Code of Maine Rules › 10 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES › 144 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - GENERAL › Chapter 301 - SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) RULES › FS-400's › 400 - HOUSEHOLDS WITH SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES › Section 144-301-400-FS 444-7 - Students

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
1.
GENERAL RULE FOR POST-SECONDARY
					 STUDENTS ONLY
Students enrolled at least half-time in post-secondary
						schools, colleges, universities, etc., are treated differently from other
						applicants and recipients.
A. In order
					 to be eligible, such students must meet at least one of the following
					 conditions. The requirement that one of these conditions be met in order to be
					 eligible continues throughout the student's enrollment, including vacations.
					 (E.g. in order to continue to be eligible for SNAP benefits, a student who is
					 eligible because of the work study condition must meet one of the other
					 conditions if the work study condition is not being met during summer
					 vacation.)
(1) be 17 years old or under or 50
					 years old or older;
(2) be
					 physically or mentally unable to work twenty hours per week while attending
					 school at least half-time. In the absence of physical evidence, disability must
					 be verified by-
(a) verification of receipt of
					 temporary or permanent disability benefits issued by a governmental or private
					 source or
(b) a statement from an
					 acceptable medical or mental health source such as:
(i) a licensed physician;
(ii) a physician's assistant;
(iii) a nurse practitioner;
(iv) a licensed osteopath;
(v) a licensed or certified
					 psychologist;
(vi) a person
					 authorized to provide copies of the summaries of medical records of medical
					 institutions; or
(vii) as the
					 disabling condition relates specifically to their field-
a) a licensed podiatrist,
b) a qualified speech-language pathologist,
					 or
c) a licensed
					 optometrist;
(3) be responsible for care of a household
					 member under six years old, or when adequate child care is not available for
					 children between six and twelve years of age to enable the student to attend
					 class and satisfy the 20 hour work requirement or participate in a work study
					 program (if an individual is a full time student and a sole parent with the
					 responsibility for a dependent child under age 12 regardless of the
					 availability of adequate child care, eligible student status is met).
NOTE:
Exemption is still allowed when child
						care is purchased for a child under six years old;
(4) be receiving TANF/PaS;
(5) Starting January 16, 2021 and continuing
					 through the end of any certification period that began during the COVID-19
					 Public Health Emergency (PHE) or within 30 days of the termination of the
					 COVID-19 PHE, a student that has an expected family contribution of $0 as
					 determined in accordance with 20 U.S.C. ch. 28, Subchapter IV, Part F (Helpful
					 resources may be found by search for the relevant fiscal year EFC Formula Guide
					 published at
https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center
);
(6) be engaged in paid employment of 86 hours
					 or more per month. If self-employed, be employed for 86 hours or more per month
					 and receive monthly earnings averaging at least equal to the Federal minimum
					 wage multiplied by 86 hours;
(7) be
					 participating in a state or federally financed work study program;
(8) Starting January 16, 2021, a student need
					 only be approved for federally financed work study. Participation is not
					 required. This expanded eligibility is in effect for the duration of any
					 certification period that began during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
					 (PHE) or within 30 days of the termination of the COVID-19 PHE. This expanded
					 eligibility, unlike the usual work study condition, will continue through
					 scheduled school vacations;
(9) be
					 participating in an on-the-job training program;
NOTE:
A person is considered to be
						participating in an on-the-job training program only during the period of time
						the person is being trained by the employer (i.e., to meet this student
						eligibility condition, the person must continue to work; only attending classes
						does not meet the condition).
or
(10) be assigned to or be placed in
					 post-secondary institution through one of the following programs:
(a)
Workforce Innovation and
					 Opportunity Act
(WIOA),
(b) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
					 Employment and Training (SNAP E&T),
(c) the Trade Adjustment Assistance Program
					 of the Department of Labor (for workers dislocated due to imports),
					 or
(d) an employment and training
					 program for low income households operated by a state or local government where
					 one or more of the components of such program is at least equivalent to a SNAP
					 E&T program component (e.g., 8 weeks per year job search; job search
					 training and support activities; workfare; work experience; education program
					 that directly enhances employability). Examples: Maine Department of Labor
					 Competitive Skills Scholarship Program (CSSP) and Higher Opportunity for
					 Pathways to Employment (HOPE).
NOTE:
Self-initiated post-secondary
						institution placement during the time the person is enrolled in one of these
						employment and training programs is acceptable if the person's employment and
						training program has a component for enrollment in an institution of higher
						education and that program accepts the placement.