Can I get SNAP/Food Stamps if I am in college?

There are special rules that apply to college students who between 8 and 50 years old. A student who is attending college part- or full-time must meet specific rules to be eligible for SNAP/Food Stamps:

If you are 18-49, and meet one of the following:

• Get federal or state work-study monies, or
• Work 20 hours or more per week, or
• Have a child under the age of 12 in the home (further rules apply), or
• Take part in an education or job training program operated by the government, or
• Are disabled and receive a disability based benefit.

You may be eligible for SNAP/Food Stamps benefits!

Q2: How much can I get in SNAP/Food Stamps benefits?

The benefit amount you can get is calculated based on what is known as “countable income” and on certain “deductible expenses” that you have.

Countable income includes:

• “Earned Income,” such as wage earnings from a job (however, income from a federal work-study program is not counted as income)
• “Unearned Income,” such as direct money payments from your parents. Most educational monies are not counted if from federal funds, or if used to cover educational expenses (tuition, fees, books, and supplies)

Deductible expenses include:

• Shelter expenses, such as rent & utilities,
• Child care expenses, so you can go to school or work,
• Medical expenses, if you meet the food stamp disability criteria

You may get up to $200/month in benefits (max amount for one).

Q3: Can I get benefits if I live with roommates?

If you buy & prepare more than half of your meals separately from your roommates, you can apply for SNAP/Food Stamps benefits for yourself— even if you live with other people.

If you buy & prepare most of you meals together, you must apply with your roommates; and they must also meet one of the rules listed in Q1 and report their income.

Q4: Can I get benefits if I still live with my parents?

If you are 22 or older, and if you buy and prepare more than half your meals separately from your parents, you can still apply for SNAP/Food Stamps for yourself.

If you are 18-22, federal rules do not allow you to get SNAP/Food Stamps separately from your parents, even if you barely share meals with them. If you meet one of the rules in Q1, you & your parents must apply for SNAP/Food Stamps together and report all income.

Q5: Can I get benefits if I live in a dorm?

If you live on-campus and get more than half your meals from a meal plan, you cannot get SNAP/Food Stamps benefits.

Q6: How can I apply?

You can apply for SNAP/Food Stamps online, by mail, or in-person.

• To apply online, visit the website: www.mass.gov/dta and click on the “Apply for SNAP Online” link on the left-hand column;
• To apply in person, contact your local Department of Transitional Assistance Office. To find your local office, go to webapps.ehs.state.ma.us/DTAOffices.

The application is the first step. You will also need to send proofs to DTA of your eligibility and have an interview.

Q7: Where can I get more information?

To get more information about the SNAP/Food Stamps program, visit USDA’s website: www.fns.usda.gov/snap

To get more information about the SNAP/Food Stamps program in MA, visit Project Bread’s website: www.gettingfoodstamps.org

To get legal help, contact your local legal services office. Go to www.MassLegalHelp.org and click Find Legal Aid.

Example Scenarios

Example 1:

Nina is a part-time student and has a son. They live with Nina’s mom, who works full-time. Nina is 23, and her son is 7-years old. Nina takes classes in the mornings and must take care of her son after his school, so she can only work 15 hours a week at a local retail store. Nina buys and prepares meals separately from her mom.

The rules say that Nina may be eligible because she has a son under the age of 12 and cannot find adequate child care to be able to work 20 hours or more a week. Since she is older than 22 and rarely shares meals with her mother, she can apply for benefits for just herself and her son.

Determining SNAP/Food Stamps amount: The income from Nina’s retail job is countable income. A portion of what she pays for shelter is a deduction. Any federal financial aid help does not count as income. Non-federal financial aid and loans count only if available to meet living expenses. The maximum monthly SNAP/Food Stamps benefit for two persons is $323/month. The amount Nina will get depends on her earned income and her expenses.

Example 2: “Mark”

Mark is a full-time college student, with work-study. He lives off-campus with two other roommates. He buys his own groceries and cooks his own meals. At times, he will cook dinner for his roommates twice a week.

The rules say that Mark may be eligible because has a work-study job. Since he buys and prepares more than half of his meals separately from his roommates, he can apply for SNAP/Food Stamps for just himself.

Determining SNAP/Food Stamps amount: Mark’s work-study income does not count because it is paid through federal work-study. Any other federal financial aid Mark may receive does not count in calculating his SNAP/Food Stamps. Non-federal financial aid and loans count as income only if available to meet his living expenses. Assuming no other income, Mark can get the maximum benefit for one person of $176/month.