Texas benefits for college students

Food assistance: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP Food Benefits)

Texas's name for SNAP, run by Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). 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 →

Texas Works Handbook B-412 (revision 26-1, effective Jan. 1, 2026) lists the student exemptions. Texas-specific detail: enrollment through the Texas Workforce Commission's Choices program (alongside WIOA, SNAP Employment and Training, Trade Adjustment Assistance, or other state/local training programs approved as equivalent to E&T) qualifies a student. Other exemptions follow federal rules: unfit for work; paid work averaging 20 hours a week; state or federal work study during the school year (internships and student teaching required for school do not count); on-the-job training; approved for TANF; caring for a child under 6, or 6-11 with no other child care available; or a full-time single parent of a child under 12. The student rules do not apply to programs that don't require a diploma (e.g. beauty school) or ESL-only enrollment.

Apply for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP Food Benefits) · Texas's page for students

Health coverage: Texas Medicaid

Texas has not adopted the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion, so coverage for adults without children is limited. A HealthCare.gov plan may be the better route; check the state's rules below. All your health coverage options →

Apply for Texas Medicaid

Child care help: Child Care Services (CCS) scholarships

Going to college or training counts as an approved activity in this state. Parents can qualify by going to school or job training. They must need care to work or attend a job training or educational program for an average of at least 25 hours a week (single parent) or 50 combined hours a week (two parents). Care cannot exceed a cumulative 60 months for a parent enrolled full-time in an undergraduate degree program, and parents must show progress toward finishing through continued enrollment. Children under 13 (under 19 with a disability). Funding is limited and families may be waitlisted.

Apply for Child Care Services (CCS) scholarships · Help on campus (CCAMPIS) →

Phone and internet: Lifeline

Texas Lifeline Discount Program (Public Utility Commission of Texas): Texas adds a state discount: the PUC says Lifeline reduces the basic monthly telephone rate up to $12.75 for those who qualify, and Texas sets income eligibility at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines (or receiving Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, TANF, CHIP, LIHEAP, public housing or free school lunch). Link-Up may help with installation costs. Who qualifies →

Apply for Lifeline (Texas Lifeline Discount Program (Public Utility Commission of Texas))

Taxes

Texas has no state Earned Income Tax Credit.

Free state filing · Federal education tax credits → · Free federal filing →

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