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Extra COVID food aid to end

LANSING, Mich. — Families who receive food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program should prepare for the end of the increase in benefits that have helped address food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic due to recent federal legislation, state officials said.

February will be the last month that people in Michigan and other states receive the extra food assistance benefits — which have been at least $95 more per month. In March the additional benefits will no longer be issued.

People who receive food assistance should prepare and seek needed resources to accommodate this reduction in their benefits. Among the options are food banks and other agencies in their local communities, which can be found at www.michigan.gov/MIBridges under the “Explore Resources” tab or by calling 2-1-1.

People affected by the upcoming changes can also find help on the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services website , which includes information about resources such as local food banks, free and reduced-price school lunches, the WIC program for women and babies, and Double Up Food Bucks — which provides $1 in Double Up Food Bucks for every $1 (up to $20 per day) that Bridge Card users spend on fresh fruits and vegetables purchased from participating retailers.

For family budgeting purposes, SNAP benefits are available to use for nine months once they are issued.

“Approximately 1.3 million Michiganders have received additional food assistance monthly during the pandemic to help them put food on the table in challenging times,” said Lewis Roubal, MDHHS chief deputy director for opportunity. “We appreciate the support from our federal partners. Now that we know the additional benefits will be going away, we want to make sure our clients are prepared for this change, as we realize inflation is affecting all of us.”

The additional food assistance was ended in the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 that was signed Dec. 29.

More information about the how benefits connected to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency are changing can be found at Michigan.gov/2023BenefitChanges and details about the SNAP changes can be found on the Food Assistance Program webpage.

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