January 12, 2026 - Washington, D.C. – Last week, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said he has joined Senate colleagues to reintroduce legislation that would ensure Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients in Oregon and nationwide who also depend on Social Security income are not cut off due to incremental changes to their income.

The COLAs Don’t Count Act would allow SNAP recipients to deduct annual Social Security cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) from their income when calculating eligibility for the food assistance program. Railroad retirement, veterans’ benefit COLAs and state supplementation program payments would similarly be exempt.

“People relying on food assistance are already walking an economic tightrope,” Wyden said. “Because of outdated red tape, many of these Americans are also being forced to shoulder higher living expenses across the board with grocery bills, and so much more. Our legislation will ensure that a retiree’s cost-of-living adjustments aren’t treated as an afterthought so that families, seniors, and people with disabilities don’t go hungry.”

In 2023, about 9 million Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries were also SNAP recipients, with 33% of SNAP households receiving Social Security benefits (an average of $1,096) and 23% of households receiving SSI benefits (an average of $723 monthly). Each year, Social Security beneficiaries receive a COLA provided through the Social Security Act to ensure the value of benefits is not eroded by inflation. In 2025, Social Security and SSI benefits increased by 2.5%, resulting in a $50 increase for Social Security checks—totaling $1,976 per month on average.

However, when the income of a SNAP household rises, beneficiaries face a potential reduction in SNAP benefits or risk becoming ineligible, creating a benefits cliff. Further, as COLAs raise a household’s overall income—and are not considered an allowable deduction under SNAP income eligibility requirements—it can undermine households’ ability to receive vital food assistance. For example, in 2023, an estimated 28,000 SNAP households lost their eligibility for the program as a result of Social Security COLAs, and 36% of SNAP recipients saw a decrease of an average of $32 per month in benefits.

The legislation was by U.S. Senator Peter Welch, D-Vt., and U.S. Representatives Gwen Moore, D-Wis., and Judy Chu, D-Calif. In addition to Wyden, the legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., and Martin Heinrich D-N.M. The legislation is cosponsored in the House by U.S. Representatives. Becca Balint, D-Vt., Julia Brownley, D-Calif., Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., Mark Pocan, D-Wis., and Bobby Scott, D-Va.

The text of the bill is here.

Source: Senator Ron Wyden