College Student CalFresh Toolkit
College students have some of the most complicated eligibility requirements for the CalFresh Program. This page provides tools and resources for the college student CalFresh application process.
If you are a college student seeking CalFresh, you may be able to receive application assistance through your institution. If you don’t know who to speak with on your campus, the Hunger Coalition may be able to point you in the right direction.
Questions? Can’t find what you need? Please contact the CalFresh team at calfresh@sdhunger.org.
How does CalFresh Student Eligibility work?
You are considered a college student on the CalFresh application if you meet the following 3 criteria:
Are between 18-49 years of age.
Enrolled at least half time in an institution of higher education.
This includes business, trade, technical or vocational schools that require a high school diploma or GED to enroll; or
junior, community, two-year or four-year college or university, or graduate school, regardless of whether a high school diploma or GED is required.
Be considered physically and mentally able to attend school and work.
In order to be eligible for CalFresh, college students must meet the income limit and meet at least one student exemption.
Student exemptions can vary – ranging from the program you’re enrolled in, to financial aid awards (such as accepting work study or receiving CalGrant A or B). To view a full list of student exemptions, please see the Student Exemption Screening Form (https://www.cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CalFresh/Students/CF6177.pdf)
Why do students need an exemption if they already meet the income requirement?
The Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 was a major bill reform where they introduced “restricted eligibility for students and aliens,” which still remains in effect today: https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/short-history-snap#1977. However, the CalFresh Program has additional flexibilities for students to enroll with the recent passage of AB 396 to incorporate enrollment in certain programs at public institutions as eligibility criteria, and there is advocacy being done to make it easier for college students to apply.
COVID-19 Update:
5/31/2023
CalFresh Temporary Student Exemptions are Ending!
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, California was able to add two temporary college student exemptions and expand eligibility:
Students who are work study eligible, meaning they could have gotten work study but did not accept it or they accepted it but did not work.
Student with $0 Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as determined by the Student Aid Commission.
These exemptions were only in place as long as the federal public health emergency was in place. The Federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency declaration ended on May 11, 2023. The two temporary student exemptions will no longer apply to college students applying for CalFresh.
What happens next?
Students who currently get CalFresh: Beginning July 2023, students must meet a permanent exemption. Students already approved for CalFresh under one of the temporary student exemptions do not need to do anything to keep their benefits until their next recertification. At their next recertification, students will need to meet the criteria for one of the permanent student exemptions. If a student meets a permanent exemption, they may still be eligible for CalFresh.
Students newly applying for CalFresh: Beginning June 10, 2023, students newly applying for CalFresh will have to meet one of the permanent student exemptions to be eligible for CalFresh. Read more from CDSS.
Please see our updated college student toolkit for more information on permanent student exemptions.
CDSS CalFresh Student Exemption Screening Form: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/Additional-Resources/Forms-and-Brochures/2020/A-D/CF6177.pdf?ver=2021-10-22-160250-313
College Student Eligibility Resources
San Diego Hunger Coalition has created some helpful resources to help you understand college student CalFresh eligibility. These documents, only available here, will provide you with the basics and beyond.
In accordance with 7 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 273.5(a), a student is defined as any person who is enrolled at least half-time, as defined by the institution, at an institution of higher education. A student must be determined ineligible to participate in CalFresh unless the student meets the criteria for at least one of the exemptions specified at 7 CFR 273.5(b). This is known as the “student eligibility rule.”
College Student CalFresh Application Guide
This guide offers a step by step timeline on the CalFresh application.
College Student CalFresh Eligibility Flow Chart
Student eligibility can be difficult to navigate. If you’re not sure if you’re eligible, try using our Eligibility Flow Chart above.
San Diego Hunger Coalition Resources: College student CF toolkit College student FAQ
How is Student Aid Counted for CalFresh?
Additional Resources:
Connecting College Students with Meal Plans to CalFresh
If a student is living on campus and has a meal plan that provides them with more than 10.5 meals a week, this would disqualify you from CalFresh. Meal plans are eligible if they provide less than 10.5 meals a week.
Campus Specific Eligibility Guides
Many students will meet an eligibility exemption through Local Program that Increase Employability (LPIE’s). Each campus will have different programs or majors that are considered approved LPIE’s.
CDSS (California Department of Social Services) maintains a current list of approved LPIEs. The list can be found on the CalFresh Resource Center Policy Page, under “CalFresh Student Eligibility: List of Approved LPIEs” The List of Approved LPIEs is updated at the beginning of each month.
If you are a member of campus staff and would like to learn more about getting a program approved as an LPIE, you can find more information from the Centers for Healthy Communities: CSU Chico – CalFresh Outreach: https://www.csuchico.edu/calfresh/resource-hub-tiles/student-exemptions.shtml
Please reach out to calfresh@sdhunger.org if you’d like assistance or tips on getting programs approved.
Students are required to provide verification of financial aid letters, class schedules, and dining plans - to easily find and view campus-specific links and information, see our College Campus Verification Guide.
Please note that each document must have the students name and college/university clearly visible. It must also be dated from the last 30 days.
Forms
Here you may find County of San Diego forms and CalFresh Verification templates. If you are uncertain which forms you need or have questions about filling them out, please contact the CalFresh team at calfresh@sdhunger.org.
CSF 50 Student Income Verification Request (English)
The CSF 50 form is an alternative to providing proof of a financial aid award letter. This form must be filled out by the campus Financial Aid Office.
CSF 50 Student Income Verification Request (Spanish/Español)
Americorp Pass Program Example LetterCollege Enrollment Verification Form: This form may be filled out by a college campus registrar office in order to provide verification of enrollment in a school. This is typically only asked for when a student is unable to provide their class schedule.
CalFresh Student Exemption Screening Form (CF6177)
This is a form for students to pre-screen to see if they are eligible for CalFresh as a college student. If there is at least one check mark, a student will be eligible for CalFresh as long as they also meet the income requirements.
