolled automatically. For more information, see pages the Prescreening Guide. RECERTIFICATION PERIODS Many SNAP cases that include a person with a disability have extended recertification periods. Households where everyone is senior or disabled and there is no earned income can have a recertification period of 24 months. NYSNIP participants can also have a 48-month recertification period, with an interim report required to be completed and returned halfway through the certification period. More information can be found in the Prescreening Guide. 8