To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to streamline nutrition access for older adults and adults with disabilities, and for other purposes.
Analysis under review: This bill has generated analysis that may be too generic or incomplete. Clause-level evidence remains available below.
Summary
What This Bill Does
This bill makes it easier for older adults (60+) and adults with disabilities to access food assistance programs. It creates streamlined application processes, extends certification periods from 24 to 36 months, removes requirements for in-person interviews, and establishes food delivery services for those who cannot shop for themselves.
Who Benefits and How
Older adults and adults with disabilities benefit from simplified SNAP enrollment through the Elderly Simplified Application Program (ESAP) and Combined Application Program (CAP). They receive longer certification periods (36 months vs 24), standard medical deductions ($155/year adjusted for inflation), and free grocery delivery options. Local farmers markets can receive loans, grants, and loan guarantees to improve infrastructure and accessibility.
Who Bears the Burden and How
The federal government bears increased costs through expanded appropriations: $10 million/year for commodity food programs, $60-100 million/year for seniors farmers markets, and funding for outreach grants and food delivery. State agencies must implement new simplified application systems, though this may reduce their administrative workload long-term. USDA must coordinate with Social Security Administration on combined applications.
Key Provisions
- Creates Elderly Simplified Application Program (ESAP) with 36-month certification and data matching
- Establishes Combined Application Program (CAP) integrating SNAP with Social Security disability benefits
- Provides free grocery delivery for older adults and disabled who cannot shop
- Expands eligibility for commodity food program and seniors farmers market to include adults with disabilities
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Streamline and expand nutrition assistance programs (SNAP, CSFP, Seniors Farmers Market) for older adults and adults with disabilities by simplifying applications, extending certification periods, adding food delivery options, and increasing appropriations.
Key Policy Areas
Nutrition Assistance, Aging Services, Disability Services, Agriculture
Primary Purpose
Streamline and expand nutrition assistance programs (SNAP, CSFP, Seniors Farmers Market) for older adults and adults with disabilities by simplifying applications, extending certification periods, adding food delivery options, and increasing appropriations.
Policy Domains
Senior Hunger Prevention Act of 2023
Identified Gains
- Older adults (60+)
- Adults with disabilities
- Kinship families
- Local farmers markets
- Community-based organizations
Identified Costs
- Federal government (appropriations)
- USDA (program administration)
- State agencies (implementation)
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
IntroducedMs. Bonamici (for herself, Ms. Salinas, Ms. Norton, Mr. Carson, …
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
Elderly and disabled households without earned income, Elderly and disabled with medical expenses, Low-income adults with disabilities
Agricultural cooperatives and producer networks, Farmers markets, Local farmers and farmers markets
Federal government, Social Security Administration, Tribal organizations
Positive-direction: Tribal organizations
Negative-direction: Federal government, Social Security Administration, USDA
Local and tribal governments, State agencies
Covered retail food stores unable to cover delivery costs, Retail food stores and meal delivery services
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of Agriculture
- "the_commissioner"
- → Commissioner of Social Security
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
Has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
Has the meaning given the term 'older individual' in section 102 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (generally 60 years or older)
A family in which a child resides with and is being raised by a grandparent, extended family member, or adult with a close family-like relationship
A retail food store, public/private nonprofit meal delivery service, or meal delivery provider unable to cover food delivery costs for SNAP participants
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology