Age

• According to the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, students must be at least 18 years of age to qualify for food stamps themselves. The parents of college students under the age of 18 may obtain food stamps for their child dependent.
  
  

Employment

• According to Neighborhood Legal Services, college students between the ages of 18 and 49 must work an average of 20 hours per week, or they may participate in a federal or state work study program during the school year. Students over the age of 50 do not have to meet any work requirements to qualify for USDA food grants.
  
  

Child Care

• If a part-time student applicant takes care of a child or dependent under the age of 6, he does not have to meet work requirements to qualify for food stamps. The same applies if a part-time student has a dependent between 6 and 11 years of age and cannot obtain adequate child care. A full-time student need not have employment if she parents a child under the age of 12. The same employment exemption applies to college students who receive federal benefits from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.
  
  

Income

• Regardless of collegiate status, students who apply for USDA food stamps must meet an income test. As of October 1, 2010, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service allows students to earn no more than 130 percent of the federal poverty level in gross income. In addition, they may not exceed 100 percent of the FPL in net income. These amounts come to $1,174 and $903 consecutively for a single college student. The USDA does not consider college grants and loans as earned income.
  
  

Assets

• College students may not own more than $2,000 in cash savings in a bank account, and disabled students may not have more than $3,000 in cash. The USDA food stamp program allows students to keep a vehicle and to own their own home without disqualification.
  
  

Application

• The USDA FNS distributes money to individual states. Eligible college students may apply for a food stamps grant by visiting their local state office of human services and filling out an application in person, by mail or online. Students can receive food stamp grants within 30 days of the submission of an application.