Allowing Steady Savings by Eliminating Tests Act or the ASSET Act
This bill prohibits the use of asset tests or resource limits in certain means-tested public assistance programs and increases the resource limits to qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSI is a federal income supplement program designed to help aged, blind, and disabled individuals with limited income and resources meet basic needs.
Under the bill, states may not use asset or resource limits to determine eligibility for (1) programs funded by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families grants, (2) the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or (3) the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
In addition, an individual may have up to $10,000 in certain resources (or up to $20,000 for a couple) and qualify for SSI. Under current law, the limit is $2,000 for an individual (or $3,000 for a couple).
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5848 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5848
To eliminate asset limits employed by certain federally funded means-
tested public assistance programs, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 11, 2020
Mr. Cox of California (for himself, Ms. Schrier, and Mr. Gomez)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture,
Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To eliminate asset limits employed by certain federally funded means-
tested public assistance programs, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Allowing Steady
Savings by Eliminating Tests Act'' or the ``ASSET Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings; sense of Congress.
Sec. 3. States prohibited from imposing asset limits on programs funded
by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
(TANF) grants.
Sec. 4. Eliminating asset limits in the supplemental nutrition
assistance program (SNAP).
Sec. 5. Eliminating asset limit in Low Income Home Energy Assistance
Program (LIHEAP).
Sec. 6. Updating and indexing the resource limit for supplemental
security income (SSI).
Sec. 7. Effective date.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds as follows:
(1) Many means-tested public assistance programs limit
eligibility for benefits on the basis of the assets of a
family, such as savings and other resources. Such asset limits
impede the ability of needy families to improve their financial
circumstances and thereby reduce their dependence on public
assistance programs.
(2) Restricting eligibility for public assistance programs
on the basis of assets negatively affects the financial
security of low-income families. For example, to avoid losing
eligibility for public assistance under an asset limit, a
family may avoid mainstream financial services such as bank
accounts, or refrain from acquiring and saving resources that
would enable the family to weather an unanticipated expense.
(3) The risk that people who don't need public assistance
will take advantage of public assistance programs in the
absence of asset limits is low, in part because most applicants
for public assistance have very few assets, must meet strict
work requirements, and usually may only participate in a
program for a limited time.
(4) Evidence from States that have eliminated asset limits
suggests that the administrative cost savings associated with
the elimination of asset limits outweigh any increases in
payments made to beneficiaries.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that certain
federally funded means-tested public assistance programs should not
utilize asset limits to restrict eligibility for assistance under those
programs.
SEC. 3. STATES PROHIBITED FROM IMPOSING ASSET LIMITS ON PROGRAMS FUNDED
BY TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF) GRANTS.
(a) No State Limitation on Allowable Financial Resources.--Section
408(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 608(a)) is amended by
adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(13) No asset or resource limit.--A State to which a
grant is made under section 403 shall not apply any asset or
resource limit for eligibility of a family for any benefit,
assistance, or service provided under the State program funded
under this part.''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 408(f) of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 608(f)) is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ``or
resources''; and
(2) in paragraph (1)--
(A) in the paragraph header, by striking ``and
resources'';
(B) by striking subparagraph (B);
(C) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as
subparagraph (B); and
(D) in subparagraph (B) (as so redesignated), by
striking ``and resources'' each place it appears.
(c) Delay Permitted if State Legislation Required.--
(1) In general.--In the case of a State to which a grant is
made under section 403 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
603) that the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines
requires State legislation (other than legislation
appropriating funds) to meet the requirements of paragraph (13)
of section 408(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 608(a)), such State
shall not be regarded as failing to comply with the
requirements of such paragraph before the first day of the
first calendar quarter that begins after the close of the first
regular session of the State legislature that begins after the
date of enactment of this Act.
(2) 2-year legislative session.--For purposes of paragraph
(1), in the case of a State that has a 2-year legislative
session, each year of the session shall be considered to be a
separate regular session of the State legislature.
SEC. 4. ELIMINATING ASSET LIMITS IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP).
(a) In General.--
(1) Eligible households.--Section 5 of the Food and
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2014) is amended--
(A) in subsection (a), in the first sentence, by
striking ``and other financial resources'';
(B) by striking subsections (g) and (j);
(C) by redesignating subsections (h), (i), (k),
(l), (m), and (n) as subsections (g), (h), (i), (j),
(k), and (l), respectively; and
(D) in subsection (h) (as so redesignated)--
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and
resources'' each place it appears; and
(ii) in paragraph (2)--
(I) by striking subparagraph (B);
and
(II) by redesignating subparagraphs
(C) through (E) as subparagraphs (B)
through (D), respectively.
(2) Eligibility disqualifications.--Section 6 of the Food
and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015) is amended--
(A) by striking subsection (h); and
(B) by redesignating subsections (i) through (s) as
subsections (h) through (r), respectively.
(3) Research, demonstration, and evaluations.--Section 17
of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2026) is
amended--
(A) by striking subsections (h) and (i); and
(B) by redesignating subsections (j) through (n) as
subsections (h) through (l), respectively.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Section 5 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7
U.S.C. 2014) is amended--
(A) in subsection (a), in the second sentence, by
striking ``and (r)'' and inserting ``and (q)''; and
(B) in subsection (d)--
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking
``subsection (k)'' and inserting ``subsection
(i)''; and
(ii) in paragraph (10), by striking
``subsection (k) of this section'' and
inserting ``subsection (i)''.
(2) Section 6 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7
U.S.C. 2015) is amended--
(A) in subsection (d)(4), by striking ``subsection
(o)'' each place it appears and inserting ``subsection
(n)'';
(B) in subsection (f), in the third sentence, by
striking ``and financial resources'';
(C) in subsection (q) (as redesignated by
subsection (a)(2)(B)), in paragraph (1)(B), by striking
``subsection (k)'' and inserting ``subsection (j)'';
and
(D) in subsection (r) (as redesignated by
subsection (a)(2)(B)), in paragraph (2)--
(i) by striking ``allowable financial
resources and''; and
(ii) by striking ``(g), (i), (k), (l), (m),
and (n)'' and inserting ``(h), (i), (j), (k),
and (l)''.
(3) Section 7(i)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008
(7 U.S.C. 2016(i)(1)) is amended by striking ``section 6(o)(2)
of this Act'' and inserting ``section 6(n)(2)''.
(4) Section 11(e)(22) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008
(7 U.S.C. 2020(e)(22)) is amended by striking ``section 6(i)''
and inserting ``section 6(h)''.
(5) Section 16 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7
U.S.C. 2025) is amended--
(A) in subsection (a)(9), by striking ``section
17(n)'' and inserting ``section 17(l)''; and
(B) in subsection (h)--
(i) in paragraph (1)--
(I) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by
striking ``section 6(o)'' and inserting
``section 6(n)'';
(II) in subparagraph (E)--
(aa) by striking ``section
6(o)(3)'' each place it appears
and inserting ``section
6(n)(3)'';
(bb) by striking ``section
6(o)(2)'' each place it appears
and inserting ``section
6(n)(2)''; and
(cc) in clause (ii)--
(AA) in subclause
(III), by striking
``section 6(o)(4)'' and
inserting ``section
6(n)(4)''; and
(BB) in subclause
(IV), by striking
``section 6(o)(6)'' and
inserting ``section
6(n)(6)''; and
(III) in subparagraph
(F)(ii)(III)(ee)(AA), by striking
``section 6(o)'' and inserting
``section 6(n)''; and
(ii) in paragraph (5)(C)(iv)(I), by
striking ``section 6(o)(2)'' and inserting
``section 6(n)(2)''.
(6) Section 17 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7
U.S.C. 2026) is amended--
(A) in subsection (k) (as redesignated by
subsection (a)(3)(B))--
(i) by striking ``subsections (l) through
(n)'' each place it appears and inserting
``subsections (k) through (m)''; and
(ii) in paragraph (2)(E), by striking
``section 6(l)(2)'' and inserting ``section
6(k)(2)''; and
(B) in subsection (l) (as redesignated by
subsection (a)(3)(B)), in paragraph (4)(A)(i)(II), by
striking ``and financial resources (as described in
section 5(g))''.
(7) Section 18(g)(2) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008
(7 U.S.C. 2027(g)(2)) is amended by striking ``section 5(h)''
and inserting ``section 5(g)''.
(8) Section 103(a)(2)(D) of the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3113(a)(2)(D)) is amended by
striking ``section 6(o) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008
(7 U.S.C. 2015(o))'' and inserting ``section 6(n) of the Food
and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(n))''.
(9) Section 121(b)(2)(B)(iv) of the Workforce Innovation
and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3151(b)(2)(B)(iv)) is amended by
striking ``section 6(o) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008
(7 U.S.C. 2015(o))'' and inserting ``section 6(n) of the Food
and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(n))''.
(10) Section 454 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 654)
is amended--
(A) in paragraph (4)(A)(i), by striking ``section
6(l)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C.
2015(l)(1))'' and inserting ``section 6(k)(1) of the
Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(k)(1))'';
(B) in paragraph (6)(B)(i), by striking
``subsection (l) or (m) of section 6 of the Food and
Nutrition Act of 2008'' and inserting ``subsection (k)
or (l) of section 6 of the Food and Nutrition Act of
2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015)''; and
(C) in paragraph (29)(A)(ii), by striking ``section
6(l)(2) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C.
2015(l)(2))'' and inserting ``section 6(k)(2) of the
Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(k)(2))''.
(c) Delay Permitted if State Legislation Required.--
(1) In general.--In the case of a State plan under section
11 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2020) that
the Secretary of Agriculture determines requires State
legislation (other than legislation appropriating funds) in
order for the plan to meet the additional requirements imposed
by the amendments made by this section, the State plan shall
not be regarded as failing to comply with the requirements of
section 11 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C.
2020) solely on the basis of the failure of the plan to meet
those additional requirements before the first day of the first
calendar quarter that begins after the close of the first
regular session of the State legislature that begins after the
date of enactment of this Act.
(2) Legislative session.--For purposes of paragraph (1), in
the case of a State that has a 2-year legislative session, each
year of the session shall be considered a separate regular
session of the State legislature.
SEC. 5. ELIMINATING ASSET LIMIT IN LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM (LIHEAP).
(a) Elimination of Limitations on Allowable Financial Resources.--
Section 2605(b)(2) of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981
(42 U.S.C. 8624(b)(2)) is amended, in the matter following subparagraph
(B), by inserting ``, and agrees that a State may not exclude a
household from eligibility in a fiscal year solely or partially on the
basis of the assets of 1 or more members of the household'' before the
semicolon.
(b) Delay Permitted if State Legislation Required.--
(1) In general.--In the case of a State plan under section
2605 of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42
U.S.C. 8624) that the Secretary of Health and Human Services
determines requires State legislation (other than legislation
appropriating funds) in order for the plan to meet the
additional requirements imposed by the amendment made by this
section, the State plan shall not be regarded as failing to
comply with the requirements of such section 2605 solely on the
basis of the failure of the plan to meet those additional
requirements before the first day of the first calendar quarter
that begins after the close of the first regular session of the
State legislature that begins after the date of enactment of
this Act.
(2) 2-year legislative session.--For purposes of paragraph
(1), in the case of a State that has a 2-year legislative
session, each year of the session shall be considered to be a
separate regular session of the State legislature.
SEC. 6. UPDATING AND INDEXING THE RESOURCE LIMIT FOR SUPPLEMENTAL
SECURITY INCOME (SSI).
(a) In General.--
(1) Update in resource limit for individuals and couples.--
Section 1611(a)(3) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1382(a)(3)) is
amended--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``$2,250'' and
all that follows through the end of the subparagraph
and inserting ``$20,000 in calendar year 2020, and
shall be increased as described in section 1617(d) for
each subsequent calendar year.''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``$1,500'' and
all that follows through the end of the subparagraph
and inserting ``$10,000 in calendar year 2020, and
shall be increased as described in section 1617(d) for
each subsequent calendar year.''.
(2) Inflation adjustment.--Section 1617 of such Act (42
U.S.C. 1382f) is amended--
(A) in the section heading, by inserting ``;
inflation adjustment'' after ``benefits''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(d) In the case of any calendar year after 2020, each of the
amounts specified in section 1611(a)(3) shall be increased by
multiplying each such amount by the quotient (not less than 1) obtained
by dividing--
``(1) the average of the Consumer Price Index for Elderly
Consumers (CPI-E, as published by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics of the Department of Labor) for the 12-month period
ending with September of the preceding calendar year, by
``(2) such average for the 12-month period ending with
September 2019.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take
effect on January 1, 2020.
SEC. 7. EFFECTIVE DATE.
Except as otherwise provided, the amendments made by this Act shall
apply to benefits for calendar months beginning on or after the date
that is 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations.
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