Press Releases

Moore, Welch, Chu Reintroduce Bicameral Bill to Bolster SNAP Benefits for Social Security Recipients

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Gwen Moore (D-WI-04), U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and U.S. Representative Judy Chu (CA-28) reintroduced the COLAs Don’t Count Act, bicameral legislation, H.R. 6986, to allow households utilizing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) - Foodshare in Wisconsin - to deduct annual Social Security cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) from their income when calculating eligibility and benefits under  the food assistance program. Railroad retirement and veterans’ benefit COLAs and state supplementation program payments would similarly be exempt. 

“For individuals and American families who rely on Social Security, SSI, and SNAP, the annual Social Security COLA increase can deliver economic support especially as inflation remains too high in our country. At the same time, the COLA can result in cuts to critical food assistance.

Our legislation would exempt the Social Security COLA from being counted as income for purposes of determining SNAP eligibility and the benefit amount,” said Rep. Moore. “This is similar to existing exemptions of many other federal benefits, which work to protect SNAP benefits for vulnerable Americans. As Republicans cut SNAP and food insecurity grows, Congress needs to advance this legislation to strengthen SNAP and help families keep food on the table.” 

“Nearly 70,000 Vermonters rely on SNAP for vital hunger assistance, so it’s essential this program accurately captures the financial reality of those who need it. Yet we’re seeing SNAP recipients lose out on vital benefits because of outdated requirements that don’t account for modern financial hardships,” said Senator Welch. “We need to update SNAP to help families put food on the table and keep up with rising costs.” 

“Social Security’s annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) are supposed to help our most vulnerable Americans, including seniors and Veterans, keep up with the rising cost of basic necessities. But for too many Americans, those COLA increases cause them to receive lower monthly food assistance benefits or even to lose eligibility altogether. It’s harmful and unacceptable,” said Rep. Chu. “I’m proud to join Representative Gwen Moore in introducing this common-sense bill to stop penalizing seniors by ensuring Social Security COLAs are no longer counted as income for the purposes of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility.”  

In 2023, approximately 9 million Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries were also SNAP recipients, with 33% of SNAP households receiving Social Security benefits (an average of $1,096) and 23% of households receiving SSI benefits (an average of $723 monthly). Each year, Social Security beneficiaries receive a COLA provided through the Social Security Act to ensure the value of benefits is not eroded by inflation. For 2026, the estimated 67.5 million Social Security beneficiaries and 7.3 million SSI beneficiaries will receive a 2.8% COLA. 

When the income of a SNAP household rises, beneficiaries face a potential reduction in SNAP benefits or risk becoming ineligible, creating a benefits cliff. Further, as COLAs raise a household’s overall income—and are not considered an allowable deduction under SNAP’s current income eligibility requirements—it can impact households’ ability to receive vital food assistance. For example, in 2023, an estimated 28,000 SNAP households lost their eligibility for the program as a result of Social Security COLAs, and 36% of SNAP recipients saw a decrease of an average of $32 per month in benefits. Without an exemption, vulnerable Americans can experience hunger and increased hardship. This legislation would protect their SNAP benefits from fluctuating annual COLA rates.

The COLAs Don’t Count Act is endorsed by the Food and Research Action Center; Hunger Task Force; Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin; Social Security Works; National Council on Aging; the Strengthen Social Security Coalition and Hunger Free Vermont.