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171 (07/2026) Chapter 2:Eligibility • Section 3: Individual information Oregon Administrative Rule(s) 461-110-0210 — Household Group 414-175-0015 — Eligibility Group Structure 461-120-0010 — Residency Requirements 414-175-0020 — General Eligibility Requirements 461-120-0050 — Incapable of Stating Intent to Reside; OSIPM, QMB, and REFM 461-165-0030 — Concurrent and Duplicate Program Benefits 414-175-0052 — Concurrent and Duplicate Program Benefit 410-200-0200 — Residency Requirements Student status Student status affects participants in many ways across multiple programs. It is important to ask many follow- up questions if there is any unclear information about school grade, the school(s) attended, the credits taken, enrollment status, if the individual has already started classes, and expected graduation dates (if known). This information can help create an informative conversation with the applicant, decrease the likelihood of an eligibility error and help guide ODHS|OHA regarding work requirements. SNAP It is important that student of higher education status be accurately determined as it affects general SNAP eligibility and how specific income is counted for SNAP. Having student of higher education status, or being a student of any kind at least half time, provides an exemption for the student from ABAWD work requirements or general work requirements for work registrants. For an individual to be considered a student of higher education, the student needs to meet specific criteria: • They must be attending a school of higher education at least half time; • They must be over the age of 18 but under the age of 50; and • For purposes of SNAP, ‘higher education’ means:
Public and private universities, colleges and community colleges that offer degree programs regardless of whether a high school diploma is required for the program. » Exclusion: GED, ABE, ESL and high school equivalency programs at those institutions are not considered higher education.
Vocational, technical, business and trade schools that normally require a high school diploma or equivalency certificate for enrollment in the curriculum or in a particular program at the institution. » Exclusion: Programs at those institutions that do not require the diploma or certificate are not considered higher education. Eligibility due to student of higher education status is reviewed during initial application, renewal, and when ODHS|OHA receives a report requiring action due to it meeting SRS action criteria or affecting ABAWD status. If such a report indicates the person no longer meets the additional criteria, the student has lost their SNAP eligibility.