District of Columbia benefits for college students

Food assistance: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

District of Columbia's name for SNAP, run by DC Department of Human Services (DHS). If you are enrolled at least half-time, you need a student exemption to qualify, such as working 20 hours a week, work-study or caring for a young child. If you are enrolled less than half-time, the student rule does not apply and only the regular SNAP rules do. See every exemption →

DHS has an 'Eligibility for College Students' section: students enrolled more than half-time in college, university or trade/technical school may get SNAP if they meet at least one federal student exemption (for example under 18 or 50+, unable to work, working, work-study, caring for a young child, receiving TANF, or placed in college through an eligible employment and training program) and all other SNAP rules such as income limits. The school decides what counts as half-time. Students must show documents proving the exemption (for example a financial aid award letter for work-study); DHS lists example documents for each exemption and links a 'SNAP College Students One Pager'. No DC-only exemption beyond the federal list is described.

Apply for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) · District of Columbia's page for students

Health coverage: DC Medicaid

District of Columbia has expanded Medicaid, so adults with low incomes, students included, can qualify based on income. All your health coverage options →

Apply for DC Medicaid

Child care help: DC Child Care Subsidy Program

Going to college or training counts as an approved activity in this state. Families qualify by meeting income limits and needing child care while the parent is at work or in school. Under the waitlist in effect since May 12, 2026, a parent in a 'job training or education program' is Priority Group 4, and Priority Groups 1-4 can enroll now (groups 5 and 6, higher-income working families, are waitlisted).

Apply for DC Child Care Subsidy Program · Help on campus (CCAMPIS) →

Phone and internet: Lifeline

Economy II (DC wireline Lifeline, Verizon DC): DC's local wireline Lifeline service, Economy II from Verizon DC, gives qualified residents discounted local phone service with unlimited calling in the DC metro area for $3.00 a month (under 65) or $1.00 a month (65 and older). Wireless/broadband Lifeline is the federal program. One Lifeline discount per household. Who qualifies →

Apply for Lifeline (Economy II (DC wireline Lifeline, Verizon DC))

Taxes

A refundable DC credit for low- and moderate-income workers; generally anyone who qualifies for the federal EITC qualifies, it equals 100% of the federal EITC for tax year 2025, and some ITIN filers and others can qualify even without the federal credit. DC's Office of Tax and Revenue encourages taxpayers to file their DC individual income tax return (D-40) at no cost through its MyTax.DC.gov portal.

DC Earned Income Tax Credit (DC EITC) · Free state filing · Federal education tax credits → · Free federal filing →

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