Can adults in the U.S. who are 55 and older receive close to $3,000 for groceries and other items because of "new benefits"? No, that's not true: There are no benefits that will allow older adults to get such an allowance at the time of writing. Such claims have often been associated with companies trying to sell insurance to older adults.
The claim appeared in a post on Facebook on May 14, 2023, that featured a graphic claiming that "Adults 55+ Can 'Claim' Free Food Assistance in 2023" and included a Walmart logo. The caption of the post read:
BREAKING: Today Is The Last Day For Seniors 55+ To Get $2,888 For Groceries & Everyday Items Thanks To The New Benefits 🇺🇸
This is what the post looked like on Facebook at the time of writing:
(Source: Facebook screenshot taken on Tue May 16 16:55:36 2023 UTC)
A link attached to the Facebook post leads users to a website that does not appear to be affiliated with the U.S. government or any federal programs: The website's domain name is not ".gov," the top-level domain name for U.S. government-affiliated websites.
Although the website has a statement saying there is a "$2888 Flex Card" for older adults, no such card exists, as explained in a Lead Stories fact check published on February 1, 2023. There are also several grammatical errors in the website's text, another indication that it was created without governmental input. A screenshot of the website is below:
(Source: Screenshot taken on Tue May 16 17:13:16 2023 UTC)
The website also includes a questionnaire. When a selection to the first question ("Are you over 64 year old?") is clicked, it leads to another website called "MedicareOpenenRoll." A description at the bottom of that website's homepage states that its purpose is "the solicitation of insurance." This website was behind another advertisement claiming there is a similar "senior benefits program," the Lead Stories fact check above reported. A screenshot of the website is included below:
(Source: Screenshot taken on Tue May 16 18:55:50 2023 UTC)
Lead Stories did not find any "flex card" food benefits for older adults on the U.S. government's guide to food assistance programs. A resource from the AARP, a U.S. nonprofit that advocates for the interests of older adults, also makes no mention of a "flex card." Both the government website and the AARP resources mostly discuss applying for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits.
As for any Walmart affiliation, there is no indication that Walmart participates in a program that provides almost $3,000 to older adults.
Lead Stories previously debunked another free food for older adults claim here.
