Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2025

This bill, called the Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2025, would change how SNAP (food stamps) benefits are set. It switches from the “Thrifty Food Plan” to the “Low‑Cost Food Plan,” which can lead to higher benefit amounts, and raises a percentage used in the benefit formula from 8% to 10% .

It also makes it easier for certain households to get the help they need. It creates a simple, standard medical expense deduction for elderly or disabled members—set at $140 for fiscal year 2023 and then updated each year for medical inflation; states can choose a higher standard if it doesn’t raise overall costs. It ends the cap on how much rent and utility costs you can deduct, which helps families facing high housing costs. And it removes the SNAP time‑limit rule that was in the law, so benefits aren’t cut off by that limit.

Key points

• Who is affected: SNAP households, especially elderly or disabled people and families with high housing costs; adults previously affected by the time‑limit rule .
• What changes: Benefits based on the Low‑Cost Food Plan; a percentage in the formula rises from 8% to 10%; a standard medical deduction with yearly updates; no cap on shelter cost deductions; ends the time‑limit rule .
• When: The standard medical deduction starts at $140 for fiscal year 2023 and is adjusted annually for medical inflation.