- Federal food assistance that had been suspended will be restored, but benefits will be roughly halved for November
- Michiganders who missed payments this week will get them Saturday, according to the state. Others will receive funds on normal date
- Trump administration had paused benefits during the government shutdown but faced court orders to tap contingency funds
Federal food assistance payments will resume this weekend in Michigan but be cut by about half under new direction from the federal government, according to state health officials.
Michiganders who would have normally received benefits on Nov. 3, 5 or 7 will instead receive their monthly Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) allotment on Saturday.
All other SNAP recipients will receive partial benefits on their normally scheduled date, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced late Wednesday.
Benefits were paused Nov. 1 after the US Department of Agriculture claimed “the well has run dry” amid a month-long federal government shutdown that shows no sign of ending anytime soon.
President Donald Trump’s administration said Monday it would comply with court orders to use contingency funds to resume partial payments but warned it could take “a few weeks to up to several months” for states to adjust systems for reduced benefits.
Related:
- Food stamp delay hits Michigan: Residents ration, pantries scramble
- Michigan food banks brace for SNAP ‘crisis.’ How to get or give help
- Judges: Feds must continue SNAP food assistance. Michigan delays still expected
- ‘It’s terrifying’: 1.4M Michiganders brace for loss of SNAP food assistance
It won’t take that long in Michigan, where state Health Director Elizabeth Hertel is urging Michiganders to call 2-1-1 and visit local food pantries to supplement their needs.
“We understand and share the disappointment many households feel about receiving only a portion of their November SNAP benefits,” Hertel said in a statement. “These benefits are a vital lifeline for many Michigan families, especially with the rising cost of food.”
The SNAP contingency funds will cover about half of the $9.2 billion the federal government usually spends on benefits each month, nationally.
Still unclear is whether Michiganders who applied for SNAP in October and November will receive benefits.
As payments were paused this week, Michiganders flocked to local food banks, as donors, too, stepped up their giving. Meanwhile, the Food Bank Council of Michigan will receive $4.5 million to supplement needs throughout the state, according to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
She had joined a group of governors calling on the Trump administration to prevent disruption to SNAP during the federal government shutdown.
About 1.4 million Michiganders receive SNAP benefits. Over the past three years, residents that qualified for SNAP due to financial hardships received average payments of $191 per month, according to state data.
Funds are loaded onto electronic benefit transfer cards and can be used to purchase food at grocery stores, farmers markets or other participating retailers.
SNAP impacts every corner of Michigan, from populous Wayne County, where nearly 1 in 4 residents received an average of $201 per month over the past three years, to rural Gogebic County in the Upper Peninsula, where nearly 1 in 5 residents received an average of $181 per month.
If you want to help:
- Donate to a food bank: Advocates say cash donations are typically preferred, as charitable food organizations can stretch dollars further by buying wholesale or getting extra food donations from suppliers. Find a local food bank here
- Check on friends, family and neighbors: Sometimes a simple phone call or a knock on the door can be enough to start a dialogue about getting help
- Join a mutual aid group: Some community support groups rely on volunteer participation and reciprocal cooperation. Many groups organize on social media to address specific local needs. Find a mutual aid group here
- Volunteer: Find opportunities through Volunteer Michigan or contact groups like The Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, South Michigan Food Bank, Greater Lansing Food Bank, Gleaners of Southeast Michigan, Forgotten Harvest – Oak Park, Food Gatherers – Ann Arbor, Feeding America – West Michigan, Manna Food Project Petoskey
Thank you to our Michigan Health Watch Sponsors
Michigan Health Watch is made possible by generous financial support from our sponsors. Please visit the About page for more information and to subscribe to Michigan Health Watch. Interested in becoming a sponsor? Contact Emma Carr.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under our Republication Guidelines. Questions? Email republishing@bridgemi.com
