Working Paper: Broadening the Safety Net: The Impact of Increased CalFresh Access for University of California Students
College students across the country, including at the University of California, struggle with food insecurity. Food benefits provided by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, known as CalFresh in California) can mitigate food insecurity. However, students are only eligible for benefits if they meet both the income requirements and an “exemption” to the student SNAP rule, such as being approved for work study or receiving Cal Grant aid. It is not clear the extent to which this exemption requirement represents an important barrier to student CalFresh participation. This working paper measures the impact of a new student exemption, known as Local Programs to Increase Employability (LPIEs), on student CalFresh participation.
LPIEs are programs, such as academic majors or scholarship programs, at California’s public universities and colleges that promote student employability by providing work experience, job training, basic skills and English learning, or vocational education. The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) oversees this designation and started approving LPIEs in 2017. Since then, over 13,000 programs at California Community Colleges, California State Universities, and UCs have been LPIE-approved. The introduction and growth of the LPIE designation means that thousands more college students in California may now qualify for monthly food benefits.
Note: This is an abbreviated version of a working paper. The California Policy Lab will release a more in-depth report on this research, including results from the other California higher education segments, in the Spring of 2026.
Suggested citation: Lohner, G., Lacoe, J., Rothstein, J. (2025). Broadening the Safety Net: The Impact of Increased CalFresh Access for University of California Students. California Policy Lab, University of California. https://capolicylab.org/broadening-the-safety-net-the-impact-of-increased-calfresh-access-for-university-of-california-students/