January 21st, 2026Heinrich Cosponsors Legislation to Expand SNAP Eligibility for New Mexico Social Security Recipients

WASHINGTON –U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, reintroduced the COLAs Don’t Count Act, bicameral legislation to exempt annual Social Security cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) from impacting the benefits of those who utilize the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for food assistance. This would help ensure participants of SNAP are not losing benefits to the added costs of inflation and allow families to keep food on the table.
“We should be making it easier, not harder, for New Mexicans receiving SNAP benefits to put food on the table. Unfortunately, too many people who rely on both Social Security and SNAP are being punished for annual Cost of Living Adjustments, leading to a decrease or complete elimination of their overall SNAP benefits. I’m proud to join this legislation to right this wrong, protecting eligibility for the thousands of people in our state who depend on this program for their health and well-being,”said Heinrich, a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees funding for SNAP, WIC, and other federal nutrition programs.
In New Mexico, more than450,000people rely on SNAP each month. This includes more than65,000 seniors and nearly 200,000 childrenacross the state. The average New Mexican enrolled in SNAP receives$190in nutrition assistance per month, equivalent to about$6.24per day per person. SNAP benefits are redeemed at more than1,650authorized retailers statewide and generates approximately$1 billionin economic activity for the state.
Typically, the yearly addition of a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to Social Security benefits is viewed positively, as it raises recipients’ monthly benefits to account for rising prices of essential goods and services due to inflation. However, when a recipient receives more money, their SNAP benefits can be reduced or even eliminated.
For instance, in 2023, Social Security recipients saw an 8.7% cost of living increase, the largest in the past 40 years. The average Social Security check rose by more than $140 a month, reaching an average monthly amount of $1,781.63. Due to current law, however, these cost-of-living adjustments led to an estimated 28,000 SNAP households completely losing their eligibility, and 36% of SNAP recipients saw a decrease of an average of $32 a month from their SNAP benefits.
Any reduction in a SNAP beneficiary's access to food assistance exacerbates food insecurity and hardship. Eliminating the impact of Social Security COLAs on SNAP eligibility will help make sure people are able to pay rent, afford health care expenses, or child care, even as the cost of these services rises with inflation.
This bill is co-led by U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.). Alongside Heinrich, the COLAs Don’t Count Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Ed Markey (D-Mass.). The legislation is co-led in the House by U.S. Representatives Gwen Moore (D-Wisc.) and Judy Chu (D-Calif.).
Read the full bill texthere.
Heinrich has fought hard to ensure New Mexicans are able to put food on the table.
Last November, Heinrichcosponsored legislationto stop the Trump Administration from illegally withholding SNAP funds during Trump’s recent government shutdown. To that end, Heinrich alsosupported the New Mexico state government’s planto fund SNAP benefits during Trump’s shutdown. Once the federal government reopened, Heinrich joined his colleagues in the New Mexico Congressional delegation in urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) torefund New Mexico for Trump’s shutdown food stamps lapse.
As a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, Heinrichfully funded SNAP and increased funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)by $603 million.
Last July, Heinrichvoted against Republicans’ Big, Bad Bill, which funds Republicans’ tax handouts for billionaires at the expense of working people by cutting SNAP and Medicaid. At that time, Senate Republicans also voted down Heinrich’s amendments to protect funding for food assistance.
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