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Students

Who is Subject to Student Eligibility Criteria?

A student between the ages of 18 and 49 who is enrolled at least half time in an institution of higher education is subject to student eligibility rules for SNAP.

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Who is Not Subject to Student Eligibility Criteria?

SNAP student eligibility rules do not apply to persons who are:

• age 17 or younger or age 50 or older
• considered disabled based on SNAP disability standards
• attending high school
• enrolled in schools and training programs that are not classified as institutions of higher education
• enrolled at an institution of higher education but have an ineligible type of curriculum (e.g., vocational program that does not require a high school diploma, college course or program that does not lead to a degree)
• attending school less than half-time

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What is an Institution of Higher Education?

An institution of higher education is any public or private nonprofit educational institution that admits people that have a high school diploma or equivalency certificate for enrollment. The institution must be legally authorized to provide an educational program beyond secondary education or to provide a training program that will prepare students for gainful employment.

For SNAP eligibility purposes, students are considered enrolled in an institution of higher education if they are enrolled in:

• a business, technical, trade, or vocational school and in a curriculum that normally requires a high school diploma or equivalency certificate for enrollment
• a college or university and in a curriculum that offers degree programs regardless of whether a high school diploma is required

Types of schools considered institutions of higher education include but are not limited to:

• business, technical, trade, or vocational schools (that normally requires a high school diploma or equivalency certificate for enrollment)
• colleges
• universities
• correspondence schools
• online schools

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Student Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for SNAP, a student must meet at least one of the following requirements. The student must:

• be employed:
  • for a minimum of 20 hours per week averaged monthly and be paid for such employment (verify with pay stubs or employee letter) or
  • if self-employed, be employed for a minimum of 20 hours per week, averaged monthly and receive weekly earnings at least equal to the federal minimum wage multiplied by 20 hours (verify with current income and expense records)

    • Note: When a client’s wage stubs or other earned income verification does not include the number of hours worked, but includes the client’s hourly rate, staff may calculate the number of hours worked. See Entering Number of Hours Worked When Not Available and refer to Student Examples provided at the end of this page.

• Be participating in a State or federally financed work study program during the regular school year (see the Work Study section below for more details)

Note: Massachusetts does not operate a state-funded work-study program.

• be physically/mentally unable to work.
  • Students are considered unable to work if they have an illness or disability that impairs their ability to work at least 20 hours/week while concurrently enrolled half-time or more in an institution of higher education
  • Students can be considered unable to work if they are experiencing chronic homelessness or are placed in an institution of higher education by a state or local vocational rehabilitation program.
  • Students receiving additional support from an institution of higher education’s disability access or reasonable accommodations office also qualify for this requirement.
• be responsible for the care of a dependent household member under the age of six
• be responsible for the care of a dependent household member who has reached the age of six but is under the age of 12 for whom adequate childcare is not available to enable the student to attend school and work a minimum of 20 hours per week, or participate in a work-study program during the regular school year
• be a single parent enrolled full-time in an institution of higher education and responsible for the care of a dependent child under the age of 12 regardless of the availability of adequate childcare
• be receiving TAFDC and/or enrolled in a TAFDC Pathways to Work program
• enrolled at a community college or post-secondary program at a vocational/technical school. This means they are in an eligible career and technical education (CTE) program under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006 (Perkins IV) or in a program of study that would lead to employment. See below for more details regarding Community College Students and Regional Vocational Technical Schools.
• be in receipt of the MassGrant
• be participating in an on-the-job training program. A person is considered to be participating in an on-the-job training program only during the period of time the person is being trained by the employer
• are enrolled in an employment and training program subject to the condition that the course or program of study is limited to remedial courses, basic adult education, literacy, or English as a Second Language (ESL)
• be assigned to or placed in an institution of higher education through:
  • a program under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
  • a program under Section 236 of the Trade Act of 1974

Note: On July 1, 2022, the Trade Act was terminated. However, clients who were negatively affected by foreign trade and received services before July 1, 2022, continue to receive lifetime benefits and may still be eligible to receive training as part of the TAA program. These clients will still meet student eligibility criteria under this exemption.

• an employment and training program under the Food and Nutrition Act, or
• a SNAP Path to Work Program employment and training program

Important: To be exempt from the General Work Rules as a student attending at least half-time, the Education page must reflect an active start date and an anticipated graduation date that is in the future. Therefore, you must complete these fields.

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Community College Students

If a student is enrolled at a community college or at a post-secondary program at a vocational/technical school, this means they are enrolled in an eligible career and technical education (CTE) program under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006 (Perkins IV) or in a program of study that would lead to employment.

Massachusetts Community Colleges

• Massachusetts Community Colleges
• Berkshire Community College
• Bristol Community College
• Bunker Hill Community College
• Cape Cod Community College
• Greenfield Community College
• Holyoke Community College
• MassBay Community College
• Massasoit Community College
• Middlesex Community College
• Mt. Wachusett Community College
• North Shore Community College
• Northern Essex Community College
• Quinsigamond Community College
• Roxbury Community College
• Springfield Tech. Community College

 

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Quasi-State Schools

Students meet the student exemption of being enrolled in a CTE program under Perkins IV or in a program of study that would lead to employment regardless if they are enrolled in a 2 or 4 year degree program at these schools:

• Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology
• Quincy College

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Regional Vocational Technical Schools

Regional Vocational Technical Schools

• Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical
• Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical
• Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical
• Bristol-Plymouth Vocational Technical
• Charles McCann Vocational Technical
• Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical (Diman Regional Voc.)
• Greater Lawrence Technical
• Greater Lowell Regional Vocational Technical
• Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical (Monty Tech)
• Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical (McCann Tech)
• Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational Technical
• Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical (Southeastern Technical Institute)
• Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational Technical (BayPath Regional)
• Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical
• Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical

Note: Students enrolled in post-secondary programs at these vocational/technical schools must have a high school diploma, GED or HiSET, so therefore, are considered enrolled in an institution of higher education and must meet student eligibility rules. These students will meet the exemption of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006 (Perkins IV) or in a program of study that would lead to employment to be eligible for SNAP. Students who attend these schools for a high school curriculum are not held to the student eligibility requirements (i.e., not considered enrolled in an institution of higher education).

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Four-Year College/University Students

If a client indicates they are a student at a four-year college or university, the student must meet at least one of the student eligibility criteria outlined above.

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Continuous Enrollment

A student’s status does not change when the school is not in session, provided the student is enrolled for the next regular session. The enrollment status of a student begins on the first day of the school term of the institution and continues through:

• normal periods of class attendance
• summer vacation, and;
• semester breaks, and
• vacation

Continuous enrollment rules do not apply when the student:

• graduates;
• is suspended;
• is expelled; or
• drops out

If a student who was previously ineligible becomes eligible by meeting the student eligibility rules, they may be able to receive SNAP benefits.

If a student who was previously ineligible becomes eligible during a period in which the student is continuously enrolled, for example during the summer, they may receive SNAP benefits, with the exception of work study.

Important: A student is not subject to continuous enrollment rules if the student has enrolled and the start date is in the future.

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College Students Coming Home for Summer Breaks

Primarily during the beginning of summer break, SNAP households may request to add their college student back into their SNAP case for the summer, due to the student moving back home for summer break. Students that are enrolled in college for the upcoming school year are still held to student eligibility rules during summer breaks due to continuous enrollment rules.

If a household is requesting to add their student back into the household, you must screen for any student exemptions to make sure they still meet student eligibility criteria.  Students may not have received a finalized financial aid award letter for the upcoming school year, so student eligibility can be based on the previous school year, except for the Work Study exemption.

Exception: If a student met student eligibility due to participating in work study for the previous school year or is newly approved for work study in the upcoming school year, the student does not meet student eligibility under this exemption. In order to receive the work study exemption, the exemption begins in the month in which the school term begins, or the month work study is approved, whichever is later. This exemption does not continue between terms when there is a break of one month or more unless the student is participating in work study during the break.

Example 1Example 1

Example 2Example 2

Important: Students that come home for the summer who previously had a meal plan due to living at school during the school year are eligible for SNAP if they meet student eligibility criteria as they are no longer receiving a meal plan during the time of the break and are not considered boarding at that time. Their SNAP eligibility will be redetermined at the household’s next recertification.

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Work-study

Financial aid offices award work study funds as part of a student’s financial aid package. If a student accepts the package, these funds are distributed to pay the student in the form of work study wages. The exemption starts with the month in which the school term begins or the month the work study is approved, whichever is later.

There are three criteria that must be met for a student to be considered participating in a work study program:

1. The student must be approved for work study at the time of application (or any time within the application process) for SNAP benefits;
2. The work study must be approved for the current school term, and;
3. The student must anticipate actually working during that time (school term).

The student may not be actively working at a work study job at the time they apply for SNAP based on when they apply (i.e. applies at the beginning of the semester). As long as these three criteria are met, the student will be eligible for the work study exemption. However, a student who refuses a work study assignment is not considered to be participating in work study.

Anticipating Participation in Work Study

There is a difference between anticipating working and refusing to participate in work study. For example, if a client applies for SNAP during the first week of their Fall semester and states they have been approved for work study but has still not solidified work study employment, this is considered anticipating participation in work study, as the semester has just started.

However, if the client applies for SNAP in November and indicates that they were approved for work study at the start of the Fall term and have still not solidified work study but are anticipating to participate in work study, this would not be considered anticipating participation in work study as the semester would be more than half over and colleges typically have deadlines in place by the middle of the semester for students to submit their Work Study hiring forms.

Important: Students who meet the exemption for participating in work study do not need to meet the exemption of working 20 hours a week. The work study exemption does not have a specific number of hours per week. These are two separate exemptions.

The exemption does not continue between terms when there is a break of one month or more unless the student is participating in work study during the break.

Example 1Example 1

Example 2Example 2

Example 3Example 3

Example 4Example 4

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Conversation With a Household Member About Student Eligibility

When a client indicates that they or a household member is a college student, you must ask them to indicate the name of the college they attend. If this is not a community college, you must continue to screen for student eligibility. You must start with eligibility requirements that are based on household circumstances.

Eligibility Based on Household Circumstances

This is likely to be information we would have in BEACON.

• are they receiving TAFDC and/or enrolled in a TAFDC Pathways to Work program,
• is there a child in the household under 6 years old,
• are they responsible for the care of a dependent household member who is between the ages of 6 and 12 for whom adequate childcare is not available to enable the student to attend school and work a minimum of 20 hours per week,
• are they a single parent enrolled full-time in an institution of higher education and responsible for the care of a dependent child under the age of 12 regardless of the availability of adequate childcare,
• are they working an average of 20 hours per week, or
• are they federally certified as disabled?

If the student does not meet student eligibility criteria based on being enrolled in a community college or for any of the household circumstances mentioned above, you must ask the student if they:

• have received any documentation such as their financial aid award letter, an email/letter from the Department of Education, or Student Aid Report (SAR) stating they have been awarded a MassGrant.
• are unable to work due to being physically or mentally unfit
• participate or anticipating working during the school year in a federally or state-funded work-study program
• are participating in an on-the-job training program. A person is considered to be participating in an on-the-job training program only during the period of time the person is being trained by the employer,
• are enrolled in an employment and training program subject to the condition that the course or program of study is limited to remedial courses, basic adult education, literacy, or English as a Second Language (ESL),
• have been assigned to or placed in an institution of higher education through:
  • a program under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
  • a program under Section 236 of the Trade Act of 1974
  • an employment and training program under the Food and Nutrition Act, or
  • a SNAP Path to Work Program employment and training program

Questions to ask the student if they state they are physically/mentally unfit for employment but are not federally disabled:

1. Are you in receipt of temporary or permanent disability benefits from a government or private source?

Important: If the client indicates they are in receipt of benefits, proof of income is required for SNAP eligibility, unless the Department can verify the income through data sources.

2. Has your physician or licensed/certified psychologist deemed you physically or mentally unfit for employment?
3. Do you participate in a Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission program or other Massachusetts approved vocational rehabilitation programs?
4. Are you experiencing chronic homelessness?
5. Are you receiving services from your school’s disability access or reasonable accommodations office?
   *If YES to any of the above questions, the student meets student eligibility, and verification must be requested.

Questions to ask the student if they state they are enrolled in an employment/training program (except for SNAP Path to Work, as that can be verified with the SNAP E&T unit):

1. Do you receive any part of your training program through an institution of higher education such as a post-secondary program through a trade/vocational tech school, college, or university?
   1. If NO, client is not considered a student and is not subject to SNAP student eligibility criteria.
2. Did a MassHire Career Center, the Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA), or another government agency help you enroll in your training program?
3. Are you participating in a training program or receiving training at no cost?

*If YES to all three questions, the student’s training program meets student eligibility, and verification must be requested.

If student eligibility is not already a part of the case record (i.e., child under 6 or receiving TAFDC) the client must provide documentary evidence to verify student eligibility.

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Verifying Student Eligibility

Documentary evidence is the primary verification method to verify student eligibility. However, some student exemptions are verified through what is known to DTA (i.e receiving TAFDC, has a child under 6 years old) while others will be mandatory to satisfy other program rules (i.e. earned income). Once the school information is entered into the Education page in BEACON, a Mandatory VC-1 item, Student Eligibility, will be generated on the Verification tab. This table displays the different ways students can verify their student eligibility status.

Most students have access to their online student accounts that houses all financial aid information. In the rare circumstance that a client states they are having a difficult time obtaining documentary evidence for proof of student eligibility, you must perform collateral contact with the college or university, preferably with the student on the phone to give the school verbal consent to speak with the Department. A written self-declaration of Student Eligibility may only be accepted as a last resort if the client has provided a reasonable explanation as to why they cannot obtain documentary verification or a collateral contact with the college was unsuccessful.

Student Exemption	Verification
Employed: for a minimum of 20 hours per week averaged monthly and be paid for it or, if you are self-employed, be employed for a minimum of 20 hours per week averaged monthly and receive weekly earnings at least equal to the federal minimum wage multiplied by 20 hours (this means you need to make at least $145/week).	Pay stubs The Work Number Letter from employer showing hourly rate and the specific number of hours worked each week (no averages). If the client is self-employed, they must provide most recent business records or updated tax records.
Participating or anticipating working in a state or federally financed Work Study	Financial Aid Award letter showing the client has been awarded Work Study or pay stubs that show it is a Work Study placement.
Mentally or physically unable to work	If the client is receiving temporary or permanent disability benefits from a government or private source, they must provide verification of this income. Proof of participation in a Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission program or other Massachusetts approved vocational rehabilitation programs. Letter from physician/certified psychologist stating the client is physically or mentally unfit for employment. Letter from the school’s disability access or reasonable accommodations office indicating they are receiving services. If a client is chronically homeless, the client can provide a self-declaration of this exemption.
Responsible for the care of a dependent household member under the age of 6	No verification needed. DTA will have this information based on case record.
Responsible for the care of a dependent household member under the age of 12 for whom adequate childcare is not available to let you attend school and work a minimum of 20 hours per week, or participate in a work-study program during the regular school year	No verification needed. You must clarify this with the client during the interview.
A single parent enrolled full-time in an institution of higher education and be responsible for the care of a dependent child under the age of 12 regardless of if you have childcare	No verification needed. DTA will have this information based on the case record.
Receiving TAFDC and/or enrolled in a TAFDC Pathways to Work program	No verification needed. DTA will have this information based on the case record.
Enrolled at a community college or post-secondary program at a vocational/technical school	Class schedule that has the client’s name and the school’s name or their Financial Aid Award letter.
Receives MassGrant	Financial Aid Award letter.
Participating in an on-the-job training program	Letter from the employer stating the client is participating in an on-the-job training program.
Enrolled in an employment and training program provided that the course or program of study is limited to remedial courses, basic adult education, literacy, or English as a Second Language (ESL)	Letter from the program the client attends stipulating the course or program of study is limited to remedial courses, basic adult education, literacy, or English as a Second Language (ESL).
Be assigned to or placed in an institution of higher education through: a program under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) a program under Section 236 of the Trade Act of 1974 an employment and training program under the Food and Nutrition Act, or a SNAP Path to Work Program employment and training program	Letter from the program the client attends or a letter from the MassHire Career Center. If the client is participating in an Employment and Training Program through SNAP Path to Work, no additional verification is needed.  DTA will have this information.

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Meal Plan

Verifying whether a student has a meal plan is another aspect that is pertinent only to students who reside and attend 4-year colleges or universities. This is not a student eligibility requirement, but a broader SNAP eligibility requirement to determine if the client is considered boarding and if the majority of their meals are provided.

The goal is to determine whether or not the student receives a majority of meals through their meal plan. If the client reports that they are a student and reside on campus, staff must ask if they have a meal plan that covers at least 2 out of their 3 daily meals or 14 or more meals per week.

You must verify whether the student has a meal plan by asking:

• “Do you have a meal plan that provides at least two out of three of your daily meals or 14 or more meals per week?”

 

Note: A student can verify their meal plan status via telephonic signature (unless questionable).

Remember: Staff must not deny a client simply because the client participates in a meal plan at a 4-year college or university. Instead, staff must first determine whether the client is living on campus and explore the scope of an applicant’s meal plan to determine eligibility.

Example 1Example 1

Example 2Example 2

Example 3Example 3

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Verifying a Meal Plan When it is Considered Questionable

If the student response is considered questionable (such as, but not limited to the student indicating that they live in campus dorms full-time but state they do not have a full-time meal plan or no meal plan at all), actual proof of the meal plan status is required. This can be verified by sending a mandatory VC-1 requesting a copy of the student bill or any other document the student can provide that shows whether they have a meal plan for the current academic year.

If the student advises they are having difficulty obtaining verification, assist the student by instituting collateral contact. It will be easier to make this call with the student on the other line so that the staff at the school understands that the student permits them to provide this information to DTA.

If verification is received that at least 2 out of 3 daily meals are provided or the meal plan accounts for 14 or more meals, the student must be denied for the Reason: Institutionalized, including Incarceration.

This will generate a notice that states, “you and/or a household member do not meet the program's rules because you are a resident of a facility that provides the majority of your meals.”

If the student indicates that they receive a meal plan that covers the majority of their meals, the student is not eligible for SNAP even if they meet one or more student eligibility criteria.

Important: A student attending community college or living off-campus is not boarding at school so you must not explore verification of meal plan for such students.

Important: Students that come home for the summer break are eligible for SNAP if they meet student eligibility criteria, regardless of if they were receiving a meal plan while boarding at school.

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How to Request Proof of a Meal Plan When it is Considered Questionable

1. To request verification of a meal plan, you must create a User-Entered Additional Verification as mandatory and in the Details field, enter Meal Plan.
2. Annotate the Document(s) of Evidence section with:

“You told us you are a college student that has a meal plan. Please provide a copy of your meal plan.”

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Ineligible Students

The income and assets of an ineligible student must not be included in eligibility determinations.

To remove an ineligible student from the SNAP household, you must:

1. go to the AU Composition Results Page
2. click the AU Member tab
3. select the ineligible student
4. select Reason Category: Program Rules
5. select Reason: In School Beyond Secondary Level

Note: If the student resides on-campus and two out of three of their daily meals are provided through a meal plan, the client must be removed for the Reason: Institutionalized, including Incarceration. This will generate a notice that states, “you and/or a household member do not meet the program's rules because you are a resident of a facility that provides the majority of your meals.”

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Educational Loans, Grants, Scholarships, and Reimbursements

Financial assistance paid to a student as part of a financial aid package, grant, loan or scholarship for the purposes of obtaining a degree or certificate from an institution of higher education is noncountable income for the SNAP, TAFDC and EAEDC programs. This includes educational grants, fellowships, assistantships, scholarships, and educational stipends awarded by a college, a nonprofit organization or private company.

When a client indicates that they are a student, you must not request verification of any type of educational income.

Students may have income that is not part of a financial aid package, grant, loan, or scholarship. Any income of a student that is not part of a financial aid package, grant, loan, or scholarship is subject to the countable and non-countable income rules. For example, one student may work at the campus bookstore as a recipient of work study through their financial aid package. This income is non-countable for all programs. Another student may work at the campus bookstore and be paid regular wages because they do not receive work study as part of their financial aid package. This income is countable as wages according to the rules of each program.

Note: Internships are considered countable earned income, and must be entered as wages in BEACON, as it is usually not awarded as a financial aid package. Since the internship is countable earned income, the client can use the hours worked to determine if the client meets student eligibility criteria of working 20 hours per week.

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Student Examples

Q1. Dante (he/him) was previously a student and reported during an interview that he is not in school anymore and does not plan to return. How do I verify this?

A1. You do not need any further verification that the client is no longer enrolled. The client’s verbal statement is sufficient. If you suspect that the client is lying, for instance, if the client was recently denied as an ineligible student, you may submit a fraud referral.

Q2. Hui (they/them) attends a school that is not on the list of community colleges or vocational/technical schools that have eligible programs under Perkins IV or programs that would lead to employment. Is the client considered a student? Does the client need to meet student eligibility requirements?

A2. In these instances, you are to research the institution or program to see if it requires a high school diploma or equivalency certificate for enrollment. This information is typically on the institution’s website. If a high school diploma or equivalency certificate is required for enrollment, Hui must meet student eligibility requirements. You must send a mandatory VC-1 for Student Eligibility. If there is no such requirement, Hui does not need to meet student eligibility requirements.

Q3. If a student enrolled in school for the first time or has formally withdrawn, and the semester has not started, does student eligibility need to be explored?

A3. No. The client is not considered a student until the semester begins unless the client is considered a continuously enrolled student. In this example, the client has not been matriculated yet and is therefore not held to student eligibility requirements.

Q4. Bran (they/them) is due to be recertified in July and falls under the continuous enrollment clause because the client is going into their junior year of college without any gaps in formal enrollment. Bran states that they will not know what their financial aid package will be, as they have not completed award packages for the upcoming academic year yet. Should I let the case close, or should I process it?

A4. In this instance, you must review student eligibility based on the previous academic year. If the client previously met student eligibility criteria and it was previously verified with documentary evidence, you are to process the case maintaining the same eligibility reason (with the exception of the work study exemption). A detailed narrative must be left, and student eligibility will be explored at the next reporting period.

Q5. Drew (he/they) is an ineligible college student as they do not meet any eligibility requirements for a college student. Drew is now off for the summer and plans to continue college in the Fall. Nothing has changed on the case. Can Drew be considered an eligible college student?

A5. Drew would still be considered an ineligible college student even in the summer as they still do not meet the student status rules.

Q6. Andrea (she/her) was disqualified from SNAP during the school year because she was receiving a majority of their meals at school. However, Andrea was considered an eligible college student as she received the MassGrant. Andrea is now off for the summer and moved back home with her parents. Can Andrea be considered an eligible college student?

A6. Since the client is not boarding at this time, Andrea can now be considered an eligible college student as they are receiving the MassGrant. You must not go in at the end of the summer and remove the client or mark the client as Institutionalized based on Simplified Reporting rules. The next reporting period will adjust the client’s eligibility status. At the household’s next reporting period, the student’s eligibility will be reviewed.

Q7. Jamie (they/them) is at their recertification period in June. During the recertification interview, Jamie states that they applied and was accepted at Tufts University and will start in the Fall Semester. During the interview, I noticed she is not an eligible college student based on the interview. Would continuous enrollment rules apply?

A7. No. Since Jamie’s start date is in the future, you cannot apply continuous enrollment rules. The client is eligible for SNAP if otherwise eligible, as we will not apply the student rules until school starts. At the next reporting period, you must review student eligibility and mark Jamie as an ineligible college student if Jamie still does not meet any eligibility requirements at that time.

Q8. William (he/him), 24, is applying for SNAP. During the application interview, William states that he is a student attending Boston University and works approximately 22 hours per week for a local business. William supplies his wage stubs for the previous four weeks. The wage stubs indicate:

• 10/27 – 11/2, listing $300.00 in gross income
• 11/3 – 11/9, listing $360.00 in gross income
• 11/10 – 11/16, listing $390.00 in gross income
• 11/17 – 11/23, listing $420.00 in gross income

When reviewing William’s verifications, I notice that the wage stubs do not show the hours worked per week but do provide William’s hourly rate of $15.00 per hour. Am I able to determine the number of hours worked for student eligibility purposes with information provided?

A8. Yes. To determine the number of hours worked, you must perform the following calculations:

• $300.00 gross income / $15.00 hourly = 20 hours
• $360.00 gross income / $15.00 hourly = 24 hours
• $390.00 gross income / $15.00 hourly = 26 hours
• $420.00 gross income / $15.00 hourly = 28 hours

Based on this calculation, William meets the student eligibility criteria as William is paid for a minimum of 20 hours per week, averaged monthly.

Q9. Sarah (she/her), 20, is applying for SNAP. During the application interview, Sarah states that she is a commuting, full-time student at UMass Amherst, and works approximately 25 hours per week. Sarah supplies wage stubs for the previous four weeks. The wage stubs indicate:

• 3/30 – 4/13, listing $520.00 in gross income
• 4/14 – 4/27, listing $552.00 in gross income

When reviewing Sarah’s verifications, I notice that the wage stubs do not show either the hours worked per week nor Sarah’s hourly rate. Am I able to determine the number of hours worked for student eligibility purposes with information provided?

A9. No. Since the hourly rate is not provided, you must take Sarah’s telephonic self-declaration of the number of hours they work to determine student eligibility. However, if the hourly rate calculates to be is less than the minimum wage based on the number of hours amount Sarah reports, this would be considered questionable, and actual proof of Sarah’s hours worked must be provided.

Q10: Zion (they/them) is a graduate student at Tufts University. They indicate that they participate in an assistantship and works an average of 20 hours per week. Zion does not meet any other student eligibility criteria. Is Zion an eligible student? Do I count the assistantship income, and does it need to be verified?

A10: Zion is not an eligible college student as the assistantship is considered noncountable educational income, and therefore cannot be used for meeting student eligibility criteria by working 20 hours per week.

Q11: Soleil (she/they) is 19 years old and is a college student. They are applying with their parents as they all live together and purchase and prepare food together. Soleil’s mother, Ivana, is completing a telephonic SNAP application and indicates that Soleil is a college student at a four-year university. When I review the student eligibility criteria, Ivana is not sure if Soleil meets any of the exemptions. What should I do?

A11: Since Ivana does not know if Soleil meets college student eligibility, you must issue a mandatory VC-1 for Student Eligibility.

Q12: Jeremiah (he/him) is applying for SNAP and indicates he is a college student. Jeremiah meets student eligibility as he is participating in Work Study. During the interview, Jeremiah states that he is receiving a scholarship from their local Credit Union to go towards school expenses. Do I count the income from the local Credit Union and the Work Study? Does Jeremiah need to verify this income?

A12:  No, Jeremiah does not need to verify the scholarship from the local Credit Union, as all educational income, including scholarships and grants received from entities outside of the college or university is also noncountable income for all DTA programs. However, Jeremiah must provide documentary evidence that he is participating in Work Study.

Q13: Nala (she/her) applies for SNAP for herself. Nala indicates that she receives the MassGrant and resides on campus full-time in the student apartments, and only has a part-time meal plan that covers one meal a day on weekdays, as Nala has a full kitchen in her apartment. Is Nala eligible for SNAP?

A13: Yes, Nala is eligible for SNAP as they meet student eligibility criteria by being in receipt of the MassGrant. Additionally, Nala has a meal plan that only covers one meal per day on weekdays, which is less than 50 percent or more meals covered per day. Therefore, Nala is eligible for SNAP once verification of student eligibility is obtained.

Q14: Jodie (they/them) applies for SNAP for themself. Jodie indicates that they attend Quincy College and are enrolled in the Bachelor of Science, Business Management program. Since Quincy College is a quasi-state school, does Jodie qualify as an eligible student based on their program and attendance at Quincy College?

A14: Yes. Since Quincy College offers eligible CTE programs under Perkins IV or programs that would lead to employment, Jodie is considered an eligible college student by being enrolled at Quincy College regardless of the type of degree Jodie is enrolled in.

Q15: Tabitha (she/her) is applying for herself and her 2 college students: Willy (he/him) aged 20, and Rosie (she/her) age 21. Willy is an eligible student because he provided his Financial Aid Award letter showing he receives the MassGrant. Rosie provided a letter from her university’s Disability Accommodation’s Office that states she has accommodations for her classwork. Does Rosie qualify as an eligible college student?

A15: Yes. Rosie qualifies as an eligible college student under the “mentally/physically unable to work” student exemption since Rosie has provided verification that she is receiving support from her university’s reasonable accommodation’s office.

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