To continue helping with the high cost of food, all Michigan families who are eligible again for food assistance can expect additional assistance this month before the holidays.
Michigan families receiving the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, will receive at least $95 more in December, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced Tuesday.
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The additional food assistance to eligible families will help more than 1.3 million Michiganders in more than 700,000 households, according to a press release from MDHHS.
“This extra $95 will help Michiganders feed their families during the holiday season,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a release. “I will continue to work with our partners at the federal and state levels to ensure residents can keep their hard-earned dollars to pay for other important household expenses.”
As with previous extended benefits, the additional amount will be automatically loaded onto Bridge Cards. The benefits will be added by December 24 and will be shown as a separate payment from the benefits already loaded on the cards earlier this month. There is no need to reapply for additional benefits, MDHHS says.
In October, food assistance benefit recipients also received a cost of living increase.
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Food inflation has been in double digits since this time last year. Consumers are paying more for grocery items like eggs and dairy.
In November, grocery spending rose 12% over the past 12 months, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) monthly Consumer Price Index report released last Tuesday. The cost of cereals, bakery products, dairy products and related dairy products increased by more than 16% year-on-year. Eggs cost about 50% more than last year.
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In addition to additional benefits, Meijer offers SNAP customers discounts on SNAP-eligible products. To make the discount, which is 10% off store-bought fresh fruits and vegetables, possible, Meijer received a waiver from the USDA. The discount will be provided to SNAP customers until December 31.
The federal government is providing additional funding to those receiving SNAP benefits in response to COVID-19 under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Households, even if they receive the maximum payment or close to it, will receive an additional benefit, according to CISS.
People can check their Bridge Card balance online at michigan.gov/MIBridges or by calling 888-678-8914. The customer service line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Spanish and Arabic services available. Those who are deaf, deaf-blind or hard of hearing or have a speech impediment can call the Michigan Relay Center at 711. For questions about additional benefits, call or email your caseworker.
Here are the maximum benefits that recipients will receive:
- $281 per person
- Two people: $516
- Three people: $740
- Four people: $939
- Five people: $1,116
- Six people: $1,339
- Seven people: $1,480
- Eight people: $1,691
Contact Detroit Free Press food writer Susan Selasky with food and restaurant news at [email protected] Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter.
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