We are pleased to share the following information about students enrolled in postsecondary education who may qualify for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. SNAP provides food benefits to low-income individuals and families to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford the nutritious food essential to health and well-being.
Please share this information with your student services providers and other partners who assist students.
Other than statutory and regulatory requirements included in the document, the contents of this guidance do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public. This document is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies.
Background on Student Eligibility
Students enrolled half-time or more in an institution of higher education (IHE), such as a college, university, or trade/technical school, may be eligible for SNAP if they meet the financial and non-financial eligibility requirements and one of the SNAP student exemptions.
The SNAP student exemptions include, but are not limited to, students who:
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Work 20+ hours a week.
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Participate in a state or Federal work study program.
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Have a physical or mental disability or condition that prevents them from working.
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Care for a young dependent child.
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Receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
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Participate in an on-the-job training program.
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Are under age 18 or are over 49.
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Are enrolled in college through certain employment & training programs, such as SNAP E&T, Workforce and Innovation Opportunity Act, and others.
Find more information, including the full list of the SNAP student exemptions, on the SNAP student webpage. You can also share the SNAP student infographic.
Who Needs to Meet a SNAP Student Exemption?
Not all individuals enrolled in post-secondary institutions must meet one of the student exemptions to be eligible for SNAP. The exemptions are only required for individuals enrolled half-time or more in:
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A business, technical, trade, or vocational school and in a curriculum that normally requires a high school diploma or equivalent for enrollment; or
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A regular curriculum at a college or university that offers degrees, regardless of whether a high school diploma is required.
Individuals do not need to meet a student exemption if they are enrolled less than half-time or are enrolled in certain special programs. These individuals may be eligible for SNAP if they meet financial and non-financial eligibility requirements.
Finally, individuals who receive a majority of their meals through a meal plan are ineligible for SNAP.
Important Information About Applying for SNAP
The information below may help students successfully navigate the SNAP application process.
Application Process
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State SNAP agencies administer the program, process applications, and determine eligibility. Students can find their state SNAP agency here.
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Students must apply for SNAP in the state where they currently live. There is no minimum amount of time they must live in a state before they can apply for SNAP.
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An individual can only receive SNAP once. Some people who live together must apply for SNAP as one household, such as spouses and most children under age 22 who live with their parents. If a student’s family is receiving SNAP and the student is a member of their household, the student cannot receive benefits separately unless they leave the household and are removed from the family’s SNAP benefit.
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After they submit an application, students will be required to have an interview and submit proof (verification) of the information on the application.
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The state agency must make a decision about a student’s SNAP eligibility within 30 days of their application date (or within 7 days if they meet additional criteria).
Rights of SNAP Applicants
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Students have the right to apply or re-apply for SNAP at any time, even if they have been denied before.
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Students have the right to apply for and participate in SNAP free from discrimination.
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If they disagree with a decision made on their SNAP case, students have the right to request a fair hearing with an official who is required by law to review the facts of their case in a fair and objective manner. To request a fair hearing, students should contact their local office in person, in writing, or by calling their state’s SNAP Information Hotline within 90 days after the decision has been made.
Information for Institutions of Higher Education
The Department of Education encourages IHEs to coordinate with campus and community organizations to inform students about SNAP and partner with SNAP state agencies to streamline the verification process.
Use of FAFSA Data
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Institutions are reminded that, with prior written consent of the student, they can disclose a student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) data to a state or entity for the purposes of applying for or receiving state or Federal means-tested benefits, which include SNAP benefits. Institutions can also use FAFSA data to conduct outreach to students without written consent. For more information on FAFSA data use guidance, see GENERAL 24-129 Guidance for State Grant Agencies and Institutions of Higher Education on the Access, Disclosure, and Use of FAFSA Data for the Application, Award, and Administration of Student Aid Programs; and GENERAL-24-93 Guidance on Means-tested Benefits Outreach for Institutions and State Grant Agencies.
Verification
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Prior to certifying a SNAP household, state SNAP agencies must verify any household statement that is questionable and would impact eligibility or benefit amounts.
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State SNAP agencies may contact IHEs to request certain verification, such as proof of a student’s participation in a work study program or enrollment in eligible programs. IHEs and state departments of education are encouraged to work with state SNAP agencies to identify appropriate sources of verification for students applying for SNAP.
Further Information
Students should contact their local SNAP offices to find out how to apply, or for other questions about their SNAP eligibility. Institutions of higher education with questions about student SNAP eligibility should contact their state SNAP agency. Contact information for state SNAP agencies and local offices can be found in FNS’ SNAP State Directory.