As the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency comes to an end on May 11, the temporary expanded eligibility for college students in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will also end. The Department of Education released information from the Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service to help institutions and states ensure eligible students get the assistance they qualify for before the expansion expires, and to explore what institutions can do to help students after the expiration. 

The two departments are encouraging colleges to conduct outreach to potentially eligible students to educate them about SNAP benefits, and help students connect with the State SNAP Agency to apply. Both agencies note that there are potentially more students eligible than are taking advantage of the program.  

The expanded pandemic eligibility made students enrolled at least half-time who were eligible for Federal Work-Study or had an Expected Family Contribution of zero for the current award year eligible for SNAP. Enacted in December 2020, these students will remain eligible for SNAP until June 9. 

According to the USDA guidance, students can still file applications for SNAP before June 9, 2023, using the pandemic expansions, and state SNAP agencies will process these applications until June 30, 2023. Once a student is certified to be eligible for SNAP, benefits can remain in place for up to a year, depending on state recertification rules, so it is important for students who meet the temporary expansion to apply for certification before June 9. 

Once the temporary expanded eligibility expires, some college students may still be eligible for SNAP, if they meet any of the following student exemptions:  

• Being younger than age 17 or older than age 50; 
• Receiving TANF benefits under Title IV of the Social Security Act; 
• Working and getting paid for a minimum of 20 hours per week; 
• Participating in a state or federal work study program during the regular school year; 
• Having responsibility for a dependent household member under the age of 6; 
• Having responsibility for a dependent household member between the ages 6 and 12 and lacking adequate childcare; or
• Being a single parent with responsibility for a dependent child under age 12 and enrolled full-time.