Sen. Husted introduces bill to enhance SNAP benefits for working students

WASHINGTON – Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) this week introduced the Food Eligibility for Education and Development (FEED) Act. This bill would update Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility rules so students aged 18 to 21 enrolled in approved Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs can work part-time without their earnings counting against their or their families’ current SNAP benefits.

“Students enrolled in career and technical education programs are working hard to prepare for high-skill, high-demand jobs. My bill corrects outdated SNAP laws so CTE students enrolled in SNAP can continue their education without jeopardizing their families’ benefits,” said Husted.

More than 130,000 high school students in Ohio are enrolled in CTE programs across career centers and community colleges. Under current SNAP eligibility rules, students from low-income families who earn wages via their enrollment in CTE programs risk losing their SNAP benefits because their earnings count toward the collective household income. As many as 50,000 Ohioans aged 18 to 21 are not taking advantage of work-based learning programs. The FEED Act amends SNAP’s income-calculation formula by exempting any income earned from a CTE program by an individual aged 18 to 21 from their household’s total income.

This bill builds on Husted’s work in Ohio to create jobs and develop a strong workforce. As lieutenant governor, Husted expanded career technical education to give more Ohio students access to skills training that enabled them to graduate high school career-ready. He also pioneered job training programs like TechCred to provide every Ohioan with access to the credentials they need to earn good jobs.

Additionally, Husted advocated for the Food and Nutrition Service to approve the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services’ request for a waiver to exclude the income of secondary students under 21 to promote job readiness and support students.

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