LANSING — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Tuesday that all Michigan families who are eligible for food assistance benefits will continue to receive at least an additional $95 monthly payment in April to help lower the cost of groceries.

The additional assistance will help approximately 1.31 million Michiganders in more than 700,000 households.

In April 2020, some Michigan residents began receiving additional food assistance under this program. In May 2021, all eligible households began getting extra monthly benefits. Federal approval is necessary every month.

Eligible clients will see additional food assistance benefits on their Bridge Card from April 16-25. These benefits will be loaded onto Bridge Cards as a separate payment from the assistance that is provided earlier in the month.

All households eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program receive an increase of at least $95 monthly, even if they are already receiving the maximum payment or are close to that amount.

Households that received over $95 to bring them to the maximum payment for their group size will continue to receive that larger amount.

The federal government is providing additional funding to states for food assistance under House Resolution 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

Eligible families do not need to re-apply to receive the additional benefits.

People who receive food assistance can check their benefits balance on their Michigan Bridge Card by going online to www.michigan.gov/MIBridges or calling a consumer service representative toll-free at 888-678-8914.