SNAP food recipients will see additional benefits by the end of January

LANSING, Michigan (WLNS) – The more than 1.2 million people in Michigan eligible for food assistance benefits will receive an additional payment by the end of January.

The additional payment increases their monthly amount by 15% to help families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 15% increase in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits is for six months and ends in June.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) advocated for the increase led by U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and were pleased to see her finally included in the draft Congressional relief bill recently passed.

“No Michigander should worry about how he will put food on the table for himself and his family, especially during a pandemic,” Governor Whitmer said. “COVID-19 is still a very real threat to our state, and we must continue to provide crucial support to families who need it most. “I want to thank Senator Stabenow for her leadership in securing this significant increase and for her tireless efforts to expand access to food assistance, which has provided relief to so many Michiganders in need throughout this pandemic. .”

Michigan food aid recipients will see the 15% increase added to their deck cards by the end of January, in addition to the benefits they received earlier in the month.

Food assistance increases by $102 per month for a household of four, who will now receive $782 per month. Over the following months, the 15% increase will be added to Bridge cards from January 20-30.

“Helping families put food on the table is our job,” said MDHHS Director Robert Gordon. “We are pleased to be able to provide more food assistance to Michigan residents in need due to COVID-19.”

Whitmer and MDHHS are also announcing the continuation in January of an initiative that provides additional food assistance to 350,000 Michigan families in response to the pandemic. Through this initiative, anyone receiving food assistance who is not already eligible for the maximum monthly benefit will have their payment increased to the maximum monthly amount for their household size. Eligible customers will see these additional food assistance benefits on their Bridge card by January 30, with payments beginning for some households on January 20. Anyone who receives both this payment and the 15% increase will receive them on the same day.

Below are the new maximum benefits allowed for SNAP customers based on their respective household size from January through June:

One person: $234

Two people: $430

Three people: $616

Four people: $782

Five people: $929

Six people: $1,114

Seven people: $1,232

Eight people: $1,408

Eligible families do not need to reapply to receive the additional benefits. People receiving food assistance can check their benefit balance on their Michigan Bridge Card by going online to www.michigan.gov/MIBridges or by calling a customer service representative toll-free at 888-678-8914. They can ask about additional benefits by calling or emailing their case worker.

Customer service is available 24/7. Service in Spanish and Arabic is available. If you are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or hard of hearing, call the Michigan Relay Center at 7-1-1.

Information regarding the COVID-19 outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.