Bill > S4286

This bill, titled the "Senior Hunger Prevention Act of 2026," aims to improve access to nutrition assistance programs for older adults and individuals with disabilities by making several key changes. It extends the certification period for certain participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) from 24 to 36 months, and it modifies the medical expense deduction rules to allow for a standard deduction or actual costs, with an annual adjustment for inflation, and gives states the option to establish higher standard deductions if they are cost-neutral. The bill also increases the value of SNAP allotments by changing the calculation from 8 percent to one-third. To further streamline access, it introduces an "elderly simplified application program" (ESAP) for households where all adults are elderly or disabled with no earned income, allowing for 36-month certifications and reduced interview requirements. Additionally, a "combined application program" (CAP) is established to coordinate with Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits for individuals receiving disability or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), offering simplified application processes and potentially standardized benefit amounts based on shelter costs. The bill also creates an "Enrollment and Outreach Pilot Program" to award grants to various organizations to raise awareness and assist eligible individuals in enrolling in SNAP, with a focus on underserved communities and specific needs like transportation assistance. Finally, it includes provisions to support food delivery for SNAP participants, particularly older adults and those with disabilities, by authorizing reimbursements to covered retail food stores for delivery costs and establishing infrastructure funding for farmers' markets and a local procurement pilot program to increase access to fresh, locally grown produce for these populations. The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) and the Seniors Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) also see extended funding and expanded eligibility to include adults with disabilities, along with modernization grants for SFMNP to transition to electronic transactions.