605-1 B. STUDENTS
Under SNAP rules, a student is defined as:
Anyone age 18 to 49; and
Physically and mentally fit; and
Enrolled at least half-time (as defined by the institution) in an institution of higher education. See definition at MS 600-2.
Physically and mentally fit means that the person is:
Capable of engaging in gainful employment
Not a disabled individual meeting the definition of Special Category Individual at MS 600-2; and,
Not incapacitated (permanently or temporarily) as defined at MS 602-1G(2).
Enrollment status begins on the first day of the school term. Once begun, enrollment status continues through normal periods of class attendance, vacation and recess unless the student graduates, is suspended or expelled, drops out, or does not intend to register for the next normal school term (excluding summer school).
If a person does not meet this definition of student, that person may receive SNAP, if otherwise eligible.
Example #1:
A household applies for SNAP on June 2. The 18-year-old son recently
graduated from high school, and is currently enrolled to attend the University
of Alaska beginning the fall semester that starts September 13th. This
18-year-old is not a student until September 13th and would be included
as an eligible household member.
Example #2:
A household consisting of two adults applies for SNAP on December 20. One
member has been attending the local college in town but is currently on
winter break until January 20th. This member is a student, and would
not be eligible to receive SNAP unless he met one of the exemptions listed
at MS 605-1B(2).
Students, as defined above, are ineligible to participate in SNAP unless at least one of the following criteria is met:
Be age 17 or younger or age 50 or older;
Be physically or mentally unfit;
Be enrolled in career and technical education (formerly known as Vocational Education), remedial courses, basic adult education, literacy instruction, or English as a second language as a requirement of their SNAP Employment and Training Plan;
Be employed for a minimum of 20 hours per week and be paid for such employment or, if self-employed, be employed for a minimum of 20 hours per week and receiving weekly gross earnings (not adjusted gross earnings) at least equal to the Federal minimum wage multiplied by 20 hours. See MS 600-2 for current federal minimum hourly wage information;
Be 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, the work study must be approved for the school term, and the student must anticipate actually working during that time. The exemption shall begin with the month in which the school term begins or the month work study is approved, whichever is later. Once begun, 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 an 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;
Be responsible for the physical care of a dependent household member under the age of six;
Note:
In order for a client to be an eligible student based on their need to
provide care for a dependent household member under the age of 6, it must
be shown that the client is responsible for more than half of the care.
Before allowing student eligibility based on dependent care responsibilities
when both parents live in the household, it must be determined why the
other parent cannot care for the child in place of the student parent.
Be responsible for the care of a dependent household member who has reached the age of six but is under age 12 when the State agency has determined that adequate child care is not available to enable the student to attend class and comply with the work requirements of e or f of this section;
Be a single parent enrolled in an institution of higher education on a full-time bases (as determined by the institution) and be responsible for the care of a dependent child under age 12. This provision applies in those situations where only one natural, adoptive or stepparent (regardless of marital status) is in the same SNAP household as the child. If no natural, adoptive or stepparent is in the same SNAP household as the child, another full-time student in the same SNAP household as the child may qualify for eligible student status under this provision if he or she has parental control over the child and is not living with his or her spouse;
Be assigned to or placed in an institution of higher education through or in compliance with the requirements of one of the programs identified below:
A program under the Job Training Partnership Act of 1974;
An employment and training program;
A program under section 236 of the Trade Act of 1974; or
An employment and training program for low-income households that is operated by a State of local government where one or more of the components of such program is at least equivalent to an acceptable SNAP employment and training program component.
Self-initiated enrollment in an institution of higher education during the period of time the person is enrolled in one of these employment and training programs is considered to be in compliance with the requirements of the employment and training program, provided that the program has a component for enrollment in an institution of higher education and that program accepts the placement. This applies to mandatory and voluntary employment and training participants.
An ineligible student living with a SNAP household is considered a non-household member even if related. The income and resources of a non-household member are not considered in determining the eligibility or benefit level of the household. See MS 605-2C for policy on how to consider income and resources of a non-household member.
3. Budgeting Countable Educational Income
Total all countable education assistance. See MS 602-3B(5) and MS 602-3D(1) to determine if the education income is countable or exempt. Do not add any other type of earned or unearned income unless it is received specifically because of the student's status and is intended to pay education-related expenses.
Subtract from the above the costs for tuition and fees charged by the school.
Subtract the costs for books, school supplies, and any special clothing, tools, or other expenses of the student that are related to the cost of attending school.
Subtract costs for dependent care necessary for the student to attend school.
Subtract costs for transportation (actual costs, such as bus pass or parking fees, or ”business” mileage rate permitted by the Internal Revenue Service. Refer to http://www.irs.gov/taxpros/article/0,,id=156624,00.htmll for current standard mileage rates.
Notes:
All allowable education costs are subtracted from the countable education
assistance even when the expense is paid by exempt education income.
Costs for room and board are not allowable education costs.
Divide the remaining amount by the number of months the money is intended to cover.
Count the prorated amount as monthly income for each month in the period of intended use. If the money is received after the period it is intended to cover has already begun, prorate the money over the entire period of intended use and apply the prorated amount only to the months in which it was received and the remaining months it is intended to cover.
Any money amount retained after the period of intended use is a countable resource.
These deductions from countable education income are also given to excluded household members whose income is used to determine eligibility and benefit amount. Verification of source, amount, period of intended use, and allowable education expenses is required.
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