Attending school may affect a person's eligibility.


MFIP:
An 18-year-old is considered to be a minor child until age 19, if they have not received a high school diploma or GED and is:

●	A full-time student in a secondary school, see SECONDARY SCHOOL, 0002.59 (Glossary: RSDI....). For the definition of FULL-TIME STUDENT, see 0002.27 (Glossary: FSET...).
	OR
●	Pursuing a full-time secondary level course, which may include vocational or technical training designed to prepare students for gainful employment.

See MINOR CHILD in 0002.41 (Glossary: Medically Necessary...).

Custodial parents under 20 may be required to attend secondary school to be eligible. See 0012.06 (Requirements for Caregivers Under 20), 0028.12 (Education Requirements).


SNAP:
When a SNAP applicant or recipient reports they are a student there are several pieces of information that must be evaluated to determine if they are eligible. Students in primary or secondary school (including Post-Secondary Enrollment Option (PSEO)) are eligible for SNAP based on student status.

Review each step below and the corresponding policy sections to determine SNAP eligibility for students who are attending a post-secondary type of school. Also see the SNAP Student Guide for more details and examples.

Step 1: Determine whether the student is enrolled in an institution of higher education (IHE). If it is determined that the individual is NOT enrolled in an IHE, they are not considered a student and do not need to meet any other student eligibility criteria. Whether an individual is enrolled in an IHE for SNAP eligibility purposes is defined by three criteria:

	1. Enrollment status: When a student’s enrollment status is less than half-time, they are not considered a student attending an IHE for SNAP and they do not need to meet any other student criteria to be eligible for SNAP.
	2. Type of school and curriculum: When a student is attending a post-secondary institution half-time or more, determine the type of school they are attending and the courses or curriculum they are enrolled in. We have split schools into 2 “tracks” to help with this process. If a student does not meet BOTH the school type and curriculum of either track A or track B, the student is NOT considered to be attending an IHE and they do not need to meet any other student criteria to be eligible for SNAP. Track A: Enrolled in an accredited business, technical, trade, or vocational school AND In a curriculum that normally requires a high school diploma or GED for acceptance Track B: Enrolled in an accredited junior, community, two-year or four-year college or university that offers degree programs AND Is enrolled in a regular curriculum. A regular curriculum is a program of courses accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, which leads to an associate, bachelors, masters, or doctoral degree curriculum. If a student’s enrollment status is at least half-time AND their school type and curriculum align with either Track A or Track B, they are enrolled in an IHE and must meet student criteria to be eligible for SNAP.
Step 2: Determine whether the student receives the majority of their meals (more than 50%) through either a mandatory or optional meal plan. Students who do not receive the majority of their meals (less than 50%) from a meal plan are not residents of an institution and may be eligible for SNAP. Students who receive the majority of their meals (50% or more) from a meal plan are not eligible for SNAP, regardless of how the meal plan is paid for. Meals are counted and based on three meals per day, seven days per week, or 21 meals per week. Meals cannot be cut in half for this calculation and must be counted as three meals per day, even if the student reports they regularly do not eat a certain meal, such as breakfast. If the student has a meal plan and knows how many meals their plan is intended to cover, then the student’s statement is acceptable. If they are unsure, more information must be obtained from the school. Use the Financial Aid Information (DHS-2646), or the schools website.
Step 3: Students attending an IHE as described above are required to meet at least one of the student eligibility criteria, listed below, to be eligible for SNAP. Verification may be required. See 0010.18.02 (Mandatory Verifications – SNAP).

●	Under age 18 or age 50 or over.
●	Physically or mentally unable to work. This is defined as students facing physical or mental barriers to working 20 or more hours per week while attending school. This includes students who indicate they cannot successfully complete their schooling while also working 20 or more hours per week. Mental and physical barriers could include, but are not limited to, receiving services from or being registered with the college’s disability office, prior experience struggling with schooling, a history of being on academic warning or suspension, or being placed in an institution of higher education by a vocational rehabilitation program. A client’s verbal statement that they are facing mental or physical barriers to working 20 or more hours per week while attending school is acceptable as verification. Students also may meet this exemption if they meet the Unfit for Employment provisions that describe physical and mental illnesses and disabilities in 0028.06.12 (Who is Exempt From the SNAP General Work Rules).
●	Responsible for the care of a dependent unit member under the age of 6.
●	Responsible for the care of a dependent unit member ages of 6 through 11 when adequate childcare is not available to enable the student to attend class and/or comply with employment or work study.
●	A biological, adoptive, or stepparent with full-time responsibility for their child under age 12 AND the child’s other parent does NOT live in the home or is in the SNAP unit. If no biological, adoptive, or stepparent is in the same SNAP unit as the child, another full-time student in the unit may qualify for this provision if they have parental control over the child and is not living with their spouse.
●	Employed and paid for an average of 20 hours per week equaling 80 hours monthly OR if self-employed working an average of 20 hours per week equaling 80 hours monthly and earning at least 20 hours multiplied by the federal minimum wage. This includes on-the-job training and paid internships or apprenticeships.
●	Participating in an on-the-job training program (OJT). A person is considered participating in an on-the-job training program only during the period of time the person is being trained by the employer. See 0002.47 (Glossary: OJT) for more information.
●	Participating in a state or federally financed work study program during the regular school year. To qualify under this provision, the student must be: Approved for work study at the time of application for SNAP AND The work study must be approved for the school term AND The student must anticipate working during this time. The exemption shall begin with the month in which the school term begins, or the month work study is approved, whichever is later. The exemption shall continue until the end of the month in which the school term ends, or it becomes known that the student has refused a work study assignment. The exemption shall not continue between terms when there is a break of a full month or longer unless the student is participating in work study during the break.
●	Enrolled in and in compliance with a career and technical education program which is intended to and will likely lead directly to employment through one of the employment and training programs listed below: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Trade Readjustment Assistance (TRA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment & Training (SNAP E&T). See below for more information on self-initiated students who later engage with SNAP E&T. Certain other training programs for low-income households, which are operated by a state or local government and have an equivalent component to SNAP E&T

Students and SNAP E&T

All SNAP clients have the option of working with SNAP E&T. In addition, students already enrolled and attending an IHE at least half-time that do not meet any student criteria in step 2 above have the option to work with SNAP E&T to meet eligibility for SNAP. These students are “self-initiated students” which means they have enrolled in a school program of study prior to engaging with a SNAP E&T Provider. In these situations, evaluate the school and program the student is enrolled in since not all school programs can be supported by SNAP E&T.

When the school program is less than 2-years in duration and is intended to and will likely lead directly to employment, it is most-likely supported by SNAP E&T. Examples include but are not limited to: Perkins V programs, High-Priority Occupation programs, and most career and technical education programs. SNAP E&T may accept students when the program the student is enrolled in is an associate degree level or lesser that is not intended for transfer a 4-year degree program. Associate of Arts programs do not qualify for E&T enrollment as they are intended for transfer to a 4-year degree program.

When the career or technical education program meets the guidelines above, the self-initiated student must be referred to a local SNAP E&T provider using the Student Enrollment Statement for SNAP E&T (DHS-7868). If the student is enrolled in an approved program of study and will be accepted into the SNAP E&T program when SNAP eligibility has been approved, the provider will complete and sign the form to be returned to the eligibility worker.

• If the program of study can be supported by SNAP E&T and the student has already been approved for SNAP, the provider will enroll the student with E&T.
• If the program of study can be supported by SNAP E&T but SNAP is still pending, consider the student meeting the student eligibility criteria for SNAP based on being enrolled in SNAP E&T with the expectation that the student will follow-up with the provider. The provider will officially enroll the student in SNAP E&T once SNAP is approved.
• When the program of study cannot be supported by a SNAP E&T provider, the student is ineligible for SNAP.

Expedited SNAP for Students

When a student applies for SNAP and meets expedited criteria, they must also meet student eligibility outlined in this section prior to expedited processing. Verification needed to support the student criteria must be postponed if the verifications cannot be obtained right away. For students self-enrolled in a career and technical education program that meets the guidelines of being referred to a SNAP E&T provider, as described in the Students and SNAP E&T section above, postpone the receipt of the Student Enrollment Statement for SNAP E&T (DHS-7868) and process expedited SNAP using the best information available.

If the DHS-7868 is returned stating the program cannot be supported by SNAP E&T, and expedited SNAP was already processed, ensure the student is closed off SNAP. Overpayments are not assessed due to processing expedited SNAP with the best information available at the time of approval. See CM 0004.04 (Expedited SNAP) for more information on expedited SNAP eligibility and processing.

All other students are ineligible for SNAP.

For more guidance determining eligibility for students see the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Student Guide located on the SNAP Resource page of SIR, in the Student category.

MSA, HSP:
Student status does not affect eligibility.


GA:
Being a student does not make a person ineligible for GA. The following people are required to attend school to get or maintain eligibility:

●	Displaced homemakers. See 0013.15.33 (GA Basis - Displaced Homemakers).
●	High school students over age 18 whose primary language is not English. See 0013.15.48 (GA Basis - English Not Primary Language).