Free SNAP, Earn Benefits Screening January 13

SOUTHBURY — Free social service screenings to help any Connecticut resident facing difficult times will continue to take place each month during 2011 at the Jewish Federation, 444 Main Street North.

The Federation’s Brownstein Jewish Family Service has teamed up with the Connecticut Association for Human Services (CAHS) to continue offering these free monthly social service screenings, by appointment, for a dozen work support/ basic needs programs, including SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly food stamps), energy assistance, HUSKY, Medicaid and Charter Oak insurance. The next screening is scheduled from 10 am to 3 pm on Thursday, January 13.

“During the last few months we found close to 50 people to be eligible for SNAP, ranging from toddlers to a centenarian” said JFS director Debby Horowitz. “We’ve been helping people who are falling through the cracks and really having a tough time making ends meet. They come from all the towns around here. We’re seeing unemployed single people, families where one or both parents have recently lost their jobs and health insurance, and seniors too. If anyone wants to call, we can give them the income guidelines over the phone for SNAP.”

Whether a friend, a neighbor, or a relative is unemployed, uninsured, living on a fixed income, or just having difficulty putting enough food on the table or paying for medicine, this screening may offer some solutions for those who are struggling to make ends meet.

A family of two with a gross monthly income of $2,246 could be eligible for SNAP, which uses a debit, or EBT card, to make grocery purchases. The gross monthly income for a single person is $1,671. You can own a home or a car, and its value is not counted as an asset.

Reservations are required for the 30-minute screening, which is given by Nera Clemente of the Connecticut Association for Human Services. To RSVP, call Debby Horowitz at 203-267-3177, extension 105.

All calls are confidential.