During the COVID-19 pandemic, SNAP benefits were temporarily expanded for college students. Most full and part-time college students were prevented from receiving SNAP benefits in the past. However, the CARES Act created two new automatic qualifications for SNAP as long as a student earns under the maximum income to be eligible for the program. Until the pandemic ends, all students that have a FAFSA expected family contribution of $0 or are eligible for state or federal work-study automatically qualify for SNAP. This change made around 3 million of the 20 million college students in the US eligible for support.

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          Unfortunately, this expanded eligibility is only temporary. We hope to make these two new pathways for students to get SNAP permanent. This will allow food insecure students to access nutrients, continue their studies, and finish their degrees. When more students finish school, they will make higher wages and ultimately benefit the American economy in a greater way.