How To Qualify For Food Stamps In Michigan

Michigan Wic Food Guide

WIC Food Guide Michigan The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children is a federal grant for qualifying low income pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women and their children up to the age of five. The aim is to provide healthy, quality nutritional support to women and their children who need it during this crucial phase in healthy development. This is an important part of the comprehensive MI food stamps benefits, and the WIC food guide is available on Michigans state website.

Keep in mind that having children under the age of five creates additional obligations for food stamp beneficiaries. Children aged 5 and below must receive all vaccinations recommended by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.Cash assistance to households that do not meet this requirement is reduced by $25 each month. Exemptions are made for religious beliefs and if there are unique medical circumstances that would make an immunization inappropriate for your child. Michigan Bridge Card Rules

After securing benefits with a qualifying application for food stamps MI residents must follow the benefits programs rules. The MDHHS Office of the Inspector General strictly enforces all of the rules for Michigan foodstamps benefits. The OIG exists to deter, detect, and investigate fraud and misuse of Michigan food stamp funds, with the goal of ensuring taxpayer dollars are used toward their intended and lawful purpose.

Products You Cannot Buy Using Food Stamps In Michigan

Although there are food items you can buy with food stamps in Michigan, there are also food items that you cannot purchase with food stamps. The USDA has listed food items that are ineligible to be purchased with SNAP funds. Households are not allowed to buy the following items:

• Beer, wine, liquor
• Foods prepared for immediate consumption
• Hot food
• Live animals

Exceptions to the rule for live animals includes fish removed from water or animals slaughtered before being picked up from the store. Furthermore, any item with a Supplement Facts label is considered a supplement and therefore not an eligible food item. Vitamins and medicines cannot be purchased with these SNAP food benefits. Other non-food items that you cannot purchase with food stamps include the following:

• Pet foods
• Cosmetics
• Hygiene items

It is also important to remember that you cannot buy food from restaurants with your Michigan Bridge card. If a business makes 50 percent of gross sales in heated food items, you cannot purchase items from them with funds from the food stamps program.

If you are buying these items in conjunction with your SNAP-eligible food items, just make two different transactions. Separate your SNAP items to make your first transaction and then add your ineligible items afterwards, using a different payment method for purchase.

How To Apply For Food Assistance In Michigan

State of Michigan Department of Human Services offers a booklet that has an application form for Michigan Food Assistance Program along with other assistance programs.

Applicants can apply online, get the FAP application from Michigan DHS website, or the local area DHS office.

You can apply for Food Assistance and other listed assistance programs. Answer all questions related to what you are applying for, fill out all required information, and mail or turn the application to the DHS office in your area.

In case you do not have all the information that is required you may turn in your assistance application incomplete but it must have your name, address , and signature. The DHS office must accept it with the current date. If you are approved later this is the date you will be entitled to start receiving Food Assistance Benefits.

Before a decision is made a DHS specialist has to interview you and verify all the paperwork. Most interviews are held by phone but the applicants are allowed to have an in-person interview upon request.

The DHS may ask you to provide some supporting documents that would help DHS specialist determine your eligibility.

If the DHS finds you eligible for Food Assistance benefits, they will send you a letter stating how much food assistance benefits and for how long your household is eligible for before a review of your case is due. In case your application for food assistance is denied, you will get a letter explaining the reason for denial.

Also Check: How To Get A Free Food Stamp Phone

Citizenship And Residency Requirements For Snap In Michigan

In order to meet the food stamp qualifications to receive FAP, applicants must be a U.S. citizen or legal alien living in Michigan. Non-Michigan residents cannot receive food stamps in Michigan, and undocumented or non-qualifying immigrants cannot receive benefits either. Qualifying immigrants include, but are not limited to:

• Refugees admitted under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act .
• Asylum seekers admitted under section 208 of the INA.
• Certain Iraqi and Afghan immigrants admitted under Section 101 of the INA.
• Certain American Indians born outside of the United States.
• Trafficking victims admitted under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act.
• Cuban or Haitian immigrants admitted under the Refugee Education Assistance Act.
• Lawful permanent residents receiving government payments for blindness or disability.
• Lawful permanent residents who served in the military as well as their children and spouses.

In general, someone must have or qualify for a Social Security Number to receive food stamps benefits. It is important to note that a household is not automatically disqualified from receiving benefits if one or several members do not qualify for food stamps. In such cases, the household can still receive benefits for the members that do qualify.

Is Each States Snap Food Stamps Application Different

When learning how to apply for Food Stamps in the United States, claimants may wonder if the form is uniform throughout the country. However, petitioners must remember that since each state manages its local SNAP program, a food assistance form in one part of the United States may be formatted differently than an application in another region. Therefore, claimants must remember that these petitions are not transferable across state lines. In order to eliminate any confusion or delays throughout the application process, it is imperative that candidates be sure that they are using their states issued SNAP application when they file for program benefits.

Also Check: Grocery Stores That Take Food Stamps

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Am I Eligible To Apply For Mi Bridge Card

Before submitting an application for Michigan Bridge card benefits, its important to bear in mind that Michigan food stamp eligibility is also conditioned on other factors in addition to income and the number of household members. To find out if you qualify for Michigan food benefits, review the following state requirements:

Food assistance MI and the unemployed Unemployed residents may be eligible for assistance if they file an MI Bridges application. That is, if youre not currently leaving secure employment or reducing hours for the purpose of qualifying. Residents aged 60 and above, and those who live with a minor child or are pregnant do not have to work to get food stamps.

Most able-bodied adults aged 18 to 49, who are living without any dependents can only get food stamps for 3 months out of every 3 years unless they are working or training for at least 80 hours a month. Michigan did not have these requirements until recently, but a change in SNAP benefits eligibility rules at the USDA in December 2019 may have affected your eligibility.

MI food stamps and drug felons Michigan does not disqualify an eligible MI EBT application on the basis of previous drug related convictions.

The homeless and food stamps in Michigan Having a mailing address is not a requirement for Michigan EBT assistance to those who need it and otherwise qualify. Homeless residents who live in a shelter and get free meals are still eligible to receive food stamps.

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Maximum Monthly Amounts On Food Stamps

There is a maximum monthly allotment based on the size of the household. When determining your benefit allotment, they will take your net monthly income and multiply it by 30%. That number will then be subtracted from the maximum monthly allotment. The remaining amount is the total monthly allotment you will receive based on your application. This amount may change if your income or household size changes.

SNAP benefits are a specific money amount provided to recipients each month to go towards nutritional foods. Recipients are provided with an electronic benefits transfer card, and money is added to the card each month. You can check your balance by phone, and any unused funds at the end of the month remain on the card to be used to following month. Once allocated, benefits will not expire.

Benefits can be used to buy food and drinks at most grocery stores, convenient stores, gas stations, pharmacies that sell food, and farmers markets. Benefits cannot be used to buy alcohol, tobacco, medicine, hot food, food meant to be eaten in the store, or any non-food items.

Michigan Food Stamps Interview Process

Once you are ready for your food stamp interview in MI, you will have two options as to how you want to do it. You may have your interview in person at the local SNAP office or by phone. Regardless of which method you choose, the specialist can provide you with the following:

• What needs to get verified
• An explanation of your right to privacy and confidentiality
• How often you will receive your benefits if you qualify

Also Check: How Old Can You Be To Get Food Stamps

Pilot Food Stamp Program

The 18 years between the end of the first FSP and the inception of the next were filled with studies, reports, and legislative proposals. Prominent US senators actively associated with attempts to enact a food stamp program during this period included George Aiken, Robert M. La Follette Jr., Hubert Humphrey, Estes Kefauver, and Stuart Symington. From 1954 on, US RepresentativeLeonor Sullivan strove to pass food-stamp program legislation.

On September 21, 1959, P.L. 86-341 authorized the Secretary of Agriculture to operate a food-stamp system through January 31, 1962. The Eisenhower Administration never used the authority. However, in fulfillment of a campaign promise made in West Virginia, President John F. Kennedy‘s first Executive Order called for expanded food distribution and, on February 2, 1961, he announced that food stamp pilot programs would be initiated. The pilot programs would retain the requirement that the food stamps be purchased, but eliminated the concept of special stamps for surplus foods. A Department spokesman indicated the emphasis would be on increasing the consumption of perishables.

Of the program, US Representative Leonor K. Sullivan of Missouri asserted, “…the Department of Agriculture seemed bent on outlining a possible food stamp plan of such scope and magnitude, involving some 25 million persons, as to make the whole idea seem ridiculous and tear food stamp plans to smithereens.”

Michigan Food Assistance Program

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program , or the Food Stamps Program as it is known by the public, is a federal program that provides grants to the States for purpose of reducing hunger and malnutrition in all eligible households across the nation. SNAP helps provide healthy food to qualifying low-income families with children, elderly or disabled in each State of the USA, including Michigan.

It is important to know that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is a federal entitlement program funded by U.S. Government grants. Any U.S. Citizen, even some legal alien residents, will get free food assistance as long as they meet the SNAP eligibility guidelines. In other words, there is enough Supplemental Nutrition Assistance for every American that qualifies. Learn more about SNAP.

In Michigan, the SNAP is administered by the Michigan Department of Human Services. The Federal Government oversees the State operation of the SNAP. According to the Michigan Department of Human Services, FAP provides benefits that can be used to buy food for your household. People of all ages may receive food assistance in Michigan.

Also Check: How To Know If I Am Eligible For Food Stamps

Michigan Food Stamp Income Limit By Household Size

Members of Household and Gross Monthly Income Limit:

• $2,082
• $7,238

Gross monthly income is pre-tax income. Unearned income counts toward your income as well as earned income. Examples of unearned income are: Michigan cash assistance amounts, charitable help with bill payments, cash assistance to for free gas, Social Security checks, unemployment insurance payouts, and child support payments received. Bear in mind that gross monthly income requirements dont necessarily meet net income requirements. Net income limits are more complicated, and involve calculating deductions and tax credits to determine eligibility.

A household member is someone who lives in the same residence as you and who you buy and make your food with/for. Just because you live with someone, that does not necessarily mean they are considered a household member for the purposes of your MI EBT application. If you live with tenants who are subletting a room of your home, or adult children aged 22 and above who buy and make their own food, they do not count as household members. Children under the age of 22 who are living with you always count as household members even if they pay for their own food.

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Michigan Food Assistance Approval Rules Proofs Required

The Michigan DHS specialist has to interview you and verify the provided information before determining if the household is eligible for Food Assistance Benefits.

Here is a list of examples of information and proofs that may be needed at the interview:

• Drivers License
• Pregnancy
• School enrollment

This is not a complete list and depending on the case the DHS may request additional types of proof and application supporting documents.

Applicants for FAP benefits in Michigan should get a response within 30 days from the date their application was accepted by the DHS office. When start getting food stamps benefits, households must report any changes of their situation in a set by the agency period of time in order to assure their participation in the Michigan Food Assistance Program.

Under the simplified reporting option, households are required to report changes in income, household formation, employment, and household assets between certification and scheduled reporting periods within a set period of time.

The Michigan DHS has a list with the types of changes you must report:

Federal SNAP regulations require all nonexempt household members to comply with work requirements. Work requirements include registering for work, not voluntarily quitting a job, and accepting a suitable employment offer for all SNAP benefit recipients age 16 through 59 if they are not exempt.

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