September 10, 2025

Wyden Introduces Bill to Protect Food Assistance Benefits for People with Student Loans

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today said he is joining legislation that would improve food access for families with student loans.

The legislation would allow people in need of food assistance to exclude monthly student loan payments – for both private and federal loans – from their income; improving borrowers’ eligibility and increasing their benefits.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) already contains deductions for some expenses such as housing and child care. The Student Loan Deduction Act would allow deductions for monthly payments on federal and private student loans when calculating their eligibility for food assistance.

“With costs rising by the day, folks walking an economic tightrope shouldn’t have to choose between paying to put food on the table or paying for other necessities,” Wyden said. “The goal of this legislation is to ensure that people get the support they need to succeed and thrive. I’m proud to work with Senator Welch and Congresswoman Moore to push for real solutions .”

The Education Data Initiative reported that about 42 million borrowers have federal student loan debt averaging more than $38,000 – despite the average monthly student loan payment costing about $536. By deducting monthly student loans from the income of people relying on food benefits, this legislation would ensure their available income is more accurately represented.

In addition to Wyden, the Student Loan Deduction Act was introduced by U.S. Senator Peter Welch D-Vt., and cosponsored by U.S. Senators Alex Padilla D-Calif., Jeanne Shaheen D-N.H., Richard Blumenthal D-Conn., Tammy Duckworth D-Ill., Kirsten Gillibrand D-N.Y., Bernie Sanders I-Vt., and Cory Booker D-N.J.

Text of the bill is here.

This month, Wyden led 11 of his Democratic Senate colleagues in demanding answers from the Trump administration about its plans to deny 460,000 student loan borrowers that have applied for lower repayment plans. In March 2024, Wyden and Sens. John Fetterman, D-Penn., and Bill Cassidy, R-La., introduced the bipartisan Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act to upgrade the security of electronic benefit cards and protect families in need from thieves that have stolen millions worth of essential food benefits.