Representatives Daniel Troy and Josh Williams Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to increase SNAP benefits for Seniors

COLUMBUS- State Reps. Daniel Troy (D-Willowick) and Josh Williams (R-Sylvania Twp.) Monday introduced House Bill (HB) 178, which would require the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to provide a supplemental benefit allotment to qualifying senior citizen households participating in the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

“Since the termination of the public health emergency, over 70,000 older Ohioan households saw their monthly benefit reduced to $23 a month after receiving substantially more during the emergency. This legislation would increase their minimum benefit to $50 per month with a state-funded supplement,” said Rep. Troy.

“After coming out of a period of record inflation, I believe it is ill-advised to reduce the essential benefits provided to Ohio seniors. Many of our elderly residents are on fixed incomes and have already faced significant financial strain due to rising costs. We must ensure that they continue to receive the support they need to live with dignity and stability,” said Rep. Williams.

Ohioans who are 60 years of age or older and currently receive a monthly SNAP benefit allotment of less than $50 would be eligible for this supplemental benefit allotment.

“The number of seniors seeking help from our statewide hunger relief network went up 133 percent from 2014 to 2024, including 70 percent in the last five years. Older Ohioans represent one in five people served by Ohio’s foodbanks and their local hunger relief partners. Ohio’s foodbanks are serving as a safety net to federal safety net programs, and we can’t continue to sustain a response at this pace without robust help. By investing in an increased minimum monthly SNAP benefit for older Ohioans, the State of Ohio can provide help to low-income seniors living on fixed incomes that aren’t keeping up with the cost of housing, medication, and food. We applaud the bill sponsors, Representatives Troy and Williams, for the introduction of this legislation –the bipartisan support is another strong example of the State of Ohio’s longstanding commitment to preventing and addressing hunger,” stated Joree Novotny, executive director for the Ohio Association of Foodbanks.

The implementation of this policy has an estimated cost between $35 and $40 million over the biennium and would be subject to review and required reauthorization in the next biennial budget.

“States across the country have taken matters into their own hands to assure SNAP benefit adequacy for older adults by exploring ways to supplement this sparsely funded federal benefit with state dollars. As Ohio lawmakers, shouldn’t we be doing the same? This is an opportunity to make a legitimate impact in the health and well-being of older Ohioans,” said Rep. Troy.

Rep. Troy has also submitted the language of HB 178 as an amendment to the biennial Operating Budget Bill (HB 96) which will be adopted at the end of June.

The legislation has been assigned to the House Community Revitalization Committee and awaits a first hearing.