SNAP Reform Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.3428 | Sponsor: Rep. Murphy, Gregory (R-NC)
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
SNAP Reform Act of 2021
This bill modifies eligibility under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) with respect to individuals who receive other forms of assistance.
Currently, households may be considered categorically eligible for SNAP if all members receive certain other assistance, such as under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. The bill specifies that members receiving TANF assistance must (1) receive at least $150 a month in cash assistance under TANF for an extended period with an income of up to 130% of the federal poverty level (FPL), or (2) be elderly or disabled and receive cash assistance or ongoing and substantial services under TANF with an income of up to 200% of the FPL.
The bill also increases the maximum allowable resources for SNAP eligibility and specifies that certain allowances relating to energy assistance extend only to households with elderly members.

To strengthen the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) 
categorical eligibility for applicants who already receive supplemental 
   assistance elsewhere and for those with assets high enough to not 
              require assistance, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``SNAP Reform Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. UPDATE TO CATEGORICAL ELIGIBILITY.

    Section 5 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2014) is 
amended--
            (1) in the 2d sentence of subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``receives benefits'' and inserting 
                ``(1) receives cash assistance (not less than $150 a 
                month for an extended period)'',
                    (B) by striking ``supplemental security'' and 
                inserting ``with an income eligibility limit of not 
                more than 130 percent of the poverty line as defined in 
                section 5(c)(1), (2) is elderly or disabled and 
                receives cash assistance or ongoing and subtantial 
                services under a State program funded under part A of 
                title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et 
                seq.) with an income eligibility limit of not more than 
                200 percent of the poverty line as defined in section 
                5(c)(1), (3) receives supplemental security'', and
                    (C) by striking ``or aid'' and inserting ``or (4) 
                receives aid'', and
            (2) in subsection (j)--
                    (A) by striking ``or who receives benefits'' and 
                inserting ``cash assistance (not less than $150 a month 
                for an extended period)'', and
                    (B) by striking ``to have'' and inserting ``with an 
                income eligibility limit of not more than 130 percent 
                of the poverty line as defined in section 5(c)(1), or 
                who is elderly or disabled and receives cash assistance 
                or ongoing and substantial services under a State 
                program funded under part A of title IV of the Act (42 
                U.S.C. 601 et seq.) with an income eligibility limit of 
                not more than 200 percent of the poverty line as 
                defined in section 5(c)(1), to have''.

SEC. 3. AVAILABILITY OF STANDARD UTILITY ALLOWANCES BASED ON RECEIPT OF 
              ENERGY ASSISTANCE.

    Section 5(k)(4) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 
2014(k)(4)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A) by inserting ``without an elderly 
        member'' after ``household'' the 1st place it appears, and
            (2) in subparagraph (B) by inserting ``with an elderly 
        member'' after ``household'' the 1st place it appears.

SEC. 4. ADJUSTMENT TO ASSET LIMITATIONS.

    Section 5(g)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 
2014(g)(1)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A)--
                    (A) by striking ``$2,000'' and inserting 
                ``$7,000'', and
                    (B) by striking ``$3,000'' and inserting 
                ``$12,000'', and--
            (2) in subparagraph (B)(i) by striking ``2019'' and 
        inserting ``2022''.

SEC. 5. ADJUSTMENTS FOR INFLATION; UPDATED VEHICLE ALLOWANCE.

    Section 5(g) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 
2014(g)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)(B)(i)--
                    (A) by striking ``(i) In general.--Beginning'' and 
                inserting the following:
                            ``(i) In general.--
                                    ``(I) Beginning'', and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
                                    ``(II) Beginning on October 1, 
                                2021, and each October 1 thereafter, 
                                the amount specified in paragraph 
                                (2)(B)(iv) shall be adjusted in the 
                                manner described in subclause (I).'', 
                                and
            (2) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) by amending subparagraph (B)--
                            (i) by amending clause (iv) to read as 
                        follows:
                            ``(iv) subject to subparagraph (C), with 
                        respect to any licensed vehicle that is used 
                        for household transportation or to obtain or 
                        continue employment--
                                    ``(I) 1 vehicle for each licensed 
                                driver who is a member of such 
                                household; and
                                    ``(II) each additional vehicle; 
                                and'', and
                            (ii) in clause (v) by inserting ``to the 
                        extend such value exceeds $7,500'' after 
                        ``account'', and
                    (B) by striking subparagraph (D).

SEC. 6. SAVINGS EXCLUDED FROM ASSETS.

    Section 5(g) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 
2014(g)), as amended by section 5, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)(B)(i) by adding at the end the 
        following:
                                    ``(III) Beginning on October 1, 
                                2021, and each October 1 thereafter, 
                                the amount specified in paragraph 
                                (2)(B)(v) shall be adjusted in the 
                                manner described in subclause (I).'', 
                                and
            (2) in paragraph (2)(B)(v) by inserting ``to the extent 
        that the value exceeds $7,500'' after ``account''.

SEC. 7. ALLOWANCE TO RECIPIENTS OF ENERGY ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Standard Utility Allowance.--Section 5(e)(6)(C)(iv)(I) of the 
of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2014(e)(6)(C)(iv)(I)) 
is amended by inserting ``with an elderly member'' after 
``households''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 2605(f)(2)(A) of the Low-Income 
Home Energy Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 8624(f)(2)(A)) is amended by 
inserting ``received by a household with an elderly member'' before ``, 
consistent with section 5(e)(6)(C)(iv)(I)''.

SEC. 8. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    (a) Effective Date.--Except as provided in subsection (b), this Act 
and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (b) Application of Amendments.--The amendments made by this Act 
shall apply with respect to certification periods that begin after the 
effective date of this Act.
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