H.R. 6986: COLAs Don’t Count Act of 2026 (119th Congress) Bill Summary

This bill, known as the COSTs Don’t Count Act of 2026, proposes changes to the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008. The main focus of the bill is to modify how certain types of income are treated when determining eligibility for and benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly referred to as food stamps.

Key Provisions

Exclusion of Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLAs): The bill would exclude any income that comes from cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) made under specific laws governing Social Security and railroad retirement from being counted as income when assessing eligibility for SNAP. This means that if a person's income increases due to these adjustments, it would not affect their ability to qualify for SNAP benefits.
Applicable Laws: The COLAs referenced in the bill pertain to the following:
- Title II and XVI of the Social Security Act
- Section 3(a)(1) of the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974
- Section 5312 of Title 38 of the United States Code
Supplementary Payments: In addition to COLAs, income from supplementary payments made under section 1616 of the Social Security Act will also be excluded from income calculations for SNAP eligibility.
Effective Date: If enacted, these provisions would take effect on October 1, 2027.

The intent of this legislation is to ensure that individuals and households who receive SNAP benefits are not penalized with reduced benefits due to increases in their income that arise from mandatory adjustments to their existing benefits under federal laws.