Indiana benefits for college students

Food assistance: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Indiana's name for SNAP, run by Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), Division of Family Resources (DFR). 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 →

DFR's SNAP page answers "Are students eligible for SNAP?": students at a college, university, trade or technical school more than half-time can get SNAP only if they meet an exemption (for example, working at least 20 paid hours a week, caring for a child under 6, being a single parent with a child under 12, getting TANF, or being in a work and training program) and meet all other SNAP rules; ask your school what counts as half-time. Indiana's policy manual (section 3210.15.35.05) names IMPACT as the state's SNAP employment and training program and also counts placement through WIOA, a state or local government E&T program, or Trade Adjustment Assistance. The manual's single-parent exemption requires full-time enrollment.

Apply for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) · Indiana's page for students

Health coverage: Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP)

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

HIP work requirements start January 1, 2027 for new applicants and renewals. Attending school at least half-time counts (instead of 80 hours a month of work or other activity). FSSA's FAQ says coursework at an accredited college, in person or online, can count.

Apply for Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP)

Child care help: Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) voucher program

Going to college or training counts as an approved activity in this state. School counts as a service need: accredited associate or bachelor's degree programs, vocational training, clinicals/internships/practicums, adult basic education/GED and ESL. There is no limit on the number of degrees or time taken, up to a master's degree (a master's counts if you already have one bachelor's or two associate degrees); beyond a master's is not approved without another need. Students who also work and are pursuing their first post-secondary degree get $1,250 a month deducted from earned income when figuring eligibility. Family income must be at or below 135% of the federal poverty level to start.

Apply for Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) voucher program · Help on campus (CCAMPIS) →

Phone and internet: Lifeline

We found no extra state Lifeline discount on Indiana's official pages, so the federal discount applies. Who qualifies →

Apply for Lifeline

Taxes

If you claimed the federal Earned Income Tax Credit, you may get Indiana's earned income credit, equal to 10% of the federal credit. INfreefile lets taxpayers with lower incomes file federal and Indiana returns free through vendors listed on the Department of Revenue's page (for tax year 2025, e.g. AGI of $51,000 or less with some vendors, or $19,000-$89,000 and age 67 or younger with another). You must start from the DOR page to get the free versions.

Indiana's Earned Income Credit (Schedule IN-EIC) · Free state filing · Federal education tax credits → · Free federal filing →

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