Finding Ways to Pay for Food

Tiffany Raffino, LCSW

UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital

September 1, 2021

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If you’re running short on food

or worry about having enough food in the house,

you are not alone.

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1. Income

- Working & getting paid for time off/disability

2. Insurance

- Maximizing insurance coverage

3. Financial Resources

- Public benefits (SNAP, WIC, etc.)

- Medical expenses – co-pays, health insurance

premium, medical bills

- Nonprofit grants for CF community, COVID-19

- Programs for college, rent, utilities, activities etc.

- Fundraising

Insurance

Financial Resources

Income

Maximizing Your Finances

$

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1. Public Benefit Programs (WIC, SNAP)

2. Nutritional Support at School

3. National Resources for Finding Food

4. Resources for Supplements

5. Resources for Co-Pay Assistance

6. Nonprofit Assistance

7. Assistance with Household Utility Costs

8. Covid-19 Emergency Funds

9. Cookbooks & Recipe Ideas

10. Resources for Support

Outline

Anna Pelzer, upsplash.com

https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/wic-eligibility-requirements5

Household

Size

Annual

Income

1 $23,828

2 $32,227

3 $40,626

4 $49,025

5 $57,424

6 $65,823

▪ 6.2 million served per month in 2020; half of US

born infants

▪ Women (pregnant, up to 6 months after delivery,

breastfeeding to 1 year)

▪ Children up to age 5

▪ Provides food, formula & breastfeeding supplies

▪ Must have “nutrition risk” and meet income

eligibility criteria (or receive Medicaid or

Temporary Assistance to Needy Families)

▪ https://wic.fns.usda.gov/wps/pages/prescreentool

Women, Infants and Children (WIC)Supplemental Nutrition Program & Breastfeeding Support

Source: CBPP analysis of data from USDA Food and Nutrition Service, FY 2019

https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/a-closer-look-at-who-benefits-from-snap-state-by-state-fact-sheets6

▪ 41 million Americans in 2021. 12% of

population (or 1 in 9)

▪ Benefits will increase by $1.20/day in

October when pandemic relief ends

($36/month increase)

▪ $1 in SNAP benefits generates $1.70 in

economic activity

▪ Call 800-221-5689 or search online for

your local agency:

https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/state-

directory

Household

Size

Gross

Income

Net

Income

1 $1,383 $1,604

2 $1,868 $1,437

3 $2,353 $1,810

4 $2,839 $2,184

5 $3,324 $2,557

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/

recipient/eligibility

https://www.fns.usda.gov/nslp7

National School Lunch & School Breakfast

▪ Low cost or free lunches/breakfasts to

children in public / nonprofit private schools

▪ Children can be financially or categorially

eligible (foster, homeless, migrant,

runaway, SNAP, Head Start, Medicaid)

School Pantry Programs (local program)

▪ Families can pick up food at school

BackPack Programs (local program)

▪ Gives children food for the weekend

Double lunch portions in 504 plan

Household

Size

Income

for Free

Lunches

Income

for

Reduced

Lunches

1 $1,383 $1,986

2 $1,868 $2,686

3 $2,353 $3,386

4 $2,839 $4,086

5 $3,324 $4,786

Nutritional Support at School

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National Resources for Finding FoodFood Banks, Food Pantries, Child Nutrition Programs

USDA National Hunger Line

▪ 866-348-6479 or 877-842-6273 for Spanish

Contact your Local Food Bank, www.feedingamerica.org/need-help-find-food

▪ Ask about local Food Pantries, School Pantry Programs (where families can

pick up food at school), BackPack Programs (which gives children food for the

weekend), Senior Grocery Programs, Mobile Food Pantry Programs, and help

with baby food/formula/diapers

211/United Way

▪ Call 211 or search online for local food pantries/food banks:

https://www.211.org/

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▪ $1,500 per year for vitamins,

supplements, probiotics

▪ To register, call: 800-675-8416 or

sign up online:

▪ https://www.healthwellfoundation.org/f

und/cystic-fibrosis-vitamins-

supplements/

▪ Some pharmacies (Kroger,

Walgreens Specialty, Foundation

Care) will bill Healthwell directly

Resources for SupplementsHealthwell Foundation Vitamin/Supplement Grant

Household Size Annual Income

1 $51,520

2 $69,680

3 $87,840

4 $106,000

5 $124,160

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Resources for SupplementsEnzyme Manufacturer Programs (for those with commercial insurance)

Creon

CF Care Forward

Zenpep

Live 2 Thrive

Pertzye

Chiesi Care Direct

• Co-pay assistance

• Monthly orders of

vitamins/supplements

• Co-pay assistance

• Monthly orders of

vitamins/supplements

• “points” for reward

items

• Co-pay assistance

• $75 per month with

360º debit card

• $20 additional co-pay

card

https://www.creon.com/c

fcareforward

855-227-3493

https://www.live2thrive.or

g/

888-936-7371

https://pertzyecares.com

/chiesi-caredirect/

866-865-1222

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Medications and Supplements

Needy Meds https://www.needymeds.org/ (medications & supplements)

Pulmozyme Co-Pay Card, www.pulmozymesupport.com, 877-794-8723

Vertex GPS (CFTR Modulators), www.vertexgps.com, 877-752-5933

Healthwell Foundation 800-675-8416

▪ $15,000 per year in their Treatment Fund for medication & equipment https://www.healthwellfoundation.org/fund/cystic-fibrosis-treatments-2/

Patient Advocate Foundation 800-532-5274, https://www.patientadvocate.org/

▪ Co-payment and insurance premium support

The Assistance Fund, https://tafcares.org, 855-845-3663

Resources for Co-Pay Assistance

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Nonprofit Assistance▪ Bonnell Foundation (https://thebonnellfoundation.org/financial-assistance/).

Nonprofit that can help with costs not covered by insurance, such as DME,

counseling services, medical care, medications.

▪ Cystic Dreams Fund (www.cysticdreamsfund.com). Nonprofit organization that

can assist with drug co-pays, medical bills, and transplant-related expenses.

▪ Claire’s Place Foundation (www.clairesplacefoundation.org). Offers an

extended-stay hospital grant to help with expenses for when a patient has been

hospitalized for more than 14 days.

▪ United Healthcare Children’s Foundation (www.uhccf.org). Offers financial

assistance for children under 16 who have private insurance and meet financial

eligibility criteria. Income limits: $55,000 for a family of 2; $85,000 for a family of

3; $115,000 for a family of 4; $145,000 for a family of 5 or more.

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Assistance with Household Utility CostsLifeline Program

▪ Discount on phone services for qualifying people with low incomes

▪ https://www.fcc.gov/general/lifeline-program-low-income-consumers

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

▪ Helps families manage costs related to home energy bills, energy crises,

weatherization, and energy-related minor home repairs

▪ https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ocs/low-income-home-energy-assistance-program-

liheap

▪ National Energy Assistance Referral: 866-674-6327

Emergency Broadband Benefit Program

▪ Contact your Broadband provider to ask about discounts

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COVID-19 Emergency FundsBoomer Esiason Foundation COVID-19 Relief Fund

▪ Emergency expenses, including rent/mortgage, food, transportation, home

schooling needs, cleaning products, self protection (masks, hand sanitizer)

https://www.esiason.org/assistance/covid-relief-fund

National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)

▪ Unexpected utility expenses, cellular or internet service, emergency repairs

to car/home, rent/mortgage. Up to $1,000. Call to apply: 203-242-0497

https://rarediseases.org/nord-launches-financial-assistance-program-for-

rare-disease-community-members-impacted-by-covid-19

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund for College Students

▪ Food, housing, course materials, technology needs, health care, or child

care expenses. Apply with financial aid office.

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1701 NE 9th Street Gainesville, Florida 32609

352-372-0294

1600 SW Archer Road Ste HD-506 Pediatric Pulmonary Division

Gainesville, FL 32610 352-273-8381

Kid -Friend ly Rec ipes with

Food Pantry & WIC Stap les

Balanced Budget

Cookbook

www.catholiccharitiesgainesville.org

http://pulmonary.pediatrics.med.ufl.edu/education/training-program/

The “Balanced Budget Cookbook” is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant #T72MC00007 (PI:Wagner) for Pediatric Pulmonary Centers. The information , contents, and conclusions of “The Balanced Budget Cookbook” are those of the authors and should not be construed as the offical positio

n or policy of, nor should any

endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS ot the US Government.

Cookbooks & Recipes for Tight Budgets

Recipes and Meal

Tips for the CF

Community

https://www.chef4cf.

com/

MyPlate Tip Sheets

https://www.myplate.gov/

resources/print-materials

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Resources for Support

▪ Your CF Clinic – we are here to help!

▪ CF Foundation Compass Program 844-COMPASS

Ask about all different kinds of financial resources – such as

disability benefits, insurance programs, co-pay assistance,

nonprofit support, household utility costs, and covid-19

emergency funds.