Policy Brief: Work Hour Requirement for SNAP Eligibility in

College Students
Stephanie Parrish
Food Systems: Local to Global
Oregon State University
3 June 2015

Introduction
Many low-income college students are struggling to make ends meet
while pursuing a higher education. Some students may qualify for SNAP
benefits if they are between the ages 18-49 and are enrolled at least half
time. They must meet the income requirement and at least one additional
requirement. These include: be physically or mentally unfit for employment,
be a paid employee working an average of 20 hours a week, be awarded
state or federally funded work-study, be responsible for the care of a child or
other qualifying dependent in their household, be receiving Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), be in a Workforce Investment Act, be
receiving unemployment, or be participating in at least one of the
Employment Department training programs (United States Department of
Agriculture [USDA], 2014).
Despite the need for financial assistance, reaching any of the
additional requirements can be extremely difficult for many students. Though
many students work a part-time job, it can be academically punishing to
work twenty hours or more per week. Research has shown that a lower
workload of 10-15 hours per week enhances students performance,
increasing the likelihood of degree completion (Pike, Kuh & Massa-McKinley,
2008). It is the proposal that in the 2019 Farm Bill the eligibility parameter of
minimum working hours be lowered from 20 hours to 12 hours per week for
students enrolled in 12 credits, minimum full-time level. This policy change

would make financial support to low-income students more accessible, and

would allow for adequate time to focus on academic commitments.

Problem Statement
College students are juggling many different stressors as they are
transitioning from adolescence to becoming independent adults. As federal
funds for colleges have been cut and tuition has been on a steady incline,
students are having to make up for expenses like textbooks, housing, and
utilities through part time jobs, often not leaving enough money for
groceries. A 2011 study at Western Oregon University found that 59% of all
students were food insecure at some point during the previous year, a rate
three times higher than the national average among the general population
(14.9%) (Patton-Lpez et al., 2011).
Food insecurity is defined as not having adequate resources to feed
oneself, nutritionally or at all. Food insecure individuals may experience
reduced caloric intake and quality of foods, lack of variety in diet, disrupted
eating patterns, uncertainty about having enough food, and hunger (USDA,
2014). Not only does food insecurity affect health and development
negatively, but it is also associated with decreased academic performance
(Patton-Lpez et al., 2011).
To mitigate some of the existing food insecurity among students, food
assistance programs like WIC, SNAP, and food banks and kitchens have been

created. Many campuses have even established their own food pantries
(Cady, 2014). These assistance programs only reached 27% of the surveyed
students; this left over half of the food insecure student population without
assistance (Patton-Lpez et al.).
Students who are struggling financially and find themselves in need
for food assistance may be denied program benefits, because they do not
meet the eligibility requirements. One student requirement for the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is having to work at least
20 hours per week (USDA, 2014). Many students do not work 20 hours, with
the average number in the Western Oregon University study being 18 hours
(Patton-Lpez et al.). For on-campus employment the maximum number of
work hours per week allowed is 20, giving students no room for error in
meeting both SNAP and employment eligibility.
Additionally, students' primary occupation is attending university or
college, which requires a majority of their focus. Research has shown that
working more than 20 hours per week has a negative impact on GPA (Pike,
Kuh & Massa-McKinley, 2008). Student poverty also increases the likelihood
for mental health issues as severe as, depression and suicidal ideations
(Cady, 2014). By extension, a student's low-income background
predetermines a higher likelihood of lower grades; experiencing food
insecurity or working 20+ hours per week to attain SNAP benefits are both
linked to lower academic outcomes.
In a country with the world's highest GDP, it is unacceptable that

students have to choose between adequate nourishment or academic

achievement. As students are obtaining an education to help them move up
the social ladder, their socioeconomic status during college must not prevent
them from doing so. As a country, we must make equitable access to higher
education a priority. One approach toward equity is amending the existing
SNAP program in a way to eliminate the excess burden that a high number of
required working hours entails for college students. Providing low-income
students with both access to sufficient food and the possibility of achieving
academic excellence is possible.

Recommendations
The proposal for the 2019 Farm Bill is for the existing SNAP program to
remain in place for students to utilize, and for its eligibility requirements to
be adjusted such that participation in the program enhances, rather than
compromises, students academic outcomes. Research has shown that
students' grades and engagement are most positively affected by an
employment workload of 10-15 hours per week, based on full-time
enrollment (King, 2006). Full-time students, who wish to participate in SNAP
and meet the income requirement, would therefore benefit the most from the
program if the number of required working hours fell into this range. We
propose that the minimum required working hours for student SNAP eligibility
be lowered to 12 hours for students who are enrolled in 12 credit hours. Put
differently, the sum of total working hours and credit hours must equal or

surpass 24 hours per week. Therefore, students enrolled in any number of

credit hours greater than 6, can determine the minimum required working
hours by subtracting the number of their credit hours from 24, as
demonstrated by the following formula:

[Minimum Required Working Hours per week] = 24 - [Number of

Current Credit Hours]

Example: Student X is enrolled in 8 credits.

[Minimum Required Working Hours per week] = 24 - [8 Credit Hours]
[Minimum Required Working Hours per week] = 16

Analysis
The 2019 Farm Bill provides an excellent opportunity to increase
support for university and college students. A comprehensive review of SNAP
is already planned as part of this Farm Bill, in which this proposed change
would be one of several others. A change in SNAP eligibility requirements for
students would broaden the number of potential benefit recipients. This in
turn would entail a higher amount of total benefits distributed, necessitating
an increase in funding for SNAP. Of the additional funds, the vast majority
would reach program participants. Since this proposal would only change
eligibility parameters for one group of potential SNAP participants, minimal
adjustments to the program rules will be made. Therefore, the administrative

costs of implementing this change would be of small magnitude, ensuring

the an increase in SNAP funding would almost entirely reach new program
participants.
Now is an ideal time to consider a broadening of the eligible student
population, as the SNAP program has seen a drop in spending. Overall SNAP
caseloads and cost have been falling since 2014 and are projected to fall
further until 2020 (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 2015). Therefore,
excess funds will be available and can be allocated to students who will be
newly eligible. Supporting students in completing their higher education will
ultimately result in a stronger workforce and by extension a more robust tax
base for the very programs that supported these students in the first place.

Conclusion
SNAP has been a valuable resource for individuals and families who are
struggling to make ends meet. However, the way SNAP eligibility is currently
assessed, the program cannot effectively serve the college student
population who is facing a considerable amount of food insecurity. Having a
full college schedule prevents many students in need from meeting the
required minimum of working hours to receive SNAP benefits. This proposal
suggests that the working hour requirement be adjusted and takes into
account the varying credit hours of each student SNAP applicant. This will
help students stay both mentally and physically healthy, ultimately
increasing retention and graduation rates.

References
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. (2015) Policy Basics: Introduction to
the Supplemental

Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Retrieved from

http://www.cbpp.org/research/policy-basics- introduction-to-thesupplemental-

nutrition-assistance-program-snap

Cady, C. (2014) Food Insecurity as a Student Issue, Journal of College and

Character, 15:4, 265-

272

King, J., (2006). Working their way through college: Student employment and
its impact on the college experience. Washington, DC: American Council on
Education.
Lape, E., (2014) Farm Bill 2019. Snap to Health. Retrieved from
http://www.snaptohealth.org/farm-bill-2019/.
Patton-Lopez, M. M., Lopez-Cevallos, D. F., Cancel-Tirado, D. I., & Vazquez, L.,
(2014). Prevalence

and correlates of food insecurity among students

attending a midsize rural

university in Oregon. Journal of Nutrition

Education and Behavior, 46(3), 209214.

Pike, G. R., Kuh, G. D., & Massa-McKinley, R. (2008). First year students
employment,

engagement, and academic achievement: Untangling the

relationships between work

and grades. NASPA Journal, 5(4), 560582.

United States Department of Agriculture. (2014). Definitions of food security.

Retrieved from

http://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-

assistance/food-security-in-the-

us/definitions-of-food-security.aspx

United States Department of Agriculture. (2014). Supplemental Nutrition

Assistance Program

(SNAP). Retrieved from

http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/students