What if I am a college student?

Many low-income college students may be eligible for SNAP/food stamp benefits but not realize it. The college student rules can be very confusing.

Eligible college students

If you are a college student enrolled half-time or more, you can still get SNAP/food stamps as long as you meet any one of the following conditions:

• you are younger than 18 or older than 49; 
• you receive either federal or state Work-Study during the school year (for any amount of work-study hours); 
• you have a child under age 6;
• you have a child under age 12 and you are a single parent in school full time or you are a parent and do not have enough child care coverage to both attend school full time and work 20 hours;
• you receive TAFDC benefits (pregnant woman or parent/caretaker of dependent children);
• you are disabled and receive disability benefits such as SSI or EAEDC,or your health care provider (nurse, doctor, psychologist, counselor, or social worker) signs a statement that you cannot work short term or longer because you are in a vocational, mental health or substance abuse rehabilitation program;
• you are going to school under a DTA-approved SNAP/food stamp education or training activity or another government-sponsored education and training program; or
• you are attending a community college and pursuing a degree or certificate program that is in a career or technical education field or that the college determines will increase your employability.

  106 C.M.R. §§ 362.400-362.420 lists all the conditions that qualify college students. Appendix C: Important Advocacy Forms includes an FAQ and a form for community colleges to sign if you are in a career or technical education degree or certificate program, or your course of study will lead to employment. .

Example

• Jane is a single parent and a full-time college student with one child age 10. Jane meets the SNAP/food stamp rules for college students because she is a single parent with a child under age 12.
• George is a full-time college student with no dependents. He has a work-study job on campus for 5 hours a week. George meets the SNAP/food stamp rules for college students because he is doing work-study. He does not need to do 20 hours per week.
• Suzy is majoring in communications at the local community college. Because she is in a public college and in a program that is expected to lead to employment according to the college, she meets the student eligibility requirements.

Note

College students enrolled less than half-time do not need to meet the conditions above to get SNAP/food stamp benefits. 106 C.M.R. § 362.400(A). Depending on your situation, however, you may be required to do work search unless you meet the employment and training exceptions. See Who must register for work and do job search, and who's exempt?

Purchase and prepare rules for college students

If you live on campus and purchase but prepare most of your meals (e.g., get less than half of a meal plan), you may also qualify provided you meet the student status conditions. If you live with your parents and you are under age 22, you must be part of their household if you meet the student eligibility rules and even if you purchase separately. See Who cannot be a separate SNAP/food stamp household?

Treatment of college student loans and grants

There are specific rules on what income is countable for eligible college students. It is important to remember the following:

• Federal loans, grants and work-study do not count in calculating your food stamp benefits. 106 C.M.R. § 363.230(D). This includes Pell Grants (BEOG), federal college work study, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG), National Direct Student Loans (NDSL), Guaranteed Student Loans (GSL) and other student financial aid from programs funded under Title IV of the federal Higher Education Act.
• Private and state grants, private loans and state work-study monies do count— but only the amount that is designated for living expenses counts in calculating SNAP/food stamp benefits (e.g., that exceeds your tuition, fees, books, supplies, child care and other earmarked educational expenses. 106 C.M.R. § 363.230(D)(4).
• If you do have countable income from loans or grants, DTA will average the amount of available income over the course of the academic year or semester-whatever the length of time the income is intended to cover— even if you receive it in a lump sum. 106 C.M.R. § 364.340(A)(2).

For more information on the income counting rules and what is countable or non-countable, see What income is not counted? through How does DTA count the income of someone who lives with me but is not part of my SNAP/food stamp household? To help verify your countable school income, DTA uses an "Educational Income and Expense Form" (EDUC-1). By signing this form, you are giving permission for your college financial aid office to release information to DTA. Use of the form also makes it easier for the financial aid office to report non-federal financial aid you receive and indicate if any of it is designated for your living expenses. You are not required to use this form, however, but it may help in getting the exact information DTA needs.

Additional Policy Guidance on College Students