CalFresh Student Eligibility Rule
College students age 18 to 49 who are enrolled at least half-time in an institution of higher education, are only eligible to participate in CalFresh if the student meets an exemption. Exemptions from the CalFresh student eligibility rule include but are not limited to working an average of 20 hours per week or a total of 80 hours per month, responsible for the care of a child under the age of 6, responsible for the care of a child under age 12 without adequate childcare or as a single parent, disabled, physically or mentally unable to work, enrolled in a Program that Increases Employability (LIPE), or approved for a Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funded benefit such as CalWORKs, Tribal TANF, Cal Grant A or B, or any other program funded by TANF.
If you are a student who meets an exemption, you are encouraged to apply for CalFresh. Return to the CalFresh main page for how to apply.
If the students are already part of a CalFresh household, the CalFresh household must request to add the student to the case.
Temporary Student Exemptions
In response to The Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021, the CalFresh student eligibility rule was temporarily expanded to include students who either:
- Are eligible to participate in state or federally financed work study during the regular school year, as determined by the institution of higher education, or
- Have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of zero dollars in the current academic year determined in accordance with part F of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965
Because the Federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency ended on May 11, 2023, the two temporary student exemptions above will no longer apply to college students:
- Students newly applying for CalFresh on or after June 10, 2023, must meet one of the permanent student exemptions to be an eligible student.
- Students receiving CalFresh who are currently using one of the temporary student exemptions and whose household submits their recertification application on or before June 30, 2023, will remain exempt until the end of their current certification period. At the next recertification, they must meet one of the permanent student exemptions to remain eligible for CalFresh.
Students receiving CalFresh who are currently using one of the temporary student exemptions and whose household submits their recertification application on or after July 1, 2023, must meet one of the permanent student exemptions to remain eligible for CalFresh.