SNAP Emergency Allotments Are Ending In February

SNAP Emergency Allotments Are Ending In February

What is changing?

Recent federal legislation passed in December 2022 brings an end to the SNAP Emergency Allotments. These additional food assistance benefits have been issued since April 2020 and have been loaded onto SNAP participants’ Bridge Cards as a second payment each month. February will be the last month that people in Michigan and other states receive the extra food assistance benefits. Beginning in March, participants will receive only one monthly payment loaded to their Bridge Card, which is their regular SNAP benefit amount.

How can I prepare for these changes?

Because this is a change to federal policy, participants are unable to request a hearing from the
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) regarding this change. However,
there are ways in which you can be sure to maximize your SNAP benefits.

Make sure your information is up-to-date with MDHHS to receive all the benefits you are
eligible for. Be sure to report important changes to MDHHS like:

  • Your address to make sure you receive important updates about your benefits.
  • Your income and the income of everyone in your SNAP household.
    • Did you lose work hours or have your pay cut? If you are earning less, you may qualify for more SNAP benefits.
  • Your expenses and other allowable deductions.
    • If you are a senior or have a disability, do you pay more than $35 in medical expenses per month?
    • Are you paying more for child care? Or did your payments on rent, mortgage, utilities, or property taxes increase?

In some cases, reporting this may help you qualify for more benefits. Your information can be updated online in your MI Bridges account, or by contacting your local MDHHS office.

Connecting to Resources

  • Learn more about these changes at www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/end-phe
  • Call 2-1-1 or visit www.michigan.gov/mibridges to find and connect with community resources in local area.
  • Find your local food bank at www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank.
  • Call the Food and Other Resources (F.O.R.) Helpline at 1-888-544-8773 for assistance in applying for SNAP benefits, help finding a local food pantry or distribution, or referrals to other resources.
  • Follow the SNAP Outreach at Food Bank Council of Michigan Facebook page for information on programs that can save you money based on your participation in SNAP.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to frequently asked questions regarding the end of SNAP Emergency Allotments

SNAP is also known as the Food Assistance Program in Michigan.

What are SNAP Emergency Allotments?

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government temporarily increased SNAP benefits. Emergency Allotment (EA) SNAP benefits were issued to households in addition to their normal monthly SNAP benefit amount. As a result, households received more food assistance benefits each month than they would have normally been eligible for based on their income and expenses.

Why are the Emergency Allotments Ending?

A recent law passed by the federal government in December 2022 brings an end to the SNAP Emergency Allotments.

When will this change happen?

The last Emergency Allotment payment will be issued in February. The issuance dates will be between Feb. 18 and Feb. 27. You will receive your regular benefit amount beginning in March.

Who made this decision?

This is a federal policy change. After this change there will be no states providing SNAP Emergency Allotments. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services do not have control over this change.

Are my benefits going to decrease?

The additional food assistance benefits being sent out were a temporary increase in benefits due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Those additional benefits are ending. Your regular benefit amount is not affected by this change.

How much will my benefits decrease?

Your total food assistance benefits will be less as you will no longer receive the extra emergency allotment benefits. Beginning in March participants will only receive one monthly payment loaded to their EBT card, which is their regular SNAP benefit. Your regular benefit amount is not affected by this change.

Where can I find my regular benefit amount?

You can find your regular benefit amount in the following ways:

  • By logging into your MI Bridges account at MI Bridges.
  • By calling 1-844-464-3447 and following the prompts to check your benefits.
  • By viewing on the FIS ebtEDGE portal.

Do I need to spend all of my benefits each month?

No. The food assistance benefits on your EBT Card do not expire at the end of the month they are issued. The unused benefits are available for 274 days after issuance.

Can I request a hearing about this change?

No. This change in your food assistance benefit amount is because the extra COVID-19 food assistance benefits are ending February 2023, not because of changes to your individual case. As this is a change in federal policy, this change is not subject to a hearing.

Can I do anything to increase my benefit?

Make sure your information is up to date to receive your correct, full benefits.

In order to ensure you are receiving all the benefits you are eligible for, be sure to report important changes to MDHHS like:

  • Your Address to make sure you receive important updates.
  • The income of everyone in your SNAP household.
    • Did you lose work hours or have your pay cut? If you are earning less, you may qualify for more SNAP benefits.
  • Your expenses and other allowable deductions.
    • If you are a senior or have a disability, do you pay more than $35 in medical expenses per month?
    • Are you paying more for child care? Or did your rent, mortgage, or property taxes increase?

In some cases, reporting this may help you qualify for more SNAP. Your information can be updated online in your MI Bridges account, or by contacting your local MDHHS office.

What other help is available?

  • A list of available resources can be found here.
  • Call 2-1-1 to find food and other resources in your area or find your local food bank.
  • Follow the SNAP Outreach at Food Bank Council of Michigan Facebook page for updates and information on programs that can save you money based on your participation in SNAP.
  • For help finding a food pantry, assistance in applying for SNAP benefits, or referrals to other resources, call 1-888-544-8773.
    • The F.O.R. Helpline is operated by the Food Bank Council of Michigan, not MDHHS, and is therefore unable to answer case specific questions.

How can I spread the word about these changes?

  • Join a webinar hosted by the Food Bank Council of Michigan on February 13th at 2:00 pm to learn more about these changes and how SNAP participants can begin to prepare now.
  • Download this toolkit for fliers, social media posts, and other resources in English, Spanish, and Arabic to help spread the news in your community.

Food and Community Resources

Find food and community resources to assist in light of the end of SNAP Emergency Allotments

SNAP is also known as the Food Assistance Program in Michigan.

https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/end-phe

  • To learn more about these changes.

MI Bridges

  • Log in to MI Bridges to manage your case, apply for benefits, and explore community resources.

Find your local MDHHS office

  • Contact your local office for help updating your information.

Check your regular food assistance benefit amount

  • Follow the instructions on this page to check your regular benefit amount. Or call 1-844-464-3447 and follow the prompts to check your benefits.

Michigan 2-1-1

  • Call Michigan 2-1-1 for help finding additional resources.

Find your local food bank

  • Find your local food bank for assistance finding food resources.

Double Up Food Bucks

  • Visit Double Up Food Bucks to learn how to use your EBT card to get twice the fruits and veggies.

Affordable Connectivity Program

  • Learn more about how the Affordable Connectivity Program can help you receive a monthly discount on your internet service and a one-time discount on a laptop or tablet.

Lifeline

  • Visit Lifeline to learn about discounts on your monthly phone bill and for a list of participating service providers.

Museums For All

  • Through Museums for All, those receiving food assistance (SNAP benefits) can gain free or reduced admission to more than 1,000 museums throughout the United States simply by presenting their EBT card.

Free and Reduced-Price School Meals

  • When you receive SNAP benefits your children automatically qualify for free or reduced-price school meals. Please contact your child’s school or check the school’s website for information about applying to receive free and reduced-price meals for your children.

WIC (Women, Infants and Children)

  • WIC provides low-income pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women and infants and children up to age 5 with nutritious foods and education

Food and Other Resources (F.O.R.) Helpline: 1-888-544-8773

  • For help finding a food pantry, assistance in applying for SNAP benefits, or referrals to other resources, call 1-888-544-8773.
    • The F.O.R. Helpline is operated by the Food Bank Council of Michigan, not MDHHS, and is therefore unable to answer case specific questions.

News Release written by Michigan Health & Human Services | Bob Wheaton

Extra COVID-19 emergency food assistance payments ending after February due to recent federal legislation

Other help is available for people affected by the change

LANSING, Mich. – Families who receive food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) 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.

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 this 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, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (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, 2022.

To address the effects of the newly emerged COVID pandemic, in April 2020, some Michigan residents began getting additional food assistance. In May 2021, all eligible households began getting these extra monthly benefits. Michiganders have been receiving the extra food assistance in a separate, second issuance that occurs near the middle or end of each month.

The second payments bring all households to the maximum monthly payment for their group size. Anyone who was already receiving the maximum amount has been receiving an extra $95 per month.

Regular benefit amounts are based on household size, income and deductions. The amount of the decrease will vary based on each group’s circumstances. As an example, single-person households with a net monthly income of $700 could see their total monthly SNAP benefit drop from $281 to $71. A four-person household with a net income of $1,700 could see their assistance drop from $939 to $429.

Michiganders who receive food assistance can check their regular monthly food assistance amount on their Michigan Bridge Card by going online to www.michigan.gov/MIBridges or calling 844-464-3447. Or they can go the ebtEDGE portal or call 888-678-8914 to check their remaining balance available to spend on food.  Customer service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Spanish and Arabic service is available. If you are deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing or speech-impaired, call the Michigan Relay Center at 7-1-1.

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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