SNAP Higher Ed Student Policy
Updated
The SNAP higher education student policy temporary exemptions will end at the expiration of the PHE effective May 11, 2023. During the PHE, students were temporarily granted exemptions when they qualified for work study but were not participating, or when they had an expected family contribution of $0 in the current academic year.
Once the PHE declaration is lifted on May 11, 2023, the temporary student exemptions will remain in effect for initial SNAP applications for an additional 30 days. State agencies must continue to apply the temporary exemptions to initial applications filed on or before June 9, 2023.
State agencies must process initial applications filed on or after June 10, 2023, using only the student exemptions as before (Section 6(e) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008).
State agencies must stop applying the temporary exemptions at the household’s next recertification beginning no earlier than 30 days after the PHE is listed. Recertification applications submitted through June 30, 2023, must be processed using the temporary exemptions.
Recertification applications submitted on or after July 1, 2023, must be processed using only the student exemptions in place before the PHE.
Refer to article SNAP: Student Policy.
The following information provides explanation of that which was in place due to the PHE.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) temporarily modifies the higher student education exemptions.
Students will temporarily qualify for an higher education exemption when
- they have an expected family contribution (EFC) of $0 in the current academic year based on the part F of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 or
- they qualify for work-study but are not participating.
Per the federal Department of Education’s website, the EFC is on the Student Aid Report generated when applicants successfully complete the FAFSA. If they no longer have the copy they originally received, students may access this report
- through the FAFSA website or
- by calling 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) and requesting a paper copy. Be aware the mail option takes 10 to 14 days.
These temporary rules are effective January 16, 2021 and remain in effect until 30 days after the COVID-19 public health emergency ends. The Secretary of Health and Human Services has renewed this declaration periodically since January 27, 2020. SNAP will notify you when this declaration expires.
Our federal partners have promised additional clarifications on this topic in the future. We will keep you advised.
Unemployment Income
As of December 27,2020, the CAA excludes federal pandemic unemployment compensation authorized under Section 2104 of the CARES Act. The CAA provides those eligible for state unemployment benefits will receive an additional $300 per week. OESC has not updated their website to explain how Oklahoma will issue these benefits. The exemption also applies to the initial $600 supplemental federal pandemic unemployment compensation payments in the initial CARES Act and received after December 27.
These payments are no longer countable income for SNAP in the month of receipt or countable resources for SNAP until nine months after receipt. Traditional unemployment benefits remain countable.
Child Care Subsidy
Child Care Subsidy will exempt the $300 per week UIB from the CAA.
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