H.R. 5129 — Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2025

This section replaces the thrifty food plan with a low-cost food plan—defined as the cost of a nutritionally adequate diet for a reference 4-person household (two adults aged 19-50, one child aged 6-8, one child aged 9-11)—as the basis for calculating maximum SNAP allotments under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008. (As background, SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] provides nutrition benefits to low-income households based on this plan, adjusted for household size, Hawaii and Alaska costs, and annually each October 1 to reflect prior June prices rounded down to the nearest dollar; the plan must be reevaluated using current data by December 31, 2029, and every five years thereafter.) It further (1) increases the shelter expense deduction cap relative to the plan to 10% (from 8%); (2) updates quality control error tolerances to $50 for FY2023 and, for FY2024, that amount adjusted by the difference between the prior thrifty and new low-cost plans; (3) makes conforming amendments to multiple sections referencing the thrifty food plan, including commodity purchase requirements and tribal programs; and (4) strikes references to subsection (r) in TANF rules on disregard of SNAP benefits (42 U.S.C. 608(a)(12)(B)(i)).

This section amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, which governs the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), to (1) replace the excess medical expense deduction for elderly or disabled households with a standard medical expense deduction of $140 for FY2023 (CPI-Medical Care adjusted thereafter) or actual allowable costs, allowing states to adopt a higher standard deduction if cost-neutral; and (2) eliminate the cap on excess shelter expense deductions by striking the relevant subparagraph. It makes a conforming amendment to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) statute to update a cross-reference to the SNAP shelter deduction provision from 7 U.S.C. 2014(e)(6)(C)(iv)(I) to 7 U.S.C. 2014(e)(6)(B)(iv)(I).

This section removes from the list of programs and activities eligible for inclusion in a combined state plan the work programs for able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) authorized under section 6(o) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(o)), and redesignates subparagraphs (E) through (K) as (D) through (J). Combined state plans under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) allow states to submit a single application covering WIOA core programs—adult, youth, and dislocated worker training; adult education; employment services; and vocational rehabilitation—and selected additional federal employment, training, and related programs to reduce administrative requirements. (Thus, states may no longer include ABAWD work programs—requiring SNAP recipients ages 18-49 without dependents to work, train, or volunteer at least 80 hours monthly to receive benefits beyond three months in a 36-month period, absent a waiver—in a combined WIOA state plan.)