# The EATS Act of 2023: Making It Easier for College Students to Get Food Assistance

Right now, college and university students face strict rules that often prevent them from getting SNAP benefits—the federal food assistance program commonly known as food stamps—even if they're struggling financially. This bill removes those barriers and allows more students to access this nutrition assistance while they're in school.

Currently, the law says that students enrolled in higher education institutions are generally ineligible for SNAP unless they meet very specific requirements, like working at least 20 hours per week or being a parent. This means many full-time students who are living on tight budgets can't get help buying groceries, even though they might qualify based on income alone. The EATS Act changes this by eliminating these student-specific restrictions. Instead of having special rules that disqualify students, the bill treats them like any other person applying for SNAP—they'd qualify based on whether their income and resources fall below the program's limits, not based on their student status.

The practical effect is straightforward: college students who are struggling to afford food would be able to apply for SNAP benefits using the same eligibility rules as everyone else. A full-time student whose family income is low enough would no longer be automatically rejected just because they're in school. This could help reduce food insecurity on college campuses and allow students to focus on their studies rather than worrying about their next meal. The bill takes effect on January 2, 2024, meaning these changes would apply to student applications submitted from that date forward.

EATS Act of 2023

Gomez, Jimmy

Enhance Access To SNAP Act of 2023 or the EATS Act of 2023 This bill expands eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for certain students. Specifically, the bill removes the restriction on SNAP eligibility for students to allow otherwise eligible students who are attending institutions of higher education (IHEs) at least half time to participate in SNAP. Under current law, students 18-49 years old are restricted, with exceptions, from participating in SNAP. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 temporarily exempted some students from certain SNAP eligibility requirements; these temporary student exemptions are currently scheduled to expire after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency on May 11, 2023. Further, the bill provides that students enrolled at least half time in a recognized school, training program, or IHE constitute individual households (not residents of institutions) and may be eligible for SNAP benefits. (Participation in SNAP is limited to households.)