By Ashley Burnside, The Center for Law and Social Policy, January 6, 2021
The latest COVID-19 relief bill passed by Congress will allow college students with low incomes to more easily access Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits – temporarily removing strict work and eligibility requirements for students. This is especially important given that unemployment rates are high, especially in the restaurant and entertainment sectors, and that many students are learning remotely and are no longer near available campus jobs.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused increased food insecurity rates throughout the nation. SNAP provides monthly food assistance benefits to people with low incomes to help them afford food and feed their families. But SNAP is not easily accessible to college students with low incomes, despite high levels of need, and they are increasingly likely to be food insecure.
Before the pandemic, 48 percent of college students reported being food insecure during the previous thirty days, with students of color being disproportionately impacted. In addition, more than 1 in 4 college students are parents who need to support their children and balance caretaking responsibilities while also attending classes. And more than half of students are financially independent from their parents. But despite these high levels of need, according to a GAO report, 57 percent of students who are potentially eligible for SNAP did not receive benefits in 2016.
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