Increasing Nutrition Access for Seniors Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5055
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-01-13: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-16T08:07:46Z
AI-Generated Summary
Increasing Nutrition Access for Seniors Act of 2025 (H.R. 5055)
Purpose
This legislation amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to simplify access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for elderly and disabled individuals by extending certification periods, creating an optional standard medical expense deduction, and reducing certain verification requirements.
Key Provisions
- Certification period extension: Allows households with no earned income to receive a 36-month certification period instead of the standard 24 months.
- Standard medical deduction option: Permits states to offer a standard medical expense deduction for elderly or disabled household members who self-attest to having more than $35 in monthly medical expenses. The deduction starts at $155 for fiscal year 2026 and adjusts annually based on the Consumer Price Index for Medical Care; states may set a higher amount with supporting evidence.
- Simplified verification: Authorizes state agencies to use data matches instead of direct income verification for households qualifying for the 36-month certification period.
- Effective date: The changes take effect 180 days after enactment and do not apply to certification periods that began before that date.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Modifies the definition of certification periods in Section 3(f) to include a 36-month option for households without earned income.
- Adds a new subsection to Section 5(e)(5)(A) establishing an optional standard medical deduction, moving away from requiring itemized documentation of medical costs.
- Updates Section 11(e)(3) to allow data matching as an alternative to traditional income verification under specific conditions.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: State SNAP agencies may experience reduced administrative workload through fewer recertifications and simplified verification processes, though they must implement new deduction options and data-matching procedures.
- On citizens: Elderly and disabled SNAP participants could face fewer application renewals and less need to document medical expenses, potentially improving program access and retention.
- On international relations: No direct impacts identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Elderly and disabled individuals and households participating in SNAP.
- State agencies responsible for administering SNAP.
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees the program at the federal level.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The bill introduces administrative flexibilities within existing SNAP authority without altering eligibility criteria or benefit calculations.
- It raises no apparent constitutional issues, as it operates within Congress’s spending and regulatory powers over federal nutrition assistance programs.
- Implementation depends on state adoption of the optional standard deduction, potentially leading to variation in benefits across states.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (15)
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11], Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26], Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2], Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Mannion, John W. [D-NY-22], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. McDonald Rivet, Kristen [D-MI-8], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
Recent Actions
- 2026-01-13: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
- 2025-08-26: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2025-08-26: Introduced in House
- 2025-08-26: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Increasing Nutrition Access for Seniors Act of 2025 — issued 2025-08-26 — PDF (3 pages)