Tom McSpedden, 70, lives in a rented room in Citrus Heights, California.
Its a big change from the life Tom lived for three decades as a truck driver.
I felt like I was getting paid to see the country, he says.
One of those heart attacks landed him in the hospital for several days.
When I got out of the hospital, they said I owed them a million-something dollars, he explains.
But I didnt ask what my options were.
I gave them everything Id saved because I thought I had to.
At first, he was getting $67 a month in benefits.
Its hard to overstate the importance of nutritious foods for people trying to manage diabetes.
But fresh, unprocessed foods cost a lot more than the highly processed kind.
Eating healthy is expensive, Tom says.
If youre living off benefits, you have to throw diabetes out the window.
But when the pandemic hit, the federal government authorized an emergency increase in benefits for SNAP/CalFresh recipients.
They told me I was going to get an additional $211 a month, Tom remembers.
I finally had enough money to eat.
With breathing room in his budget, he could afford to make healthier choices, but it was short-lived.
In 2023, emergency allotments abruptly ended, and Tom was back to square one.
Still, he felt he had it easier than some.
I knew Id get by somehow; I always do.
But its the single mother with three kids I worry about.
How does she feed them without that extra money?
She helped Tom find unreported expenses, adding $60 a month to his benefits.
Tom and Erika spoke many times throughout the process, and they still stay in touch.
Along with the extra money, the experience showed him the importance of asking questions.
People think that the initial amount is all you get.
But in most cases, its not, says Tom.
Erika found a way to help me survive."
Find out more on howErika cares for the community through food assistance.
Learn more about AARP Foundations work tohelp older adults apply for SNAP benefits.Meet morecommunity heroeslike Erika.
