LANSING, Mich. — More than 1.2 million Michiganders who are eligible for food assistance benefits will receive an additional payment by the end of January that raises 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, ending in June, according to a news release Thursday.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services advocated for the increase led by U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow and were glad to see it ultimately included in the recently-passed relief bill.
“No Michigander should worry about how they’ll put food on the table for themselves and their family, especially during a pandemic,” Whitmer said. “COVID-19 is still a very real threat to our state, and we must continue providing crucial support to families that need it most.”
Additional food assistance is on top of the benefits recipients got at the beginning of the month.
Another initiative allows anyone receiving food assistance who doesn’t already qualify for the maximum monthly benefits to see their payments raised to the maximum monthly amount for their household size.
