605-1 B. STUDENTS
Under Food Stamp Program 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 food stamps, if otherwise eligible.
Example #1:
A household applies for food stamps 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 food stamps 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 food stamps unless he met one of the exemptions listed at MS 605-1B(2).
Students, as defined above, are ineligible to participate in the Food Stamp Program unless at least one of the following criteria is met:
Be age 17 or younger or age 50 or older.
Receive Temporary Assistance to Needy Families ( TANF ) from the Alaska Temporary Assistance Program or a Native Family Assistance Program.
Be employed a minimum of 20 hours per week and be paid for such employment.
Be engaged in a self-employment work activity for a minimum of 20 hours per week and receive weekly earnings at least equal to the federal minimum wage multiplied by 20 hours. See MS 600-2 for current federal minimum hourly wage information.
Participate in a state or federally financed work-study program. To qualify under this exemption, the student must be approved for work study at the time of application for food stamps, the work study must be approved for the school term, and the student must anticipate actually working during that time. The exemption begins the month in which the school term begins or the month work study is approved, whichever is later. Once begun, the exemption continues 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 does 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 age six. If there is more than one adult caring for the child, the student must be responsible for providing the majority of care for the child to meet this exemption. If both adults are students, only the student providing the majority of the care is eligible under this exemption.
Be responsible for the care of a dependent household member who has reached the age of six but is under age 12 when adequate child care (as determined by the caseworker) is not available to enable the student to attend class and be employed for a minimum of 20 hours per week or participate in a work study program as described in (e).
Be a single parent responsible for the care of a dependent household member under age 12. This also applies in those situations where only one natural, adoptive, or stepparent (regardless of marital status) is in the same food stamp household as the child. If no natural, adoptive, or stepparent is in the household, another full-time student in the same food stamp household as the child may qualify for the exemption 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 a program under the Workforce Investment Act ( WIA ).
An ineligible student living with a food stamp 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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