New Bill: Social Security Raises Won't Cut SNAP Benefits

Summary

A new bill called the "COLAs Don’t Count Act" has been reintroduced in Congress to protect SNAP recipients from losing food assistance when their Social Security benefits increase. The legislation aims to ensure that Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLAs) for seniors and veterans do not result in lower SNAP monthly payments or total loss of eligibility.

What Changed

On January 9, 2026, Senator Peter Welch and Representative Gwen Moore reintroduced the COLAs Don’t Count Act. Under current federal rules, when Social Security, railroad retirement, or veterans’ benefits increase to keep up with inflation (the COLA), that extra money is counted as income for SNAP.

Because SNAP benefits are based on income, these small raises often trigger a "benefit cliff." This means a small increase in a Social Security check can lead to a large decrease in food stamps, or even make a household ineligible for the program entirely. This bill would change the law to exempt these inflation adjustments from being counted as income during SNAP eligibility calculations.

What This Means for SNAP Users

If this bill passes into law, it would provide significant financial stability for seniors, people with disabilities, and veterans. Here is how it would impact recipients:

• No "Benefit Cliff": You would not have to worry about a small raise in your Social Security check causing you to lose your SNAP benefits.
• Protection Against Inflation: The bill recognizes that COLA increases are meant to help with rising costs (like rent and utilities), not to provide "extra" spending money. By ignoring these increases, SNAP would continue to cover food costs while your Social Security covers other rising bills.
• Consistent Benefits: In states like Vermont, where nearly 70,000 people rely on SNAP, many households currently see their food assistance drop every time Social Security adjustments take effect. This bill would stop those automatic cuts.

Currently, this is a proposed bill. This means the rules have not changed yet, but lawmakers are working to make these protections permanent.

What To Do Next

Since this is currently a legislative proposal, there are no immediate changes to your SNAP benefits today. However, you can take the following steps:

• Monitor Your Mail: Continue to report any changes in income to your local SNAP office as currently required by law until told otherwise.
• Stay Informed: Keep an eye on updates regarding the "COLAs Don’t Count Act" to see if it passes the House and Senate.
• Contact Representatives: If you feel strongly about this issue, you can contact your local members of Congress to share how Social Security increases affect your food budget.
• Check Current Eligibility: If you have recently seen a decrease in benefits due to a Social Security raise, contact your local SNAP office to ensure all your other deductions (like high medical expenses or shelter costs) are being correctly applied.

Sources

• Senator Peter Welch: Welch and Moore Reintroduce COLAs Don’t Count Act