The Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP) is a demonstration project that seeks to increase participation among the older adult (65 years or older) low-income population facing barriers to participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It is designed to increase the efficiency of SNAP and improve delivery of SNAP benefits to eligible households by streamlining the application and certification process.
ESAPs are limited to households where all members are older adults with no earned income, although some projects also include adults with disabilities with no earned income and/or allow children to be present in the household (child-only households are not permitted).
Key waivers offered in the demonstration project include waiving the recertification interview requirement, allowing greater flexibility in verification, and extending the certification period to 36 months. ESAP demonstration projects also often make use of a simplified application.
For a list of states that operate an ESAP, check out the SNAP State Options Report
States interested in requesting to implement an ESAP can reach out to their FNA regional offices.