The new SNAP rules for students 2025 went live after the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and thousands of college students are at risk of losing benefits. This complete guide shows exactly how to make sure you’re still eligible under the new SNAP rules for students 2025.
Relax. Most of those rumors are only half-true.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB) did change SNAP in 2025, but the core student exemptions are still very much alive. This guide is the most up-to-date, you’ll find anywhere. Let’s walk through everything step by step so you know exactly where you stand.
Timeline of Every SNAP Student Rule Change (2019 → 2025)
Nobody else puts this in one place, so here it is:
| Year | What Happened |
| 2019–2020 | Normal strict student rules were in place |
| 2020–2023 | COVID emergency → almost every student became temporarily exempt |
| July 1, 2023 | Temporary exemptions ended → back to regular (pre-COVID) student rules |
| July 4, 2025 | One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed → ABAWD age raised to 64 + tighter childcare |
| Nov 1, 2025 | Last ABAWD unemployment waivers expire (except a few states) |
| Oct 1, 2025 | New FY2026 income limits & small COLA increase go into effect |
Bottom line: 2025 isn’t taking SNAP away from most students — it’s just making the old exemptions matter again.
Who Actually Counts as a “Student” Under Federal Law in 2025?
You’re considered a student (and have to meet an exemption) if you are:
- Enrolled at least half-time in a college, university, community college, trade school, or any institution that offers a degree or certificate
- Age 18 through 49
- Physically and mentally fit for work (even if you have a disability, you may qualify under the disability exemption)
If you’re taking fewer than half-time credits (example: only one class), the student rules do not apply to you at all. You’re treated like any other adult.
Income & Asset Limits for College Students (FY2026 Numbers – Updated Every October)
These numbers change every year, so bookmark this page.
| Household Size | Gross Monthly Income Limit (130% FPL) | Net Monthly Income Limit (100% FPL) | Max Resources (most states have no asset test) |
| 1 | $1,632 | $1,255 | $3,000 |
| 2 | $2,215 | $1,704 | $4,500 if someone is 60+ or disabled |
Most states use Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility (BBCE), which removes the asset test completely and raises the gross income limit to 200% FPL.
The Big 2025 Change: ABAWD Work Requirements Now Apply Up to Age 64
ABAWD = Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents
Starting 2025 you can only receive SNAP for 3 months in a 36-month period unless you:
- Work or volunteer average 20 hours a week (80 hours a month), or
- Meet one of the exemptions below
Good news for students: being enrolled at least half-time in any kind of higher education is still a full ABAWD exemption. You do not have to hit the 80-hour rule if you qualify as a student and meet one of the exemptions.
Complete 2025 Student Exemption List – 15 Ways to Qualify
You only need ONE of these:
| # | Exemption | What Counts in 2025? | Most Common Proof |
| 1 | Enrolled at least half-time in college or higher education | Yes | Enrollment verification letter |
| 2 | Approved for federal or state work-study (even if you haven’t started) | Yes | Award letter from financial aid office |
| 3 | Working 20+ hours per week (paid or unpaid) | Yes | Pay stubs, employer letter, or signed timesheet |
| 4 | Self-employed 20+ hours and earning at least minimum wage × 20 | Yes | Profit/loss statement |
| 5 | Caring for a child under age 14 (OBBB tightened from 18) | Yes | Birth certificate + custody proof |
| 6 | Single parent with child under 12 (no childcare available) | Yes | Same as above |
| 7 | Receiving unemployment benefits | Yes | UI award letter |
| 8 | Participating in SNAP E&T or Workforce program | Yes | Program enrollment letter |
| 9 | In a drug/alcohol treatment program | Yes | Program verification |
| 10 | Physically or mentally unfit for work | Yes | Doctor’s note or SSI/SSDI award |
| 11 | Receiving TANF or state cash assistance | Yes | Award letter |
| 12 | Homeless (including couch-surfing) | Yes | Self-attestation letter in most states |
| 13 | Veteran (honorable or dishonorable) | Yes | DD-214 |
| 14 | Former foster youth (up to age 26 in many states) | Yes | Court or agency letter |
| 15 | Enrolled in certain vocational certificate programs that aren’t considered “higher education” | Yes | Program verification |
Hidden Exemptions Most Colleges Never Tell Students About
These are 100% legal and still work in 2025:
- Trade Act programs (TAA)
- Section 504 rehabilitation plans
- Job Corps, AmeriCorps, VISTA
- WIOA youth programs
- Refugee resettlement training
If any of these apply to you, bring the paperwork — most caseworkers have never seen them and will approve on the spot.
How the New Child-Age Limit (Under 14) Affects Student Parents
Before OBBB: caring for a child under 18 = exempt
After OBBB: caring for a child age 14–17 no longer counts unless you’re a single parent with no childcare and the child is under 12
If you’re a student parent with teens, you now need a second exemption (usually the half-time enrollment or 20-hour work).
Related Article: Do I Qualify for SNAP Benefits in 2025-2026? Check Food Stamp Eligibility
Meal Plan Trap: When More Than 50% of Your Meals Are Provided
If your dorm contract includes a meal plan that covers the majority of your meals for the term, you are ineligible — even if you meet every other exemption.
Workaround many students use: switch to the lowest-tier plan that provides 50% or less.
Proof You’ll Need at Application & Recertification
Keep these in a folder on your phone:
- Unofficial transcript or enrollment verification (most schools let you download in 30 seconds)
- Work-study award letter (even if $0 awarded)
- Pay stubs or employer letter
- Doctor’s note (for disability)
- Child’s birth certificate (for parent exemption)
State-by-State Student SNAP Variations & Remaining Waivers (2025–2026)
A few examples (the full 50-state table is too big for this page, but here are the most searched):
| State | Special Rule / Remaining Waiver |
| New York | Waivers until Sept 2026 in some counties + higher income limits |
| California | CalFresh treats most grants/loans as non-countable + state-funded SNAP for some non-citizens |
| Texas | Very strict — only federal exemptions allowed |
| Florida | 6-credit rule at some community colleges = half-time |
| Illinois | State-funded SNAP for undocumented students in mixed-status households |
| Oregon | ABAWD waivers statewide until 2027 |
What Happens If You Turn 50 While Receiving SNAP as a Student?
The month you turn 50 you are no longer subject to the student rules at all. Your caseworker should automatically remove the restriction — but many don’t. Call or send a change report the month of your birthday to avoid headaches.
How to Apply or Recertify as a College Student (Works on Your Phone)
- Go to your state’s SNAP website or use the Providers or Propel app
- Answer the pre-screener questions (takes 3–5 minutes)
- Upload your enrollment verification + one exemption proof
- Most states approve in 7–30 days (expedited if you have <$100 cash and low income)
FAQs (new SNAP rules for students 2025)
Can I get SNAP if I only take online classes? → Yes, as long as the school considers you at least half-time.
Do Pell Grants count as income? → No in almost every state.
Will I lose SNAP over summer if I’m not enrolled? → Only if you don’t meet another exemption (many students pick up a part-time job).
What if my state says I don’t qualify but I think I do? → Request a fair hearing — you keep benefits during the appeal.
What to Do If Your Benefits Are Cut (Appeal + Campus Resources)
- You have 90 days to request a fair hearing (10 days if you want benefits to continue)
- Use your school’s Basic Needs office — almost every campus now has emergency aid and an on-campus food pantry
You are not alone, and you are not doing anything wrong by using the benefits you qualify for.
Check your eligibility right now (takes 2 minutes):
→ USDA Official SNAP Pre-Screening Tool
→ Propel App (free EBT balance + reminder texts)
Save or share this page — the rules change every October, but this guide will stay updated. You’ve got this.
