Sen. Ron Wyden, colleagues reintroduce bill to protect food assistance for social security recipients
WASHINGTON, D.C. (KTVZ) — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden says he’s joining a group of Senate and House lawmakers to reintroduce legislation aimed at protecting food assistance for older Americans, people with disabilities, and families who rely on Social Security income.
The proposal, called the COLAs Don’t Count Act, would ensure that annual cost-of-living adjustments, or COLAs, to Social Security benefits do not unintentionally reduce recipients’ eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The same exemption would apply to cost-of-living increases in veterans’ benefits, railroad retirement payments, and state supplemental programs.
“People relying on food assistance are already walking an economic tightrope,” Wyden said. “Because of outdated red tape, many of these Americans are also being forced to shoulder higher living expenses across the board with grocery bills, and so much more. Our legislation will ensure that a retiree’s cost-of-living adjustments aren’t treated as an afterthought so that families, seniors, and people with disabilities don’t go hungry.”
The legislation responds to a recurring issue: when Social Security benefits increase with inflation, some recipients see their total income rise just enough to reduce or eliminate their SNAP benefits. According to federal data, around 9 million people nationwide receive both Social Security and SNAP assistance. In 2023 alone, roughly 28,000 households lost SNAP eligibility due to COLA increases, and more than a third of recipients saw an average drop of $32 per month in benefits.
The measure was introduced by Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) along with Representatives Gwen Moore (D-Wis.) and Judy Chu (D-Calif.), and co-sponsored by Senators Wyden, Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.). The House version includes co-sponsors Representatives Becca Balint (D-Vt.), Julia Brownley (D-Calif.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), and Bobby Scott (D-Va.).
Supporters say the bill would help stabilize food access for millions of low-income households facing higher prices and fixed incomes.
