Sec. 10203. Streamlining nutrition access for older adults and adults with disabilities
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/bill/118/hr/9161/ih/section-10203·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Section 3(j) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2012(j) ) is amended— in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking the subsection designation and all that follows through who and inserting the following: The term elderly or disabled , with respect to an individual or member of a household, means that the individual or member of the household ; and in paragraph (2)(B), by inserting (which includes medical assistance provided to an individual described in section 1902(e)(14)(D)(i)(III) of that Act ( after 42 U.S.C. 1396a(e)(14)(D)(i)(III) )) ( . 42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq. ) The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following:
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish a program, to be known as the elderly simplified application program (referred to in this section as ESAP ), under which a State, in carrying out the supplemental nutrition assistance program, may elect to implement a streamlined application and certification process for households in which all adult members— are elderly or disabled members; and have no earned income. The certification period for participants in ESAP shall be 36 months.
A State agency determining the eligibility for an applicant household under ESAP shall, notwithstanding section 11(e)(3)— to the maximum extent practicable, use data matching for income verification and household size; and allow self-declaration by the applicant of the information required under section 273.2(f) of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation); but verify, prior to certification of the household, factors of eligibility provided by the applicant that the State agency determines are questionable.
In carrying out paragraph (1), a State agency shall establish accountability and fraud protection measures to deter fraud and ensure the integrity of ESAP and the supplemental nutrition assistance program. Notwithstanding section 11(e)(6)(A), for recertification of a household under ESAP, a State agency shall not require an interview unless requested by the household. An interview under paragraph
(1)may be conducted virtually. Prior to the establishment of ESAP under subsection (a), the Administrator of the Food and Nutrition Service shall develop guidance for States, including by consulting with States, to carry out ESAP, which shall include— general implementation guidelines; reporting requirements; quality control requirements; and best practices. . The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq. ) (as amended by subsection (b)) is amended by adding at the end the following: Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary, in coordination with the Commissioner of Social Security, shall establish a program, to be known as the combined application program (referred to in this section as CAP ), under which a State, in carrying out the supplemental nutrition assistance program, may elect to implement a streamlined application process for households in which all adult members are applicants for or recipients of benefits under title II of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 401 et seq. ) on the basis of a disability or supplemental security income under title XVI of that Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq. ). The purposes of CAP are— to reduce the need for households described in subsection
(a)to have in-person interviews with State offices administering the supplemental nutrition assistance program; and to increase participation in the supplemental nutrition assistance program by simplifying the application process for the supplemental nutrition assistance program through increased automation and simplified calculation of benefits. The Secretary, in coordination with the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, shall offer, at a minimum, each of the following models for States to implement CAP: Under the standard model, the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration and the State agency administering the supplemental nutrition assistance program shall coordinate— to develop a simplified joint application process for the supplemental nutrition assistance program that uses standardized benefit amounts or standardized shelter expenses, in accordance with this paragraph; and to conduct outreach to adult members receiving supplemental security income under title XVI of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq. ) that are not receiving benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program. Under the standardized model described in subparagraph (A), applicants shall receive a standardized or automated benefit level under the supplemental nutrition assistance program based on the shelter expenses and other income of the applicants. At a minimum, there shall be in effect 2 standardized benefit levels under clause (i), including, as determined by the State— a level for participants with low shelter expenses; and a level for participants with high shelter expenses. A State shall ensure that the amount provided under a standardized benefit level under clause
(i)is comparable to an amount that a participant would otherwise receive under the supplemental nutrition assistance program. A State shall refer a household described in subsection
(a)to the supplemental nutrition assistance program instead of enrolling that household in CAP if the standardized amount that the household would receive under CAP would be significantly less than the amount of benefits that the household would receive under the supplemental nutrition assistance program. In computing an excess shelter expense deduction under section 5(e)(6), a State agency may use a standard utility allowance in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Secretary. Under the modified model, a State agency administering the supplemental nutrition assistance program shall— conduct outreach to prospective participants in the supplemental nutrition assistance program using information from the Social Security Administration to identify households described in subsection
(a)that are not participants in the supplemental nutrition assistance program; and send to those households simplified application forms for the supplemental nutrition assistance program. .
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Sec. 10203
Streamlining nutrition access for older adults and adults with disabilities
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