The "Feed Hungry Veterans Act of 2025" expands SNAP eligibility for disabled veterans with significant service-connected disabilities or those receiving certain pensions, effective October 1, 2030.
Jahana Hayes
Representative
CT-5
The "Feed Hungry Veterans Act of 2025" amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, expanding SNAP eligibility for disabled veterans. It includes veterans with a 60% or higher disability rating, those with multiple disabilities totaling 70% or higher with one at 40%, those catastrophically disabled, and those under 65 receiving certain pensions. These changes will take effect on October 1, 2030.
Feed Hungry Veterans Act Proposes Expanding SNAP for Disabled Vets with New Criteria, Effective 2030
The proposed "Feed Hungry Veterans Act of 2025" aims to rewrite some rules in the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, specifically focusing on who qualifies for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP (you probably know it as food stamps). The main goal here is to expand eligibility so more disabled veterans can access these benefits. However, keep an eye on the calendar – these changes wouldn't actually take effect until October 1, 2030.
Opening the Door: New SNAP Rules for Vets
So, how would eligibility change? This bill lays out new criteria for disabled veterans. Under this proposal, you could qualify for SNAP if you have: a single service-connected disability rated at 60% or higher; or two or more service-connected disabilities that combine to a 70% rating (with at least one rated at 40%); or if you've been determined to be catastrophically disabled. It also includes veterans under 65 who are receiving a specific type of pension (under section 1521 of title 38). Essentially, it broadens the current definition found in section 3(j)(4) of the Food and Nutrition Act to cover more veterans facing significant service-related health challenges.
The Bottom Line (But Not Until 2030)
What does this mean in practical terms? If this legislation moves forward, more veterans who are currently struggling to afford groceries could potentially get help through SNAP. For instance, a veteran with a 65% disability rating, who might not qualify under current rules depending on other factors, could become eligible under this act based solely on that rating. The big caveat here is the timeline. With an effective date set way out for October 1, 2030, any potential relief offered by this bill is still quite a few years down the road, meaning no immediate impact on veterans' access to food assistance.