MI Plans To Pay Full SNAP Benefits Once State Receives Federal Funds

Michigan says it will issue full SNAP benefits to recipients as soon as the state receives funding from the federal government.

The move comes just after U.S. District Judge John McConnell of Rhode Island ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service to issue full November SNAP benefits by Friday for roughly 42 million low-income Americans.

The Trump administration has appealed that ruling.

Michigan SNAP recipients who normally receive their benefits on the third, fifth or seventh of the month should receive their full SNAP allotment within 48 hours of the state receiving the funds, Michigan officials said.

All other SNAP recipients will receive their full benefit payments on their normally scheduled date, Michigan officials said.

"We applaud Judge McConnell’s ruling requiring FNS to issue full SNAP benefits for November," MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel said. "Many Michigan families depend on SNAP to help put nutritious food on the table and today’s ruling ensures they won’t be left wondering how they will feed their children– especially with the upcoming holiday season."

Earlier this week, state health officials learned the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service was planning to reduce November's SNAP funding by roughly 50 percent. Prior to that, federal officials directed Michigan to hold November's SNAP benefits until further notice due to the federal government shutdown, state health officials said.

Michigan was one of 21 other states that claimed despite the USDA's claim of insufficient funds, Congress has appropriated billions of dollars in SNAP-specific contingency funds to the agency in case of a situation like the shutdown.

To help feed families amid the federal government shutdown, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently announced Michigan will provide $4.5 million to the Food Bank Council of Michigan.

The analysis of USDA Food and Nutrition Service data by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities shows that 1,474,400 Michiganders receive SNAP assistance. That’s 15 percent of the state population (1 in 7) who depend on benefits to keep food on the table.

According to the data, more than 59 percent of SNAP participants in Michigan are in families with children; more than 39 percent are in families with members who are older adults or are disabled; and more than 46 percent are in working families.