The Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2025 would increase food assistance benefits for low-income families by changing how the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) calculates benefit amounts. Currently, benefits are based on the "thrifty food plan," but this bill would switch to the more generous "low-cost food plan," which accounts for more realistic food costs and family needs. The bill affects approximately 42 million SNAP recipients and their families. Key provisions include raising the standard medical expense deduction for elderly and disabled individuals from current levels to at least $140 in fiscal year 2025, eliminating a cap on shelter cost deductions, and removing the time limit that currently restricts able-bodied adults without dependents from receiving benefits for more than three months every three years. The bill also requires the Department of Agriculture to update food plan costs annually every October 1st and reevaluate the plan every five years starting in 2031, with special adjustments for Hawaii and Alaska to reflect higher food costs in those regions.
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