Bill Overview
Title: A bill to amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to exclude a basic allowance for housing from income for purposes of eligibility for the supplemental nutrition assistance program.
Description: This bill excludes military housing allowances from income when determining eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Sponsors: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Target Audience
Population: People in the U.S. using SNAP or potentially eligible for SNAP
Estimated Size: 41001300
- The bill concerns the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which impacts individuals and families seeking food assistance in the US.
- Military personnel who receive a housing allowance will be directly affected as this allowance is excluded from income consideration.
- Military personnel and their families are a specific subgroup within the general population who apply for SNAP.
- The change in the calculation could potentially make more military families eligible for SNAP or increase their benefits.
Reasoning
- To evaluate the impact of this policy, we need to consider both the military population and those who are currently using SNAP or could become eligible due to the policy change.
- Although the policy directly affects military families, its impact may be limited to a subset of the estimated 1.3 million active military personnel and their dependents, who are within SNAP's eligibility criteria.
- The policy budget constraints suggest that the financial support can help a significant number of military families.
- We estimate that only a portion of the military population might be eligible due to already existing incomes or benefits. The impact can vary widely depending on individual family circumstances.
- Military families often move, face unique job strains which can influence financial stability, thus affecting their SNAP eligibility too.
- The impact may also extend to community perceptions of military financial wellbeing, particularly for those in military-dense regions.
Simulated Interviews
Military spouse (San Diego, CA)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy will help us a lot. Marines don't make that much, and excluding the housing allowance might mean we could get some help with groceries.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Active duty Navy (Norfolk, VA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We aren't eligible for SNAP even without the housing allowance. But some of my comrades could really use it.
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 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Army Officer (Fort Bragg, NC)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This change could qualify us for SNAP. Every bit helps when you're juggling diapers and bills.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Veteran (Killeen, TX)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- After getting out of the army, life isn't so easy. I still don't qualify for food aid.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Military social worker (Fayetteville, NC)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Many families I work with will benefit greatly from this policy. More can access SNAP now.
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 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Military contractor (Colorado Springs, CO)
Age: 37 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We live frugally, and while the housing allowance exclusion helps others more, it's reassurance policies are considering military families.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
SNAP Policy Analyst (Washington D.C.)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More military families will have food security with this policy. It's a positive change.
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 | 9 | 9 |
Active duty Army (El Paso, TX)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a single parent, every additional resource helps, and this policy could get me the assistance I need.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Military benefits coordinator (Washington, DC)
Age: 41 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is likely to reduce administrative barriers and increase support access for eligible families.
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 | 8 | 8 |
Retired veteran (Seattle, WA)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm glad to see policies favoring younger military families, though they don't affect me post-retirement.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $110000000 (Low: $75000000, High: $200000000)
Year 2: $115000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $210000000)
Year 3: $120000000 (Low: $85000000, High: $220000000)
Year 5: $130000000 (Low: $90000000, High: $230000000)
Year 10: $150000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $250000000)
Year 100: $100000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $200000000)
Key Considerations
- Excluding BAH will directly benefit military families who may have been disadvantaged previously due to inaccurate income calculation for SNAP eligibility.
- The cost estimates range given the varying number of current and potential new beneficiaries affected by the policy.