You May Be Eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

We recognize that the COVID-19 emergency has made life more challenging for students. If you are experiencing food insecurity, your state's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) may be able to help.

SNAP provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of individuals and families in need so they can purchase healthy food and move toward self-sufficiency.

During the COVID-19 public health emergency, a change in federal law made more students temporarily eligible for SNAP benefits. These rules expanded eligibility to students with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of 0 and students eligible to participate in a state or federally financed work-study program.

You are receiving this message because you have an EFC of 0.

If you have not applied for SNAP, you can still apply by June 9, 2023, under the temporary rules. Starting June 10, 2023 you can apply only under regular SNAP rules.

If you are already participating in SNAP, and your certification period ends in April, May, or June, you can apply to recertify by June 30, 2023, under the temporary rules. Starting July 1, you can recertify only under regular SNAP rules.

How To Apply for SNAP

If you experience food insecurity, we encourage you to contact your local SNAP office to find out how to apply. SNAP state agencies administer the program, process applications, and determine eligibility. They can answer any questions you might have about the program. Your state agency may accept this email as proof of an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of 0.

Information About SNAP Student Eligibility

Under regular SNAP rules, students enrolled at least half time in a college or career school are not eligible for SNAP unless they meet one of the exemptions. However, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 temporarily expands SNAP eligibility to also include students who either

Beginning Jan. 16, 2021, students who meet either one of these two criteria may receive SNAP benefits if they meet all other financial and nonfinancial SNAP eligibility criteria. The temporary exemptions will end soon. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service will update its "SNAP Students" page soon with more information.

Under regular SNAP rules, students who participate in a state or federally funded work-study program are eligible. However, the temporary exemption expanded SNAP eligibility to all students who are eligible to participate in a work-study program during the regular school year, regardless of whether they actually participate.

Under regular SNAP rules, students enrolled half-time or more may also be eligible if they work at least 20 hours a week, have a disability, have a young child, or meet another exemption.

You can verify your eligibility to participate in a work-study program on the financial aid offer from your college or career school or by contacting your college or career school.

You can verify an EFC of 0 on the financial aid offer or Student Aid Report or by contacting your college or career school.

Contact your state SNAP agency with questions about how eligibility rules apply to your specific circumstance.

Note About Temporary Exemptions and General SNAP Eligibility

The temporary exemptions do not impact any other student exemptions. All current student eligibility exemptions remain in effect. All students must still meet all other SNAP financial and nonfinancial criteria to be eligible for benefits. You can find a full list of student exemptions on the SNAP student webpage.