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The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides food benefits to low-income families so they can pay for basic nutritious food.
Each month, SNAP recipients receive a deposit of money on an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, which serves as a debit card to purchase food.
To qualify for SNAP benefits, you must meet your state's requirements and income limits, as well as other factors such as the amount of money you have in the bank, to determine if you qualify.
Can students access SNAP benefits?
SNAP's official website states that students attending an institution of higher education (whether a college, university, technical school, or vocational school) more than half-time can only qualify for SNAP if they meet one of the following exemptions:
- You are under 18 or over 50 years old.
- You do not have an adequate physical or mental condition.
- You work at least 20 hours per week in paid employment. If you are self-employed, you must work at least 20 hours per week and earn at least the federal minimum wage multiplied by 20 hours.
- You are participating in a state or federally funded study and work program.
- You are participating in an on-the-job training program.
- You take care of a child under 6 years old.
- You care for a child between the ages of 6 and 11 and do not have the necessary childcare to allow you to attend school and work 20 hours a week or participate in the study and work program.
- You are a single parent, enrolled full-time in college and caring for a child under the age of 12.
- You receive assistance from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. You are assigned, placed, or self-placed at a college or other institution of higher education through:
A SNAP Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) program
Some other state or locally-istered E&T programs for low-income households with a component equivalent to SNAP E&T
A program under Title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 (WIOA) (PL 113-128);
A Trade Adjustment Assistance Program under Section 236 of the Trade Act of 1974.
If you're not sure whether you meet any of the exemptions, your local SNAP office to find out how these exemptions might apply to your household's circumstances.
Additionally, those students who meet an exemption also must meet all other SNAP eligibility requirements.