The EATS Act makes it easier for college students to get food assistance through SNAP (the program commonly known as food stamps). Right now, students between 18 and 49 years old are mostly blocked from using SNAP, even if they're struggling financially. This bill removes that age-based restriction for students who are enrolled at least half-time in college or other training programs. It also changes how the government counts students for SNAP purposes—instead of treating them as residents of an institution (which makes them ineligible), students would be treated as their own household, which opens the door for them to qualify. During the COVID-19 pandemic, some temporary exceptions to these rules were put in place, but those were set to expire in May 2023. This bill makes those changes permanent by fundamentally changing the rules so eligible students can access SNAP benefits regardless of their age or student status. For students working their way through school or facing food insecurity, this could mean real access to grocery assistance that was previously blocked to them.

EATS Act of 2023

Gillibrand, Kirsten E.

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.)