OAR 461-135-1175: Senior Farm Direct Nutrition Program

(1) The Senior Farm Direct Nutrition Program (SFDNP) provides farm direct checks to low income individuals. (2) An individual is eligible for SFDNP if the individual meets all of the following eligibility criteria on April 1 of the calendar year in which benefits are sought: (a) Has countable income (see OAR 461-001-0000) less than 135 percent of the Federal Poverty Level as listed in OAR 461-155-0295. (b) Receives Medicaid or SNAP benefits. (c) Is homeless or resides in their own home or rental property. (d) Is age 60 or older. (3) SFDNP is funded by a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Department determines the allotment amount and number of eligible individuals on an annual basis, based on the grant allocation received from the USDA. (4) The Department may not issue more than one SFDNP allotment per participant, per year. (5) SFDNP begins June 1 each year and ends on October 31 each year. In order to qualify for the program, the Department must receive the applicant's letter of interest by September 15 of the year in question. (6) The Department processes applicants' letters of interest in the order in which the letters are received at the Department's central office. (7) When the grant allocation received from the USDA is expended in its entirety, the Department closes SFDNP for the year in question. (8) The Department determines the treatment of SFDNP benefits during the eligibility process for other programs in accordance with OAR 461-145-0190.