Bridging the SNAP Gap Act of 2023
Latest action (20 Jul 2023): Introduced
What this bill does
H.R. 4815, the “Bridging the SNAP Gap Act of 2023,” would amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, the law governing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It would raise from 17 to 21 the age used in determining certain income exclusions under the Act. It would also convert SNAP’s existing "excess" medical expense deduction—currently available only to elderly or disabled household members—into a "standard" medical expense deduction available to households generally, removing the elderly/disabled limitation. The standard deduction amount would be tied to the Medicare Part B monthly premium rate in effect each October 1, though states could set a higher deduction if it meets federal cost-neutrality standards.
The bill would primarily affect SNAP applicants and recipients, potentially broadening eligibility for income exclusions to older youth (up to age 21) and extending a medical expense deduction to households beyond those with elderly or disabled members. State agencies administering SNAP would also be affected, since they would gain new authority to set higher medical expense deductions under federal cost-neutrality rules.
The bill was introduced in the House on July 20, 2023, by Rep. Lori Trahan (D-MA) with several cosponsors, and referred to the House Committee on Agriculture. As of the information provided, it has not received a committee or floor vote, and no further action has occurred.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Bridging the SNAP Gap Act of 2023
This bill expands certain income exclusions and the excess medical expense deduction under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Specifically, the bill excludes income from children in elementary or secondary schools who are age 21 or younger from income calculations for purposes of determining SNAP eligibility (currently, the exclusion is limited to children who are age 17 or younger).
In addition, the bill expands the excess medical expense deduction to include all individuals, rather than only individuals age 60 or older or individuals with disabilities. (The excess medical expense deduction allows for the deduction of certain out-of-pocket medical expenses that exceed $35 per month from income calculations under SNAP.) The bill also specifies that the amount of the deduction must be equal to the premium rate for Medicare medical services, although states may choose to set higher amounts.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 4815 do?
- H.R. 4815, the “Bridging the SNAP Gap Act of 2023,” would amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, the law governing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It would raise from 17 to 21 the age used in determining certain income exclusions under the Act. It would also convert SNAP’s existing "excess" medical expense deduction—currently available only to elderly or disabled household members—into a "standard" medical expense deduction available to households generally, removing the elderly/disabled limitation. The standard deduction amount would be tied to the Medicare Part B monthly premium rate in effect each October 1, though states could set a higher deduction if it meets federal cost-neutrality standards. The bill would primarily affect SNAP applicants and recipients, potentially broadening eligibility for income exclusions to older youth (up to age 21) and extending a medical expense deduction to households beyond those with elderly or disabled members. State agencies administering SNAP would also be affected, since they would gain new authority to set higher medical expense deductions under federal cost-neutrality rules. The bill was introduced in the House on July 20, 2023, by Rep. Lori Trahan (D-MA) with several cosponsors, and referred to the House Committee on Agriculture. As of the information provided, it has not received a committee or floor vote, and no further action has occurred.
- Has H.R. 4815 become law?
- Not yet. As of 20 Jul 2023, H.R. 4815 is introduced.
- Who sponsored H.R. 4815?
- H.R. 4815 was sponsored by Rep. Lori Trahan [D-MA3] (Democrat-MA), with 19 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 4815?
- Introduced (20 Jul 2023).
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