Cherokee Nation
Good News! SUN Bucks is Available in Your Location
Find stores that accept SUN Bucks where you live, or learn about qualifying and applying in your location.
Find stores that accept SUN Bucks where you live, or learn about qualifying and applying in your location.
Find stores that accept SUN Bucks where you live, or learn about qualifying and applying in your location.
Find stores that accept SUN Bucks where you live, or learn about qualifying and applying in your location.
An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.
The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.
You are now leaving the USDA Food and Nutrition Service website and entering a non-government or non-military external link or a third-party site.
FNS provides links to other websites with additional information that may be useful or interesting and is consistent with the intended purpose of the content you are viewing on our website. FNS is providing these links for your reference. FNS is not responsible for the content, copyright, and licensing restrictions of the new site.
To get SNAP benefits, you must apply in the state in which you currently live and you must meet certain requirements, including resource and income limits.
Most SNAP eligibility rules apply to all households, but there are some special rules for students attending an institution of higher education described here. If you are not a student, you should read the general SNAP eligibility rules.
Generally, students attending an institution of higher education (i.e., college, university, trade/technical school) more than half-time are only eligible for SNAP if they meet an exemption. The institution of higher education determines what is considered ‘half-time’ enrollment. Students who meet an exemption must also meet all other SNAP eligibility requirements.
You are considered a student if you are enrolled at least half-time in an institution of higher education. The number of hours considered as half-time enrollment is determined by the institution of higher education.
If you are enrolled less than half-time, the student restrictions on SNAP eligibility do not apply to you. You may be SNAP-eligible if you meet all other SNAP eligibility requirements.
For SNAP purposes, you are attending an institution of higher education if you are enrolled in:
Many colleges offer special programs that are not part of the regular curriculum. These can include remedial education, continuing or community education, professional development, English for speakers of other languages, and workforce development/training programs. If you are enrolled in programs like these, you are not considered to be enrolled in an institution of higher education when you apply for SNAP. Therefore, if you meet all other eligibility criteria, you do not need to meet a student exemption to be eligible for SNAP.
You can find additional guidance on what is considered an institution of higher education for SNAP purposes.
The institution of higher education determines what is considered half-time enrollment. Your college, university, or school can tell you your enrollment status.
If you are a student and you meet SNAP eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for SNAP if you meet one of the following exemptions:
If you are not sure whether you meet one of the exemptions, contact your local SNAP office to find out how these exemptions may apply to your household circumstances.
If you receive the majority of your meals through either a mandatory or optional meal plan, you are ineligible for SNAP. Meal plan structure may vary from institution to institution, so state agencies should fully explore your circumstances to determine what portion of your meals are covered by the plan. You can find additional guidance on the treatment of meal plans.
During the COVID-19 public health emergency, a law was passed that made more students temporarily eligible for SNAP. As of July 1, 2023, the temporary student exemptions are no longer available to students applying or recertifying for SNAP. Some students may no longer be eligible for SNAP or may need to provide additional information when they recertify to continue their SNAP benefits.
If you are a student who applied or recertified for SNAP before July 1, 2023, you may have been certified under a temporary student exemption. You do not need to take any action at this time. If you are still a student when you next recertify for SNAP, you will have to meet a regular student exemption in order to keep receiving benefits.
If you are a student applying or recertifying for SNAP on or after July 1, 2023, the temporary exemptions do not apply to you. You must meet a regular student exemption to be eligible for SNAP.