Senior Hunger Prevention Act of 2026

This bill would expand and modify federal nutrition programs for older adults and individuals with disabilities, including increasing the minimum SNAP allotment and extending benefit certification periods to 36 months for eligible households. It proposes to streamline the SNAP application process for elderly or disabled households without earned income and authorizes public-private partnerships to provide free or low-cost food delivery. Additionally, the legislation would expand eligibility for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program and the Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program to include low-income adults with disabilities while establishing various related grant programs.

This bill primarily affects older adults and adults with disabilities who participate in or are eligible for nutrition assistance programs, including SNAP, the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), and the Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP). It also impacts the Department of Agriculture (USDA), state agencies responsible for administering these programs, and retail food stores participating in SNAP. Additionally, community-based organizations may be affected through new public-private partnerships and grant programs established by the bill.

• Expansion of SNAP certification and medical deductions. The bill extends the SNAP eligibility certification period to 36 months for households where all adults are elderly or disabled. It also increases the minimum benefit allotment for small households and expands the medical expense deduction.
• Streamlined SNAP application process. The Department of Agriculture is directed to create a simplified application program for states to use when processing SNAP enrollments for elderly or disabled households with no earned income.
• Public-private food delivery partnerships. The legislation authorizes partnerships between the USDA, retail food stores, and community organizations to facilitate free or low-cost food delivery for SNAP participants.
• Modifications to the Commodity Supplemental Food Program. The bill reauthorizes the program, increases funding, and expands eligibility to include low-income adults with disabilities while establishing a standard 36-month certification period.
• Updates to the Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program. Eligibility is expanded to include adults with disabilities, and the bill introduces a 36-month certification period along with defined minimum and maximum benefit amounts.
• Establishment of nutrition grant programs. The Department of Agriculture is required to establish various grant programs related to the nutrition initiatives outlined in the bill.

The bill modifies and reauthorizes several existing federal nutrition programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), and the Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP). It amends current program rules by extending certification periods, expanding eligibility criteria to include adults with disabilities, and adjusting benefit allotment levels.

The bill aims to address food insecurity by expanding and modifying nutrition assistance programs for older adults and individuals with disabilities. It seeks to streamline application processes, extend certification periods, and increase benefit levels for programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP).