WHAT PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS ARE COLLEGE STUDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR?

Updated December 5, 2022 · 1 Min Read

Learn about public assistance for college students- what programs you might be eligible for, and how to apply if you are eligible.

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Though college can provide students with a wealthy variety of beneficial opportunities to earn a great living in the future, some students can have a pronounced need for a little bit more support to get by until graduation.

Thankfully, public assistance for college students who meet certain criteria for eligibility is available. Through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), students in need of public assistance can have access to food and resources that can be used to subsist while they're earning their degrees.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Under most circumstances, students between the ages of 18 and 49 who are of sound health usually aren't considered eligible to meet the requirements for SNAP eligibility.

However, there are a number of unique qualifications that make a student eligible to receive public assistance if they're significant enough to warrant benefits. Students who receive Title IV-A benefits under the Social Security Act, are involved in a work-study program, care for young dependents or work for a minimum of 20 hours a week can all be considered eligible to receive SNAP benefits.

Should a student in an undergraduate program be a parent who is responsible for the care of a dependent who is under the age of 12, then they may be considered eligible for SNAP benefits in order to facilitate easier time balancing their academic responsibilities with their parental responsibilities.

Enrollment Conditions And Prior Program Assistance Arrangements

The conditions of a student's enrollment can play a large role in the determination of their public assistance eligibility. If a student happens to be enrolled in an institution based on programs sponsored by Acts such as the Opportunity Act or Trade Act, their need for supplementary benefits may be taken into deeper consideration. Preexisting arrangements for benefits through the Food Stamp Act may also be interpreted as a satisfactory quality for signifying eligibility SNAP benefit eligibility.

In addition to certain Acts, SNAP benefits may also be offered to those who are involved in special programs aimed at either professional training or employment preparation sponsored by either the local or state governments.

One of the key factors that will play into the eligibility of a student for benefit provisions is the amount of assistance (or lack thereof) that they are already receiving from additional programs aimed at helping economically disadvantaged individuals subsist.

The Challenge Of Determining Eligibility

One of the greatest challenges in determining the fair provision of public assistance for college students is accurately differentiating between the many distinct levels of economic need between a diverse spread of individuals throughout an educational institution's community.

Because the specific financial constraints that a student is under cannot always immediately be determined with just a cursory glance, it takes an involved vetting process that is both thorough and personalized to determine just what the exact level of need that a student has for public assistance.

Though a great deal of students find it somewhat challenging to juggle the responsibilities of their academic life and part-time jobs, this typically isn't considered to be a dire enough situation to merit a public assistance program arrangement. However, some public assistance for college students may be available, and it is worth investigating.

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