What’s going on with SNAP benefits in Michigan?

About 1.4 million Michiganders are feeling the pinch as the federal government shutdown stalls food assistance payments and leaves food banks scrambling to fill the gap.

Editor’s note: This story was updated with new information about partial Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program payments being distributed in Michigan beginning on Saturday, Nov. 8.

 MICHIGAN—For more than a month, the federal government has been in shutdown mode. And now, the fallout has officially hit Michiganders where they feel it the most: the dinner table.

That’s because President Donald Trump’s administration froze federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) at the start of November, jeopardizing monthly payments that go out to roughly 42 million Americans—including about 1.4 million Michiganders who actively rely on the program to help put food on the table for their families.

This week, seniors, families with young children, and people with disabilities who typically see food assistance hit their Bridge Cards early in the month haven’t seen their payments arrive. 

Instead, state officials say only partial payments are coming—with only half of the usual payment arriving on Saturday, Nov. 8 for anyone who missed their usual deposit this week. All other SNAP recipients will receive partial benefits on their normally scheduled date this month. 

A chaotic rollout

Following a multi-state lawsuit that involved Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, two federal judges stepped into the fold late last week, ordering the Trump administration to resume at least partial funding for SNAP using a US Department of Agriculture contingency fund. 

But that emergency account only has enough cash to cover about half of normal benefits—and federal officials admit it could soon be depleted entirely. That’s why Michiganders’ benefits are thin this month, and facing an uncertain future as the federal government remains shut down. 

Adding to the confusion, Trump publicly contradicted his own administration, suggesting that SNAP benefits “will be given only when the Radical Left Democrats open up government.” (It’s worth noting here that Republicans control the White House, US House, and US Senate.)

Trump’s threat to withhold SNAP benefits from Americans came despite court orders requiring his administration to restart the program. His press secretary later tried to walk back those comments, saying “the administration is fully complying with the court order.” 

Real consequences for Michiganders

Michiganders are beginning to pay the price for the Trump administration’s inaction. 

At the Winston Group Home in Macomb County, staff are reportedly worried about feeding six residents with developmental disabilities after losing $1,600 in monthly SNAP support. And in Detroit, food banks like Forgotten Harvest have seen cars line up around the block. 

“Holding people hostage so they have to search for a next meal is reprehensible,” Lisa Lepine, who oversees several care facilities in Michigan, told reporters at Bridge Michigan this week.

Anti-hunger volunteers say they’ve never seen this level of demand. The Food Bank Council of Michigan says its member organizations are already stretched thin, and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has pledged $4.5 million in emergency state funding to keep shelves stocked. But still, that money will only cover about one day of food benefits for about 800,000 SNAP recipients. 

The Double Up Food Bucks program, which usually matches purchases of fruits and vegetables using food assistance benefits up to $20 a day, has also lifted the cap to an unlimited match. 

The Democratic-led state Senate also tried to pass a larger $71 million stopgap bill to cover the missing federal benefits, but Republican state House Speaker Matt Hall has refused to take it up—leaving food banks to shoulder the burden as families wait for clarity from Washington.

New SNAP applications will be processed but it’s still unclear whether those applicants will receive November benefits as state officials await further federal guidance, according to a press release from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).

“We share the disappointment many households feel about receiving only a portion of their November SNAP benefits,” MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel said in a statement. “These benefits are a vital lifeline for many Michigan families, especially with the rising cost of food.”

How to get help

If your SNAP benefits didn’t arrive on schedule, or if they’re not enough to prevent you from going hungry, you’re not alone—and help is available:

• Visit MI Bridges or contact your local Department of Health and Human Services office for updates on your benefits.
  
• Call 2-1-1 for free, confidential help connecting with local food pantries.
  
• The Food Bank Council of Michigan (800-552-4483) can direct you to the nearest distribution site. Macomb Defenders Rising also runs a directory for Metro Detroit.
• Seniors or adults with disabilities can also contact the Area Agency on Aging at 517-886-1029 for home-delivered meal options and other food assistance. 
• Call the Double Up Food Bucks program hotline at 866-586-2796 and find a participating location near you at DoubleUpFoodBucks.org/find-a-location.

READ MORE: How to help Michiganders who had their SNAP benefits disrupted

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