Overview
Title
To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to simplify supplemental nutrition assistance program access for elderly and disabled individuals.
ELI5 AI
H.R. 8199 helps elderly and disabled people get food assistance more easily by making the process longer and simpler, and it lets states use computers to check how much money people make instead of asking for extra papers.
Summary AI
H.R. 8199 seeks to amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to make it easier for elderly and disabled individuals to access the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The bill proposes extending the certification period to 36 months for households with no earned income and allows State agencies to offer a standard medical deduction for elderly or disabled members with significant medical expenses. The bill also permits the use of data matching to verify income instead of requiring additional documentation if a household qualifies for the extended certification period. The changes would take effect 180 days after the bill is enacted, but would not apply to certification periods that started before this date.
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AnalysisAI
The bill H.R. 8199 aims to amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 with the objective of simplifying access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for elderly and disabled individuals. Known as the "Increasing Nutrition Access for Seniors Act of 2024", this legislation proposes specific changes to ease procedures and improve benefits for qualified seniors and disabled persons.
General Summary
H.R. 8199 introduces amendments that specifically target the older and disabled portions of the population. The first major change is an extended 36-month certification period for individuals who have no earned income, compared to the standard duration, reducing the administrative burden on these households. Another alteration is the introduction of a standardized medical expense deduction option for elderly or disabled individuals, adjusting for changes based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) annually. Moreover, the bill suggests an alternative method for income verification using data matches instead of traditional documentation, presumably to streamline and accelerate the verification process.
Summary of Significant Issues
Several issues arise from the proposed amendments. The bill increases the certification period for those without earned income to 36 months but lacks a clear rationale for this extension. This absence of specific criteria or assessment generates questions about the potential administrative effects or cost implications of such a move.
The provision about the standard medical deduction linked to the CPI may not accurately mirror actual fluctuations in medical expenses, potentially misaligning financial support with needs. Furthermore, the latitude given to states to apply a higher deduction based on "reasonable evidence" could breed inconsistencies between states, as the measure of this evidence is not clearly defined.
Data privacy is another concern, as the proposal permits data matching for income verification. Without strong guidelines and security measures, this could lead to vulnerabilities in personal information protection.
Lastly, the bill does not clearly state which provisions will apply to certification periods that start before the bill's enactment, creating potential for confusion about its immediate impacts.
Impact on the Public
The legislation presents a potential relief to eligible households by expanding access and reducing documentation requirements. By increasing the certification period and allowing for an automatic medical expense deduction, the bill could alleviate some of the paperwork and verification burdens, making it easier for seniors and disabled individuals to receive benefits. This could also potentially reduce the operating costs of SNAP due to fewer frequency checks.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Elderly and Disabled Individuals: This group might benefit from more straightforward access to SNAP benefits without frequent re-certification processes. The flexibility in medical expense deductions could lead to financial savings and better alignment with their needs, though this may vary based on individual circumstances and state implementations.
State Agencies: While state agencies could potentially experience reduced workloads due to longer certification periods and simplified processes, the variation allowed for medical deductions based on 'reasonable evidence' might result in logistical challenges and differences in policy implementation.
Non-Earned Income Households: The extended certification could provide stability for these households, enabling better long-term planning without the need for frequent re-certifications.
Data Privacy Advocates: Concerns may be raised regarding data security and privacy, as the new income verification methods could potentially expose sensitive personal data if not properly safeguarded.
In conclusion, while H.R. 8199 aims to simplify SNAP access for vulnerable populations, several ambiguities in its provisions suggest a need for clarifications to prevent misunderstandings and ensure equitable implementation across states. The bill holds the promise of positive impacts if deployed with careful consideration to privacy and state-level differences.
Financial Assessment
The bill H.R. 8199, titled "Increasing Nutrition Access for Seniors Act of 2024," primarily addresses access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for elderly and disabled individuals by proposing specific financial adjustments and provisions. Here are the financial aspects of the bill:
Standard Medical Deduction
The bill allows state agencies to introduce a standard medical deduction option for elderly or disabled household members. This deduction addresses situations where individuals self-report having medical expenses exceeding $35 per month, not including expenses for special diets.
Deduction Amounts
- For the fiscal year 2025, the standard deduction is set at $155.
- In subsequent fiscal years, the amount will be adjusted based on the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Medical Care.
This adjustment attempts to maintain relevance with broader economic trends affecting medical costs, yet it raises issues regarding the accuracy of reflecting actual medical expenses given the potential volatility and specificity of medical costs compared to general consumer price trends.
Flexible Deduction Policy
The bill allows states to set a higher standard medical expense deduction if they provide "reasonable evidence" supporting such an increase. This inclusion introduces flexibility for states to cater deductions to actual local conditions. However, it also surfaces concerns about consistency and transparency, as the term "reasonable evidence" is somewhat subjective. This could lead to varied interpretations and applications among different states, creating inconsistencies.
Certification Period and Administrative Cost Implications
The extension of the certification period to 36 months for households with no earned income could reduce the frequency and administrative costs linked to re-evaluations and processing of SNAP benefits. However, it raises questions about the justification for such a period without specific criteria or analysis on how this might impact program expenses or administrative duties.
Data Privacy and Security
Instead of requiring traditional income verification, the bill permits the use of data matches if a household qualifies for the newly extended certification period. This approach could economize time and resources by streamlining administrative processes. Nevertheless, it implies a higher dependency on data handling, which demands robust privacy and security measures to protect personal information.
Effective Date Considerations
The bill is set to take effect 180 days post-enactment, but it leaves some ambiguity regarding its applicability to certification periods beginning before this effective date. This could lead to potential confusion in the practical implementation of the financial provisions, including standard deductions and extended certifications.
In summary, while the financial adjustments introduced in H.R. 8199 aim to ease access to SNAP for qualifying demographics, some elements warrant deeper consideration to mitigate risks related to accuracy, consistency, privacy, and administrative clarity.
Issues
The amendment to Section 3(f) increases the certification period to 36 months for households with no earned income, but does not specify any assessment or criteria to determine why this prolonged duration is necessary or how it might impact administrative or program expenses. (Section 2(a))
The new standard medical deduction for fiscal year 2025 and subsequent adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) may not accurately reflect actual medical expenses if CPI adjustments are not representative of medical cost changes. This could lead to either insufficient support or excess spending. (Section 2(b))
The provision allowing State agencies to establish a greater standard medical deduction based on 'reasonable evidence' is subjective and lacks clear guidelines on what constitutes reasonable evidence, leading to potential inconsistencies or biases across different States. (Section 2(b))
The amendment concerning administration in Section 11(e)(3) allows for data matches in lieu of income verification. This raises concerns about data privacy and the security of personal information, as well as the accuracy of such matches. (Section 2(c))
The section concerning the effective date does not specify which amendments or parts of the Act would apply or not apply to certification periods beginning before the effective date, leading to potential confusion. (Section 3)
The reference to households qualifying for a 36-month certification period under a specific section without an explanation or context makes it unclear for those unfamiliar with the detailed sections of the Act. (Sections 2(a) and 2(c))
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of this bill establishes its short title as the “Increasing Nutrition Access for Seniors Act of 2024.”
2. Amendments Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The amendments to the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 introduce changes such as allowing households with no earned income a 36-month certification period, creating an option for states to offer a standard medical deduction for elderly or disabled individuals with significant medical costs, and permitting alternative income verification through data matches for certain households.
Money References
- (b) Excess medical expense deduction.—Section 5(e)(5)(A) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2014(e)(5)(A)) is amended— (1) by inserting “(i)” before “A”, and (2) by adding at the end the following: “(ii)(I) A State agency may establish a standard medical deduction option for elderly or disabled household members who self-attest to having medical expenses in excess of $35 a month (exclusive of special diets).
- (II) The standard medical deduction amount shall be— “(aa) for fiscal year 2025, $155; and “(bb) for each subsequent fiscal year, equal to the applicable amount for the immediately preceding fiscal year as adjusted to reflect changes for the 12-month period ending the preceding June 30 in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Medical Care published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor. “(III) For any fiscal year, a State agency may establish a greater standard medical expense deduction than described in subclause (II) if the State provides reasonable evidence for a more accurate assessment of average monthly medical costs in their State.”
3. Effective date; application of amendments Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The effective date for this law and its changes is 180 days after it officially becomes law. However, the changes won't affect any certification periods that start before this date.