DPSS ePolicy

An individual is considered a student for CalFresh Program purposes if they are:

• 18 through 49 years of age;
• Mentally and physically fit for employment; and
• Enrolled at least half-time (as defined by the public or private institution of higher education).

Individuals meeting the definition of a student are ineligible for CalFresh benefits unless they meet at least one of the student eligibility requirements or exemptions on the day of the interactive interview.

Ineligible students are treated as excluded household (HH) members. Therefore, the income and resources of ineligible students are not considered available to the HH. However, cash contributions from ineligible students to the HH are considered unearned income.

Student eligibility rules do not apply to students who meet at least one student eligibility exemption, listed in the Requirements section.

The CalFresh student eligibility rule does not apply to individuals who are enrolled in non-regular curriculums, including adult programs, remedial education, continuing or community education, professional development, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), and workforce development/training programs.

Enrollment in adult schools and community college non-credit classes does not provide credits towards college graduation and is considered a non-credit course. Many adult programs are not for credit and will not count towards enrollment of half-time or more. These programs are not considered to be institutions of higher education for CalFresh purposes. Therefore, these individuals do not meet the definition of a CalFresh student and are eligible for CalFresh as a regular HH member if they meet all other eligibility requirements.

Student Meal Plans

Students who live on campus in student housing or dormitories and receive more than half their meals (approximately 11 meals per week) from a student meal plan are not eligible for CalFresh benefits.

Students who live off campus and receive meals through a student meal plan are not considered residents of an institution and may be eligible for CalFresh, if all eligibility requirements are otherwise met.

CalFresh benefits cannot be used to pay for college cafeteria meal plans.

Eligibility Staff must determine the scope of a student meal plan on a case-by-case basis. Eligibility Staff need to ask the student or institution for clarification if it is unclear how many meals the student receives. The institution of higher education is to provide information on programs and services.

Flexible Meal Plans

Eligibility Staff must consider that the value of a meal plan may be represented by the number of meals, points, or dollars included. For flexible meal plans, Eligibility Staff must consider both the total value of the meal plan at the time of application, and the period of time the meals are intended to cover.

Eligibility Staff should fully explore the student’s circumstances, which may require asking additional questions during the initial application or Renewal (RE) interview. For all meal or dining plans where the number of meals per week is not clear, Eligibility Staff must ask the student how many meals the student receives from their meal plan each week.

Example

A student has 50 meal swipes available under a flexible meal plan at the time of application and states that these are intended to last for the remaining 12 weeks of the semester.

Eligibility Staff must calculate the average number of meals per week (e.g., 50 meals divided by 12 weeks equals approximately 4 meals per week) and use this information to help determine whether the student is receiving the majority of their meals, meaning more than half their meals (approximately 11 meals per week) through the plan.

Duration of Exemptions

A student must meet at least one exemption criterion on the interview date to participate in the CalFresh Program. Once an exemption has been established, the exemption typically applies through the length of the certification period, except for the exemptions based on work hours and work-study, or if the individual reports a change in their student status.

Mid-Period Reports

A break or end of work-study or other changes to an individual’s student status is not a mandatory mid-period report. Eligibility Staff must only act on voluntary mid-period reports that would increase benefits unless the reported change is considered Verified Upon Receipt (VUR). 

To be considered VUR, the information, such as a change to the student’s work-study program, must be complete, not questionable, requires no further verification and be obtained from the Primary Source, such as an institution of higher education. A Primary Source is a first-hand direct source that has complete and accurate information regarding the circumstances in question.

Under this guidance, a voluntary mid-period report from a student regarding changes to their approval, award, or acceptance for state for federally funded work-study is not considered VUR, as the student is not the primary source of that information.

Local Programs that Increase Employability (LPIEs) Identification and Qualification 

• Counties do not participate in the process of identifying campus-based LPIEs. Instead, the Universities of California (UCs), California State Universities (CSUs), and California Community Colleges (CCCs) submit a comprehensive list of campus-based LPIEs to the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) for approval.
• The UCs, CSUs, and CCCs have identified General Programs that qualify as LPIEs and exist on multiple campuses: Campus Employment (no minimum hour requirement), Research Assistantships, Teaching Assistantships, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Programs, College Corps, and Learning-Aligned Employment Program (LAEP).
• As of September 1, 2022, programs at private institutions do not qualify as an LPIE. 
• As of September 1, 2022, most State-funded foster youth programs no longer automatically qualify as LPIEs. Instead, these programs must be individually submitted for assessment and approval by CDSS to appear on the List of Approved LPIEs.

New Guidance on LPIEs 

Associate and Bachelor's Degree Programs at Public Institutions of Higher Education

As of June 1, 2026, all associate and bachelor's degree programs offered at any CCC, CSU, or UC campus are LPIEs. This streamlined approval process applies only to associate and bachelor's degree programs at CCC, CSU and UC campuses. It does not apply to programs offered at private institutions.

This streamlined approval process does not apply to students who are enrolled in post-undergraduate, advanced or other degree programs (e.g., masters/graduate or doctoral degree programs). This does not change the review and approval process for other LPIE program types.

Students qualify for an LPIE exemption under this new guidance if they are:

• Attending a CCC, CSU, or UC half-time or more, and
• Enrolled in an associate or bachelor’s degree program in any major. 

This includes associate degrees for transfer. A student that has not declared a major but is enrolled in the general education courses required to obtain an associate or bachelor’s degree is also eligible for this LPIE exemption.

A household’s verbal or written statement that a student is enrolled in an associate or bachelor's degree program at a public institution of higher education is acceptable verification unless questionable.

CDSS will update the List of Approved LPIEs to reflect that all associate and bachelor’s degree programs are approved across all CCC, CSU, and UC campuses. Eligibility Staff must not question a student’s claim of participation in an LPIE solely because a specific associate or bachelor’s program does not appear on the list.

New Process for Identifying LPIEs

Based on evaluation of required coursework and analysis of graduate outcomes, CDSS has determined that all associate and bachelor’s degree programs at California’s public institutions of higher education include at least one component equivalent to a CalFresh Employment & Training (E&T) component. These programs improve basic skills, build work readiness, or otherwise improve employability. Further, CDSS has determined these undergraduate degree programs expand the job search abilities and employability of those enrolled.

The new process must be applied to all initial applications and REs beginning June 1, 2026. For REs, the new process will apply to households with a RE due in June 2026 and onwards. Voluntary mid-period reports made on or after June 1, 2026, regarding participation in an LPIE must only be acted upon mid-period if the change would result in an increase in benefits.

CDSS has worked with the UCs, CSUs, and CCCs to assist campuses in identifying and assessing campus-based programs for approval. The Center for Healthy Communities (CHC), a CalFresh Outreach prime contractor based out of California State University, Chico assists campuses in identifying and submitting LPIEs.

Programs that must be submitted for individual review include, but are not limited to: graduate/advanced degree programs, certificate programs, Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, and adult basic education programs.

Many programs on the List of Approved LPIEs may be outside the regular curriculum of colleges or universities. Non-regular curriculums include, but are not limited to: continuing education, workforce development, adult basic education, and ESOL programs. Students enrolled exclusively in non-regular curriculums are not considered enrolled in an institution of higher education and as such are not subject to the student eligibility rule.

Some students may be enrolled in both regular and non-regular curricula at institutions of higher education. Students who are enrolled half-time or more in a regular curriculum are subject to the student eligibility rule and must meet an exemption to qualify for CalFresh. Participation in any approved LPIE, including those considered non-regular curriculum programs, may be used to meet an exemption.

The UCs, CSUs, and CCCs will identify other programs that meet the LPIE criteria and submit them to the CHC. CDSS updates the List of Approved LPIEs on the CDSS website on the first workday of each month. Any changes to the list including newly qualifying programs, or programs previously approved that no longer meet the criteria are incorporated monthly.

Eligibility Staff must continue to use the List of Approved LPIEs posted on the CDSS CalFresh Resource Center Policy Page under “CalFresh Student Eligibility: List of Approved LPIEs” to confirm programs are listed as approved.

General Programs Identified

In addition to individual LPIE program identification, the UCs, CSUs, and CCCs have identified General Programs, which meet the criteria for an LPIE. All campuses may have students participating in one or more General Programs below:

• Campus Employment Program: Students employed by their campus, or a recognized auxiliary organization are considered as participating in a Campus Employment Program. For LPIE purposes, an auxiliary organization must be overseen by the UC, CSU, or CCC and must serve the institution of higher education.

Note: Students enrolled in this program do not need to work an average of 20 hours per week or a total of 80 hours per month to meet the criteria for an exemption to the student eligibility rule because LPIEs do not have a minimum hour requirement.

• Research and Teaching Assistantship Programs: Students hired for a research and/or a teaching assistant position, whether paid or unpaid or part of a training program, are considered as participating in a Research Assistantship Program and/or Teaching Assistantship Program.         
• All Associate and Bachelor’s Degree Programs at CCC, CSU, and UC campuses are approved statewide as LPIE General Programs.
• College Corps, LAEP and WIOA Programs are approved statewide as LPIE General Programs.

To the extent possible, students will be notified of their enrollment in one of the above programs by their campus based on available student data. 

Removal of LPIEs at Private Institutions

An LPIE must be operated by a State or local government. Due to this requirement, previously approved programs not operated by a UC, CSU, or CCC were removed from the List of Approved LPIEs as of September 1, 2022.

Reassessment of Previously Approved Statewide Programs. 

The automatic approval of most State-funded and foster youth programs was removed. The removal of the automatic approval of these programs took effect as of September 1, 2022. The programs to be individually identified and assessed as containing the equivalent of an Employment & Training (E&T) component include:

• Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS);
• Educational Opportunity Program (EOP);
• Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS) & Student Academic Services (SAS);
• Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education (CARE) Program;
• McNair Scholars Program;
• Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) Program;
• Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URM) Program;
• Guardian Scholars Program;
• Foster Youth Success Initiative (FYSI);
• Cooperating Agencies Foster Youth Educational Support (CAFYES);
• Puente Project;
• Chafee Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program; and
• Extended Foster Care (AB 12/AB 212). 

Note: The WIOA Program will continue to receive automatic approval due to meeting the exemption.

Summer Enrollment

The student status of an individual begins on the first day of the school term. Individuals who apply for CalFresh during summer, prior to the start of their first official day of the regular school term and at the time of the Intake interview have not started school yet, are not considered to be a CalFresh student. Therefore, they are not subject to the student eligibility rule at the time of application. If approved, their student status will be reassessed at renewal (RE). At RE, they will be subject to the student eligibility rule and must meet an exemption to continue receiving CalFresh benefits, unless they are no longer considered a “student” per CalFresh policy.

Example 1

An individual, age 25, applies in July and at the time of interview reports they have never attended an institution of higher education before. They also state they plan to enroll full-time as a student at the local CSU during the upcoming fall semester. In this scenario, the individual is not subject to the student eligibility rule because during the interactive interview they were not enrolled in an institution of higher education.

Example 2

A student applies for CalFresh in June, during their summer break from college. At the time of interview, the student states that they are enrolled at their local college to continue attending as a full-time student during the upcoming fall semester. In this scenario, the student is subject to the student eligibility rule because they are already enrolled and plan on continuing as student during the upcoming college semester.

Vocational School Enrollment Clarification 

Some vocational school, trade school, and technical school programs do not use units/credits, semesters, or quarters and instead track attendance by clock hours, weeks, modules, or scheduled instructional hours.

When a vocational, trade, or technical program does not use units/credits or academic terms, Eligibility Staff must determine half-time enrollment using the school’s official enrollment standard (e.g., clock hours, scheduled instructional hours, weeks, or modules). If the vocational, trade, or technical school does not define half-time enrollment, but defines full-time enrollment, then Eligibility Staff may use half of the full-time requirement to determine the
student’s enrollment status. The definition may be supported by documentary evidence or information documented on the Journal page.

Eligibility Staff must work with the CalFresh HH and/or institution to determine half-time enrollment as needed and document the basis for the determination on the Journal page.

Assembly Bill (AB) 396 was signed into law on October 4, 2021. It requires all UC, CSU, and CCC campus-based programs that meet LPIE requirements to submit an application to CDSS on or before September 1, 2022.

Senate Bill (SB) 609 was signed into law on October 6, 2021, and requires CDSS to include Adult Education and Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs in the List of Approved LPIEs.

AB 42 was signed into law on October 7, 2025. AB 42 implemented effective March 1, 2026, exempts any grant, award, scholarship, fellowship, and/or loan awarded for the purpose of attending an institution of higher education from consideration as income for California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) , CalFresh, General Relief (GR), Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA), Trafficking and Crime Victims Assistance Program (TCVAP) and Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI). This exemption does not apply to cash payments made directly by friends or relatives for this purpose, which will continue to be counted as income.

A 60-minute period of time that contains 50 to 60 minutes of: class, lecture, recitation, faculty-supervised laboratory, shop training or internship.

A business, trade, technical, or vocational school at the post-high-school level that normally requires a high-school diploma or equivalency certificate of enrollment; or

A regular curriculum at a junior, community, two-year, or four-year college/university, or graduate school, that offers degree programs regardless of whether a high-school diploma or equivalency certificate is required.

A regular curriculum at an institution of higher education means the standard requirements for graduation or certification/qualification in a particular field of study.

If a college normally requires a high-school diploma or equivalency certificate but does not require either of these for a particular program or course, such as courses for ESOL or courses that are not part of the regular curriculum, enrollment in such program or course does not constitute enrollment in an institution of higher education.
 

The definition of at least half-time may vary by school. To determine if the student’s school attendance is at least half-time, the number of credits needed each semester or term to graduate within four years of enrollment as a first-time freshman or within two years of enrollment as a transfer student must be considered. This calculation also applies to those receiving graduate degrees. The student eligibility rule and exemptions apply to undergraduate and graduate students alike.

Individuals enrolled less than half-time are not considered students for CalFresh purposes and therefore are not subject to the student eligibility rule.

When a student has not chosen a major, the half-time calculation is based on the minimum number of credits required for the student to obtain a General Education Bachelor of Arts degree at that institution of higher education. If the student has chosen a major, the half-time calculation is based on the number of credits required for that student’s chosen major at that institution of higher education.

A student's enrollment status begins on the first day of the school term and continues through regular school breaks unless the student leaves school, is expelled, suspended, graduates, drops out, or does not register for the next term
(excluding summer school).

A student who does not expect to be enrolled in the next school term, due to graduation, suspension, expulsion, dropping out, or not intending to register for the next normal school term (excluding summer school), is not subject to the student eligibility rule.

Example 1

If a student applies in February and states they plan to graduate in June, then the student is not subject to the student eligibility rule. 

Example 2

If a student applies in March and states they do not plan to return to school in the fall, then the student is not subject to the student eligibility rule.

An individual is considered medically certified as physically or mentally unfit to work if they have a temporary or permanent illness, disability, condition, or life circumstance that reduces or affects their ability to work. The physical or mental condition must make an individual unfit to work an average of 20 hours per week on an ongoing basis and does not mean that they must be unfit to work completely.

The individual must provide verification stating the inability to work because of a physical or mental issue. Students who do not receive disability-based income but are unable to work due to physical or mental issues must provide verification of the inability to work from a third-party source if their unfitness is not apparent, a participant’s statement or affidavit does not suffice. Indicators of apparent unfitness to work, include but are not limited to, chronic homelessness, struggling with drugs or alcohol, or having experienced domestic violence.

Verification can be provided by a medical professional, including but not limited to a physician, nurse, psychologist, or psychiatrist. Other professionals, such as a Behavioral Health Case Manager or Regional Center Case Manager who are not medical professionals but assist participants in case management or other services may also provide verification.

When third-party verification is unavailable, Eligibility Staff observation noted in the case Journal can also be used as verification. When possible, the county will assist the applicant/participant in attaining verification for this exemption.
 

Students who have a physical or mental disability and receive disability-based income, like Social Security Disability, Supplemental Security Income, Veterans’ Disability, Worker’s Compensation, or other disability-based incomes meet the definition of being physically or mentally unfit to work. The disability must be expected to last more than 30 days.

A verbal confirmation of a HH’s circumstances by a person outside the HH, who can furnish accurate and reliable documentation regarding the applicant HH. The contact may be made by telephone, letter, or office interview. Examples of collateral contacts are employers, landlords, social services agencies, neighbors, relatives of the HH, etc. 

Note: Collateral contact is a method of verification used only when documentary evidence is not readily available.

A class that leads to the standard requirements for graduation or certification/qualification in a particular field of study.

Programs operated by a State or local government where one or more of the program's components are equivalent to an E&T component. CDSS has the authority to determine whether a State or local program qualifies under this definition. E&T components include, but are not limited to, Adult Basic Education, CTE, English Language Acquisition, Work Readiness Training, and Work Experience.

CDSS maintains a current list of approved LPIEs. The list can be found on the CDSS CalFresh Resource Center Policy Page under “CalFresh Student Eligibility: List of Approved LPIEs.” The List of Approved LPIEs is updated on the website at the beginning of each month. Eligibility Staff must use this List of Approved LPIEs to check if CDSS has approved a program in which a student applicant/recipient is participating.

To the best extent possible, students enrolled in an LPIE will be notified by their campus that they meet the criteria for an exemption to the student eligibility rule.
 

To be eligible to participate in the CalFresh Program, students between the ages of 18 through 49, mentally and physically fit for employment, and enrolled at least half-time in an institution of higher education must meet at least one of the following criteria during the application and RE processing period:

Be a CalWORKs or Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipient.

Willing to cooperate with the Skills and Training to Achieve Readiness for Tomorrow (START) Program Education/Training.

• Be employed and paid for no less than 80 hours per month or an average of 20 hours per week; or
• Be self-employed for at least 80 hours per month or an average of 20 hours per week and earn at least the federal minimum wage multiplied by 20 hours per week.

A change in work hours is not a mandatory mid-period report. If the student does not report a change in work hours during the certification period, the student will continue to meet the criteria for an exemption from the student eligibility rule throughout the length of the certification period.

However, if the student does report a change in work hours on the periodic/Semi-Annual Report (SAR 7), Eligibility Staff must determine if the change in work hours averages 20 hours per week (or a total of 80 hours per month) to continue applying the exemption. If the change in work hours does not meet the requirement, Eligibility Staff must determine whether the student meets the criteria for another exemption. Otherwise, the student is no longer eligible for CalFresh.

The sum of total hours worked must not be used to determine if the student meets the paid work exemption. Rather, hours must be averaged using the multiplier of 4.33 or the number of weeks (52) in the year. The 4.33 multiplier or averaging over the number of weeks in a year is used to account for the varying lengths of months over the year. Students who work a sum total of 80 hours in a single month, but do not maintain an average of at least 80 hours each month do not meet this exemption.

Example 1 – Using 4.33 Multiplier

A student provides their most recent paystubs showing they work 19 hours per week. Even though the student does not work 20 hours per week, they do work more than an average of 80 hours or more each month. The student is eligible for the paid work exemption.

Average hours: 19 hours per week multiplied by 4.33 equals 82.77 hours per month.

Example 2 – Using Number of Weeks in the Year

A student provides their previous month’s paystubs showing they work 16 hours per week. This student does not work an average of 20 hours per week and does not maintain an average of at least 80 hours per month. The student is not eligible for the paid work exemption.

Average hours: 16 hours per week multiplied by 52 weeks per year equals 832 hours per year divided by 12 months equals 69.33 hours per month.

Eligibility Staff must determine if the student is reasonably expected to maintain an average of at least 80 hours worked each month during the certification period for the student to qualify for the paid work exemption. Eligibility Staff can calculate monthly hours by multiplying anticipated weekly hours by 4.33 or using the number of weeks in a year.

Example 3 – Reasonably Anticipated Work Hours

 A CalFresh applicant reported they are a full-time university student and are employed by Starbucks. The applicant provided their pay stubs as earned income verification for 30 days prior to the application date showing 61.50 hours worked. During their intake interview, the student reported they are currently working 24 hours per week and reasonably anticipate the same work hours to continue.

 Average anticipated hours: 24 hours per week muiltipied by 4.33 equals 103.92 hours per month.

In this scenario, the student is eligible for the paid work exemption. 

Be approved/awarded/accepted for state or federally financed work-study for the current school term and anticipates working during the term:

• The exemption begins the month the school term starts or the month work-study is approved/awarded/accepted, whichever is later. The exemption continues until the end of the month the school term ends or it becomes known that the student refused the work assignment.
• The exemption must not continue between terms when there is a break of a full month or longer unless the student is participating in work-study during the break.

Note: A break or end of work-study is not a mandatory mid-period report. Assessment of work-study may only be made at the periodic report or RE. If the student reports that they are not participating in work-study, the student must no longer be considered exempt from the student eligibility rule. Eligibility Staff must assess whether a student who is not participating in work-study meets the criteria for another exemption.

The Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS) program has been replaced by TANF. Any CalFresh student participating in a job training program because of participation in TANF meets an exemption from the student eligibility rule.

• Be exerting parental control over a dependent HH member under age six; or
• Exert parental control over a dependent HH member who has reached age six but is under 12, and
  • Adequate childcare is not available. This would allow the CalFresh applicant/participant to attend school at least half-time and work a minimum of 80 hours per month during the school year, or
  • Participate in a state or federally financed work-study program during the regular school year.   

Note: Only one parent can claim the exemption as the primary person responsible for the care of a dependent child under the age of six. Also, only one parent can claim the exemption as the primary person responsible for the care of a dependent child who has reached age six but is under age 12, and adequate childcare services are not available.

Be enrolled full-time and a single parent with the responsibility for the care of a dependent child under age 12.

This applies when only one of the child’s natural, adoptive, or stepparents (regardless of marital status) is in the same CalFresh HH as the child. “Regardless of marital status” means that the parent could be single (never married), a widow or widower, separated, divorced, or married and living in a separate HH from the other parent.

• If one natural parent and a stepparent live with the child, neither the natural parent nor the stepparent qualifies for the student exemption.

If no natural, adoptive, or stepparent is in the same CalFresh HH as the child, another full-time student in the same CalFresh HH as the child may qualify for eligible student status if they have parental control over the child and are not living with their spouse.

An individual who is assigned to, or placed in, an institution of higher education who meets one of the following criteria below meets the criteria for an exemption from the student eligibility rule:

• WIOA
• CalFresh E&T Program
  
• Programs under Section 236 of the Trade Act of 1974
• State or local government E&T programs for individuals with low income
   

E&T Components include, but are not limited to: Adult Basic Education, CTE, English Language Acquisition, Integrated Education Training, Work Readiness Training, Supervised Job Search, Work Experience, and Self-Employment Training.

Be awarded:

A TANF funded Cal Grant A or B when attending a CSU, UC, or a private university. TANF funded Cal Grant A or B provides tuition and fee assistance to students who attend a “tuition charging institution” and meet the required TANF requirements listed as follows:

• Be currently unmarried;
• Be 25 years of age or younger; and
• Have parental and/or student income of $50,000 per year or less.

Note: California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) will notify TANF funded Cal Grant A or B that they are potentially eligible for CalFresh benefits.

CSAC also provides Cal Grants to students who do not meet the TANF eligibility requirements. Therefore, Eligibility Staff should not assume that the Cal Grant A or B is TANF-funded.

If a student who has been awarded and paid a Cal Grant A or B does not receive written notification from CSAC regarding their potential eligibility for CalFresh, it may be that the student is not receiving a TANF-funded Cal Grant A or B. If a student’s Cal Grant A or B is not TANF-funded, CSAC will not provide the written notification.

Pell Grants Basic Educational Opportunity Grant (BEOG), Cal Grant B Access, and Cal Grant C are not funded by TANF funds. Cal Grant C provides assistance to students pursuing an occupational or technical program. Therefore, those who receive these grants do not qualify for a student exemption.

Note: Selected California Community Colleges that offer Baccalaureate Degree (BA) may award students with Cal Grant B, which may be used as an exemption.

Clarification Regarding Cal Grants and Students Attending Community Colleges

Low-income students who attend community colleges do not pay tuition due to fee waiver programs, such as College Promise, formerly known as the Board of Governor’s Fee waiver. Therefore, community colleges are not considered tuition-charging institutions to establish Cal Grant eligibility. As such, low-income students who attend a community college and meet the TANF eligibility requirements are not eligible to receive tuition and fee assistance through Cal Grant A or B while attending a community college.

Note: The CCC Board of Governors established a statewide Baccalaureate Degree Program (BDP) and allowed certain approved CCCs to offer bachelor’s degrees. A small population of CCC low-income students eligible for a TANF-funded Cal Grant A or B and participating in these BDPs, is charged tuition and may receive tuition and fee assistance through a TANF-funded Cal Grant A or B while attending the CCC. The CSAC will provide a written notification as verification to these students.

Verification for the student eligibility rule exemptions is not required. Instead, Eligibility Staff must only require verification that a student meets an exemption when the information provided by the HH is questionable or when a student’s claim of physical or mental unfitness is not evident to the Eligibility Staff.

To be considered questionable, the information on the application must be inconsistent with statements made by the applicant and/or inconsistent with other information received by the Eligibility Staff. When determining if the information is questionable, Eligibility Staff must base the decision on the HH’s individual circumstances. When verification is required to resolve questionable information, Eligibility Staff must document why the information was considered questionable or, at a minimum, indicate where in the case file the inconsistency exists and what documentation was used to resolve the questionable information.

Participant’s statement that a student within the HH is exempt from the student eligibility rule on the application, during the interactive interview, during the periodic report, RE or at any time during the certification period is sufficient evidence that the student is exempt from the student eligibility rule. Documentary evidence is not required; however, the Eligibility Staff must document what exemption is being claimed/met in the case Journal.

If a student states, verbally or in writing, that they are enrolled in one of the programs listed on the List of Approved LPIEs, that is sufficient information for the Eligibility Staff to exempt the student unless it is questionable.

If the information provided by a student is questionable, acceptable verification can include but not limited to a transcript, an email from an instructor, or verbal statement from a campus official. Additionally, targeted outreach emails from campuses to LPIE enrollees are acceptable verification.

Work-Study

• Financial Aid Award Letter; or
• Work-study pay stubs.

Receipt of TANF Funded Cal Grant

• Written notification from CSAC;
• Copy of a Student's California Aid Report; or
• Award Letter.

Participation in a State-Approved LPIE

• A formal document that shows participation in any of the approved programs listed on the CalFresh Student Eligibility List of Approved LPIEs located on the CDSS CalFresh Resource Center Policy Page under "Student Resources."
• A print-out from the student's college or university online account indicating participation in such a program. 

Evidence or Mental and/or Physical Unfitness

• Receipt of temporary or permenent disability benefits issued by government or private sources; or
• A statement from a physician or licensed/certified psychologist.

Employment and Pay for Minimum Required Paid Work Hours

• Pay stubs;
• A letter from the employer; or
• PA 167 -  Monthly Earnings report for self-employed students.