Bill Overview
Title: Military Family Nutrition Act of 2022
Description: This bill excludes military housing allowances from income when determining eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Sponsors: Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-20]
Target Audience
Population: Military families who might become eligible for SNAP due to the exclusion of the housing allowance from income calculations
Estimated Size: 130000
- The bill impacts military families, particularly those who live off-base and receive a Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH).
- By excluding BAH from income calculations, more military families may become eligible for SNAP benefits.
- The bill primarily targets low-income military families who struggle to meet their nutritional needs.
- The benefits are intended for active duty service members and their families who qualify for SNAP based on their adjusted income without the BAH.
Reasoning
- The policy targets military families potentially facing food insecurity by excluding BAH from income, leading to potential SNAP eligibility for more families.
- Military families can face unique financial pressures, including frequent relocations and potentially one income given frequent deployments.
- The budget for this policy is significant but limited, meaning that not all potentially eligible families will be able to receive benefits immediately.
- The target population estimate of 130,000 families indicates a focused impact rather than broad national changes outside military communities.
Simulated Interviews
Military spouse (San Diego, CA)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I struggle to make ends meet because the high cost of living in San Diego and BAH counts as income.
- This policy would relieve some stress by allowing us to qualify for SNAP.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Army Specialist (Fort Hood, TX)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I feel overwhelmed managing finances and providing for my daughter.
- If BAH wasn’t counted, I could get SNAP benefits for fresh food.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Coast Guard Seaman (Norfolk, VA)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We can't afford nutritious food consistently, SNAP would help a lot.
- Living off-base is expensive, the policy could make a difference.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
Air Force Officer (Colorado Springs, CO)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We're a bit tight financially but manage okay, this policy might help families less fortunate.
- It’s good but might not do much for us directly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant (Jacksonville, FL)
Age: 31 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We budget carefully and live paycheck to paycheck, some relief would be nice.
- The policy might help us get through tougher months.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Army wife (Okinawa, Japan)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Being overseas means added costs, especially for food.
- This policy won’t directly impact us much since SNAP doesn't apply abroad, but we'd benefit if we return stateside.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Navy Commander (Seattle, WA)
Age: 36 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I appreciate support for young military families, but this policy won't affect me.
- Financially stable, yet understand the need for such policies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Air Force Technical Sergeant (Anchorage, AK)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We make do with what we have, but extra help would be welcome.
- High living costs make it hard to save, and this policy might just make us eligible for SNAP.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Pentagon Staff (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 37 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We are financially secure, the policy change doesn't affect us.
- I see the value it can offer to younger families though.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Military spouse (Fort Meade, MD)
Age: 33 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My spouse's BAH makes us ineligible for SNAP, but really we need the help.
- The change would directly help families like ours.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $374400000 (Low: $224640000, High: $524160000)
Year 2: $384960000 (Low: $230976000, High: $538944000)
Year 3: $395760000 (Low: $237456000, High: $554064000)
Year 5: $418080000 (Low: $250848000, High: $585312000)
Year 10: $453360000 (Low: $272016000, High: $634704000)
Year 100: $1557120000 (Low: $934272000, High: $2179968000)
Key Considerations
- Determining the precise impact of the policy on SNAP eligibility among military families depends on the take-up rate, which might vary over time.
- The cost estimates assume full participation among newly eligible families, which might not reflect actual enrollment if there are barriers to participation.
- The bill may relieve food insecurity issues among military families, improving their overall well-being and productivity.
- Limited economic impact as SNAP benefits tend to be fully utilized each month, leading to a fast turnover into the economy.