County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency HHSA CalFresh Program Guide Students Number Page 63162 1 of 5 Revision Date 01012021 BackgroundFor CalFresh purposes students are defined as individuals ages 18 to 49 who are physically and mentally fit and enrolled at least half time in an institution of higher education To be eligible to receive CalFresh benefits students must meet one of the student eligibility requirements PurposeThis section defines student eligibility for CalFresh This section is being revised because the Puente Project was removed from the list of approved state funded programs effective August 4 2020 Students who were approved based on their participation in a Puente Project program must be evaluated for another exemption no later than the households next SAR 7 or recertification PolicyCustomers who are enrolled at least half time in college or business or technical or trade schools that require a high school diploma are considered students Enrollment status is determined and verified by the school Enrollment begins on the first day of the school term and will continue through normal periods of class attendance and vacation unless the student graduates is suspended drops out or does not intend to register for the next school term Evaluate student status at intake recertification and midperiod when the change is Verified Upon Receipt VUR To assist in determining student eligibility the 0955 HHSA Student Eligibility Worksheet must be completed and imaged 1Eligibility Requirements Students must meet one of the following exemptions to be eligible for the CalFresh program Be age 17 or younger or age 50 or older Physically or mentally unfit for employment This may be verified by receipt of temporarypermanent disability benefits or a statement from a doctor or licensed psychologist Receive CalWORKs Work at least 20 hours per week or a total of 80 hours per month in paid employment Approved for a State or Federally financed work study program and anticipate participating in work study Exerting parental care and control for a child under the age of 6 If two people exert parental care and control in the household allow the exemption status to only one person Exerting parental care and control for a child age 611 and customer does not have adequate childcare to attend school work 20 hours per week or participate in a work study A single parent enrolled full time in college and exerting parental care and control of a child under age 12 Voluntarily participating in a State or local program that increase employability Participating in a foster youth program that increases employability Participating in an onthejob training program Receiving Cal Grant A or B that meets TANF requirements County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency HHSA CalFresh Program Guide Students Number Page 63162 2 of 5 Refer to Attachment A for a detailed list of individual programs that meet the exemptions 2 Ineligible Students Students who do not meet any of the exemptions listed above will be considered ineligible students and will be treated as excluded household members The income and resources of ineligible students are exempt 3 Reporting A Students Status A students status is to be reported at application and recertification Student eligibility criteria will be applied on the date of enrollment in school Enrollment begins on the first day of school Student eligibility is not a mandatory midperiod reporting requirement and is not considered Verified Upon Receipt VUR Below are two examples on how to determine the student enrollment status Example One Application received and customer interviewed on July 2 During the interview the customer states they are enrolled to start college in the fall The first day of school is Aug 20 At the time of the interview the customer meets no student exemptions This customer is evaluated and determined eligible for CalFresh because the school term has not started yet the customer is not considered a student Since the customer has reported that the first day of school is Aug 20 staff must follow up with a Request for Information RFI to verify and confirm student eligibility requirements are being met at that time Example Two Application for CalFresh received on 83 During the interview the customer states they are enrolled in college and will start school on 814 This customer must meet a student exemption in order to be eligible since the first day of school is on the same month as the application If the customer does not meet any of the exemptions listed in 631621 they will be an ineligible student 4 Student Meal Plans Students who receive more than half their meals from a meal plan are ineligible for CalFresh benefits Students whose meal plan provides less than half of their meals ten meals per week may qualify for CalFresh benefits if all other eligibility criteria is met Review the college website to obtain the latest meal plan information to determine eligibility for CalFresh Refer to Attachment B for website information for local colleges 5 Verification of Student Exemption Verification can include but is not limited to pay stubs or letters from the employer that shows that the individual is working at least 20 hours per week an award letter from financial aid indicating that the individual is eligible for work study documentation from school that the individual did not register for the next regular term or if that is not available an affidavit from the student Nonreceipt of financial aid is verified by customer statement and must be narrated in case comments Refer to 63117 for further guidance of verification policies for student exemptions County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency HHSA CalFresh Program Guide Students Number Page 63162 3 of 5 Procedures 0955 HHSA CalFresh Student Eligibility Worksheet 0121 ImpactsNone References ACL 2034 1932 1827 ACL 1705 ACL 1705E ACIN No I8915 MPP 634061 MPP 633005 0955 HHSA CalFresh Student Eligibility Worksheet 0121 Sunset Date This policy will be reviewed for continuance by 01312024 Approval for Release RICK WANNE Director Eligibility Operations Attachment A Attachment B Type of Program Individual Programs State Funded Work StudyPrograms Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act WIOA Extended Opportunity Programs and Services EOPS Educational Opportunity Program EOP EOP at the University of California and California State University is comparable to EOPS at the California Community Colleges College Disabled Students Programs and Services DSPS CSU Student Academic Services SAS Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education CARE Program Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement MESA Program Job Opportunities and Basic Skills JOBS program Programs under Section 236 of the Trade Act of 1974 McNair Scholars Program Local Programs ThatIncrease Employability ACE Program at California State University San Marcos CSUSM Disability Support Services and Work Ability III at Southwestern Community College SWCC CASP Hope Scholars at University of California San Diego UCSD Torero Renaissance Scholars Program at University of San Diego USD Juris Doctor JD degree UCI School of Law Refer to the CDSS website for a list of approved local programs that meet the student exemption Website is found on the CalFresh Resource Center Policy page under Student Resources httpswwwcdsscagovinforesourcescalfreshresourcecenterpolicy Foster Youth ProgramsThat Increase Employability Guardian Scholars Program Foster Youth Success Initiative FYSI Cooperating Agencies Foster Youth Educational Support CAFYES Chafee Education and Training Voucher ETV Program Extended Foster Care AB12AB 212 Unaccompanied Refugee Minors URM Program California CommunityColleges CCCs offering a Baccalaureate Degree Students participating in this program must receive Cal Grant A or B Currently there are two colleges in San Diego area that offer this degree Mesa College and Mira Costa College Cal Grant A or B Students attending a California State or University College who receive Cal grant A or B must meet TANF requirements Students will receive written notification from the California Student Aid Commission CSAC verifying receipt of a TANF Cal Grant A or B College Meal Plan Information University California San Diego UCSD For detailed information about meal plans offered at UCSD visit Housing Dining Hospitality page at httpshdhucsdeduhousingdiningplan San Diego State University SDSU For information about meal plans offered at SDSU visit SDSU Dining page at wwweatatsdsucom