This bill amends the SNAP program to extend certification periods for low-income seniors, simplify medical expense deductions, and streamline income verification for long-term benefits.
Josh Riley
Representative
NY-19
The Increasing Nutrition Access for Seniors Act of 2025 aims to streamline and improve SNAP benefits for eligible seniors and disabled individuals. This bill extends certification periods up to 36 months for households with no earned income and introduces greater flexibility for medical expense deductions, including a self-attestation option. These changes are designed to reduce administrative burdens for long-term recipients while ensuring continued access to necessary food assistance.
SNAP Changes: Seniors and Disabled Can Skip Paperwork and Get 3-Year Benefit Certification
The “Increasing Nutrition Access for Seniors Act of 2025” is a targeted update to the SNAP program (formerly food stamps) designed to cut down on paperwork and administrative hassle for the elderly and disabled. The core changes focus on extending how long people can receive benefits without reapplying and simplifying how medical costs are deducted. These amendments generally kick in 180 days after the bill becomes law, but only for new certification periods starting on or after that date (SEC. 3).
Less Paperwork, Longer Coverage
If you’re a senior or disabled person receiving SNAP and you have zero earned income—meaning your income comes solely from sources like Social Security or pensions—this bill offers a huge break. Currently, most people have to re-certify their eligibility every 12 months or so. Under this Act, state agencies can now certify these households for up to 36 months (three full years) (SEC. 2). This means less time spent gathering documents and filling out forms, which is a massive win for efficiency and stability. To make this even easier, states can choose to use existing data matches (checking federal records) instead of requiring the household to submit physical income verification documents during that long certification period. Think of it as the government using its own records so you don't have to dig through yours.
The $155 Medical Deduction Shortcut
One of the biggest headaches for elderly and disabled SNAP recipients is documenting medical expenses to increase their benefit amount. This bill introduces a major simplification: A state can now offer a standard medical expense deduction if the household includes an elderly or disabled person. If that person simply self-attests (says) their monthly medical bills are over $35, they can automatically claim a standard deduction. For Fiscal Year 2026, that standard deduction is set at $155 (SEC. 2). This is a game-changer for people dealing with chronic conditions and high co-pays who previously had to submit a stack of receipts every month.
Tailoring Costs to Real Life
That $155 standard deduction isn’t set in stone. The bill mandates that the amount automatically increases each year based on the Consumer Price Index for Medical Care, ensuring it keeps up with inflation (SEC. 2). Even better, the bill allows states to be flexible. If a state agency can provide “solid proof” that the average medical costs in their area are actually higher than the federal standard, they can choose to set an even higher standard deduction for their residents. This is a smart move that recognizes that the cost of healthcare isn't the same in downtown Manhattan as it is in rural Mississippi. The only slight catch here is that the bill doesn't define what “solid proof” means, which leaves some room for interpretation by state agencies when they try to justify a higher local deduction.