# Senior Hunger Prevention Act of 2023: What It Actually Does

This bill is designed to make it easier for seniors, disabled adults, and their families to get food assistance through the federal food stamp program (officially called SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). Right now, many eligible older adults and people with disabilities don't participate in the program because the application process is complicated and time-consuming. This bill tries to fix that.

The bill makes several practical changes to reduce paperwork and hassle. First, it extends how long people can stay certified for benefits from two years to three years, so seniors and disabled adults won't have to reapply as often. Second, it increases the medical expense deduction—a break that helps people with high medical costs qualify for more food assistance. Starting in 2024, the standard deduction would be $155 per month, and it would increase each year with inflation. Third, it changes how the program calculates benefits for people with very low incomes, potentially giving them more assistance.

The bill also creates two new simplified application programs specifically for vulnerable groups. The "Elderly Simplified Application Program" would let states streamline applications for households where all adults are elderly or disabled and have no job income. These applicants could skip in-person interviews for recertification and wouldn't need to provide as much paperwork—they could simply declare their information, with the state only verifying details that seem questionable. The "Combined Application Program" would let people already receiving Social Security disability benefits or supplemental security income apply for food assistance using a simpler, automated process that doesn't require as many interviews or detailed calculations.

Finally, the bill creates a pilot grant program to help organizations reach seniors, disabled adults, and grandparents raising grandchildren who don't know they qualify for food assistance. These grants would fund outreach and enrollment support to connect eligible people with the program. Overall, the bill aims to reduce hunger among vulnerable populations by making the system less bureaucratic and more accessible.

Senior Hunger Prevention Act of 2023

Bonamici, Suzanne

Senior Hunger Prevention Act of 2023 This bill modifies and expands nutrition programs for older adults and adults with disabilities, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). Under the bill, a household's eligibility for SNAP benefits may be certified for 36 months if all adult household members are elderly or disabled, an increase from 24 months. The bill also expands the SNAP medical expense deduction. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) must establish an elderly simplified application program (ESAP). Under ESAP, a state may implement a streamlined SNAP application and certification process for households where all adult household members are elderly or disabled and have no earned income. The bill also directs USDA to authorize public-private partnerships between USDA, retail food stores participating in SNAP, and community-based organizations to provide free or low-cost food delivery under SNAP, including through the use of private funds. Further, the bill reauthorizes CSFP, provides additional funding for the program, and expands eligibility to include low-income adults with disabilities. CSFP benefits may also be certified for 36 months. Currently, benefits may be certified for not less than one year, but not more than three years. The bill also expands eligibility for the Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) to include adults with disabilities, provide a 36-month certification period, and include minimum and maximum benefit amounts. Under the bill, USDA must also establish various grant programs; for example, USDA must establish grant programs to modernize SFMNP operations and establish new farmers' markets.