Food Stamps For High School Students

Are All College Students Subject To The Special Rules For Students

No, student restrictions do not apply to:

• individuals attending college less than half-time, as defined by the school.
• individuals who are in a program that does not require a high school diploma and is not a regular program of a college or university, even if most other students have a high school diploma. For example, a student enrolled in a vocational program or remedial education program that does not require a diploma is not considered a college student, even if the course is operated by a college and is located on campus..

How Does Employment Affect Snap Eligibility

• Students are exempt from the student exclusion if they are employed for pay at least 20 hours per week.
• States have the option to average hours of employment over a month and should do so to reduce the harm caused by variable hours of work.
• Schools may need to provide documentation of hours of work to students employed on campus even if they are not paid on an hourly basis.
• Students are exempt if they are participating in a federal or state work-study program even if they work fewer than 20 hours per week.

How Are Snap Benefits Paid Where Can They Be Used

SNAP benefits are paid through Electronic Benefit Transfer cards that can only be used to buy food. Most states make one distribution per month, although some split the benefit into multiple distributions. Recipients can use SNAP to buy their groceries at authorized retailers including grocery stores, discount stores, bodegas, and farmers markets that accept EBT. Generally, SNAP benefits cannot be used to buy hot meals or prepared foods, such as fast food or takeout pizza, unless a state has a Restaurant Meal Program allowing recipients who are elderly, disabled, or homeless to purchase prepared food at approved locations.

Recommended Reading: Ky Food Stamp Recertification

Does Receiving Snap Affect Financial Aid

SNAP benefits are not treated as income when calculating an expected family contribution for financial aid. Any payment or reimbursements related to a students participation in an education component under SNAP E& T is also not counted as income.

When students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and report that they or their families have received SNAP or other benefits in the past 24 months, they are eligible for a simplified needs analysis that does not require them to answer questions about family assets. If students receive SNAP and have family income under $26,000, they qualify for an automatic zero EFC and can receive more financial aid.

Can I Get Snap If I Am A Community College Student

In Massachusetts, most low-income students attending a community college are eligible for SNAP. The SNAP rules allow community college students in certificate programs or associate degree programs to qualify. The course of study must be a career or technical education program OR a program likely to lead to employment. Most community college programs qualify.

NOTE: Low-income students must also meet the financial household composition and U.S. citizenship or legal immigration status rules of the SNAP program.

If your course of study is not career-focused or you are not a community college student, there are other special SNAP rules for low-income college students. You may qualify for SNAP if you meet any of the following:

• Get federal Work Study, and you work or expect to work during the semester
• Receive financial aid from the state MASSGrant program
• Work an average of 20 hours or more per week
• Care of a child under the age of 12, or you get TAFDC as a parent with children
• Are in school through a state-approved education or training program
• Are in college less than half-time
• Are under age 18 or are over age 49
• Have a temporary or permanent disability

You May Like: How Do You Get Food Stamps In Texas

How Will The Funds Arrive

For children enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the extra money will be loaded onto their parents Oregon Trail cards between Thursday and July 29, then again in late August and late September.

Other qualifying families will be mailed special debit cards with the childs name on them.

The cards will be mailed Thursday from South Dakota to the address listed on file with your child’s school. State officials are warning families to be on the lookout for mail from an unfamiliar address in that state that will contain the cards. Like Oregon Trail cards, they will be reloaded in late August and late September to allow for the purchase of additional groceries.

Meeting The Income Requirements

Like anyone else, teens with part-time jobs must submit pay stubs from employers as part of their application. Food stamp recipients must show they have a gross and net income that is below the federal poverty line. Your net income is the amount you make after taxes. Gross income is the amount you make before taxes. Review your pay stubs to determine whether you income falls within the federal food stamp guidelines. In 2018, a single person will qualify if she earns less than $1,316 and $1,012 per month.

Recommended Reading: Oklahoma Food Stamps

Swipe Out Hunger Cuny Food Navigator Program

CUNY students can access the Food Navigator Portal to get help with the SNAP application and find a range of NYC food resources. CUNY student were specially enlisted and trained to support this digital initiative. Use the link above or text FOOD to 855-230-6746 and complete the form. A navigator will personally contact you.

How Much Money Will I Receive For P

P-EBT benefit amounts vary based on the school a child attends.

The P-EBT benefit amount for each campus is calculated based on information provided by schools about virtual students, the daily benefit amount and the number of school days per month.

Every Texas school participating in the National School Lunch Program was asked to provide the number of days each month that most students learned virtually during the 20202021 school year. The higher the number of days that students attended school virtually, the greater the P-EBT benefit amount for that campus.

The Food and Nutrition Service approved a daily benefit amount of $6.82 that covers the cost of two meals and a snack.

An average number of school days per month was calculated by looking at the largest school districts in Texas.August: 9 daysSeptemberMay: 18 days per monthJune: 5 days

Students attending the same school will get the same P-EBT benefit amount. It is possible that a child is eligible for P-EBT but no benefits will be issued because all students attended in-person classes at their school.

Families who received SNAP for at least one month between October 2020 and June 2021 with children born after Aug. 1, 2014, will receive a benefit for the months they got SNAP benefits based on the highest P-EBT benefit amount of an elementary school in their county. This includes children in SNAP families who are enrolled in school.

Read Also: How Do I Renew My Food Stamps Online In Arizona

How Do I Apply For Snap Benefits

Students are encouraged to stop by the Students Serving Our Students program office so that a mentor can help you. Learn more about the SOS program, its hours and location on the SOS webpage. You can file an application for SNAP through the Department of Transitional Assistance :

• Fax a paper application to DTA at 617-887-8765
• Mail a paper application to DTA Document Processing Center, PO Box 4406, Taunton, MA 02780
• Go in-person to a local DTA office
• If you live with other people who get SNAP, they may need to contact DTA to add you. See below.

After you apply, call the DTA Assistance Line for an interview at 1-877-382-2363. Then send DTA the proofs they ask for. DTA has 30 days to approve or deny your application unless you qualify for emergency SNAP. If you are approved, SNAP benefits are put on an EBT card .

News Your Snap Benefits Are Worth More

The City has received $5.5 million federal grant through the Fund for Public Health NYC to help increase access to nutritious foods and fight health inequities in New York City, the agency announced today.

The grant, from the United States Department of Agriculture , will support fruit and vegetable purchases from farmers markets and independent grocers by New Yorkers who participate in SNAP. The NYC Health Department and its partners will contribute matching funds representing an $11 million commitment to expanding equitable access to affordable fruits and vegetables.

The funding will support expansion of the Health Departments longstanding farmers market SNAP incentive program, Health Bucks. Farmers market customers now get $2 in Health Bucks for every $2 spent in SNAP benefits, a doubling of purchasing power, up to $10 in Health Bucks per day. Previously, customers received $2 in Health Bucks for every $5 spent in SNAP at farmers markets.

Under the grant, New York Citys innovative grocery store-based fruit and vegetable incentive program, Get the Good Stuff, will be expanded to additional stores. The program offers a dollar-for-dollar match on purchases of eligible fruits, vegetables and beans by New Yorkers with SNAP benefits at participating stores. For every $1 spent in SNAP benefits on eligible fresh, frozen, canned, and dried fruits, vegetables, and beans, program participants get $1 added to a program loyalty card, to purchase more eligible foods.

Also Check: Dhs Colorado Springs Food Stamps

All Public School Families Eligible

Since New York City is a universal school lunch district, providing free meals to every student regardless of family income, every child from 3-K to 12th grade in a city-run public school will receive the benefits. Families in charter schools and private schools who receive free meals through the federal school lunch program are also eligible.

We know families have been asking for this benefit, said Rachel Sabella, director of No Kid Hungry New York, an organization that helps tackle childhood hunger. What the pandemic EBT program means is families will have additional resources to help them feed their children.

Families do not have to apply to receive the benefit. For those who already receive food assistance, the money will be automatically added to their benefit cards. Children enrolled in Medicaid, whose families successfully used their food benefits last year, will see the money once again added to Medicaid cards. For those who received the pandemic relief funds on food benefit cards last school year during the first round of federal food relief when all families received about $420 per child the money will be added to the same card. All others will receive a new benefit card in the mail.

To order a replacement card, call 1-888-328-6399. If the cardholder receives Medicaid through the states marketplace, order a replacement by calling 1-855-355-5777.

Can I Get Food Stamps In High School

Food stamps provide temporary relief to needy families. Any U.S. citizen over the age of 18 is eligible to apply for food stamps. Teens looking to apply for food stamps while still enrolled in high school must meet most of the same requirements of an applicant outside of high school.

Tips

• It is possible to get food stamps in high school if you are over the age of 18 and meet all of the typical requirements to qualify.

You May Like: Alabama Food Stamp Income Limits 2019

Learn About State Food Programs For Seniors

Most states offer these programs for seniors with a low income:

• Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program – Provides coupons for fresh fruits, vegetables, honey, and herbs. Use them at farmers markets, roadside stands, and community farms.

• Commodity Supplemental Food Program – Provides a monthly package of healthy food

Food Stamps And Meal Programs During The Covid

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it may be easier for you and your family to get food stamps and take part in meal programs. Contact your state’s social services agency to see if you’re eligible.

During the pandemic:

• Food stamp recipients may receive additional funding. More people may be eligible to receive SNAP during the pandemic than normally.

• Parents whose kids’ schools are closed can pick up school meals for their kids to eat at home.

• People can enroll in food programs remotely rather than in person. This applies to programs for pregnant women, families, seniors, and people with disabilities.

You May Like: Baytown Food Stamp Office

Frequently Asked Questions About Snap And Students

Access to SNAP Promotes Food Security, Improves Wellbeing, and Reduces Poverty

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is our nations most important anti-hunger program, providing food assistance to people with low incomes, including postsecondary students, workers, children, people with disabilities, seniors, and many more. SNAP helps approximately 38 million people in nearly 20 million households put food on the table each month. In 2018, SNAP lifted 3.2 million people out of poverty, including 1.5 million children. The SNAP program has been shown to support work, stimulate economic growth, improve academic outcomes for children, and improve health outcomes for recipients.

Considering Additional Family Members

You cannot apply for food stamps independently of your family. The income of your entire household is used to determine your eligibility this means your parents or guardians, siblings and extended family who live in your home and share meals or expenses. If both your parents work full time and earn above minimum wage, it may be difficult for you to qualify for food stamps the monthly income limits for a three-person household, for example, are $2,252 gross or $1,732 net. Some exceptions can be made if a household member is elderly or disabled.

You May Like: Apply For Foodstamps In Texas Online

What Education And Training Programs Count For Exemptions From The Student Restrictions

Students who are enrolled in college as part of SNAP Employment and Training , Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act programs, and Trade Adjustment Assistance programs are specifically exempted from the student restrictions.

In addition, the federal statute exempts students who are enrolled in another program for the purpose of employment and training operated by a State or local government. SNAP agencies have the power to decide what programs to count for this purpose. Many programs in community colleges could reasonably count as a state or local program for the purpose of employment and training. Some states look at whether a program meets vocational components and goals similar to those identified under the Carl A. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act grants as an indicator, so SNAP offices are not required to individually assess programs. Career pathways programs, high-need credentials, and programs approved as training under Unemployment Insurance could also count.

How Do I Apply For P

Current SNAP participants receiving benefits do not need to apply for P-EBT. You will receive the added benefits on your exisiting EBT card. Non-SNAP participants who are eligible will need to provide basic information for their children, including their Student Testing ID. If you do not have a Student Testing ID, contact your school. The deadline to apply is Sept. 18. For English or Spanish applications, please visit: bit.ly/pandemic-ebt

To find the most updated information and a full FAQ from the Georgia Division of Family & Children Services, visit bit.ly/pandemic-ebt

Don’t Miss: Alabama Food Stamp Income Limits