S. 2792 — Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2025

This section replaces the thrifty food plan with a low-cost food plan—defined as the Secretary-determined cost of a diet for a four-person family (a man and woman ages 19-50, a child ages 6-8, and a child ages 9-11)—as the basis for calculating SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) allotments, which provide food benefits to low-income households. (As background, the thrifty food plan previously set the maximum benefit level after income deductions; the low-cost food plan is expected to increase those levels.) It further (1) requires reevaluation of the low-cost food plan's market basket by December 31, 2031, and every five years thereafter, based on food prices, composition, consumption, and dietary guidance; (2) directs annual cost adjustments starting October 1, 2025 (reflecting June prices and rounded down to the nearest dollar per household size), plus household-size economies of scale and separate adjustments for Hawaii and Alaska; (3) increases the minimum allotment to 10 percent (from 8 percent) of the low-cost food plan for households without an elderly or disabled member; and (4) revises SNAP quality control payment error tolerances to $50 for FY2025 and, for FY2026, that amount adjusted to reflect the difference between the prior thrifty food plan and the new low-cost food plan. The section makes conforming amendments to multiple Food and Nutrition Act provisions, including commodity purchase levels and Indian feeding programs, and to TANF at 42 U.S.C. 608(a)(12)(B)(i).

This section amends the Food and Nutrition Assistance Act of 2008 to (1) revise the SNAP medical expense deduction for elderly and disabled households by establishing a standard deduction of $140 for FY2025 (indexed annually thereafter based on medical care CPI, with states permitted to adopt a higher cost-neutral amount) and by allowing deduction of actual allowable costs (previously limited to excess medical expenses over $35 per month); (2) eliminate the cap on SNAP excess shelter expenses by striking subparagraph (B) of Section 5(e)(6) and redesignating subsequent subparagraphs; and (3) make a conforming amendment to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to update its cross-reference to the SNAP excess shelter provision from 7 U.S.C. 2014(e)(6)(C)(iv)(I) to 7 U.S.C. 2014(e)(6)(B)(iv)(I). (Thus, the changes expand allowable SNAP income deductions, potentially increasing program eligibility and benefit levels for low-income households eligible for LIHEAP energy assistance.)

This section removes SNAP 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)), from the list of optional programs eligible for inclusion in a combined state plan under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) (i.e., redesignates subparagraphs (E) through (K) of 29 U.S.C. 3113(a)(2) as subparagraphs (D) through (J)). (As background, WIOA combined state plans allow states to unify planning and funding applications for core workforce programs—adult, youth, and dislocated worker training; adult education; and vocational rehabilitation—with specified optional programs such as SNAP employment and training under 7 U.S.C. 2015(d)(4), which remains eligible.)