MARQUETTE — U.S. District Judge John McConnell of Rhode Island on Friday ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service to issue full November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for roughly 42 million low-income Americans.

As a result, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has directed its SNAP EBT vendor to begin issuing full SNAP benefits to Michigan SNAP recipients as soon as funding from FNS is received.

Absent a successful appeal by FNS, SNAP recipients who normally receive their benefits on the third, fifth or seventh of the month should receive their full SNAP allotment within 48 hours of MDHHS receiving the funds. All other SNAP recipients will receive their full benefit payments on their normally scheduled date.

“We applaud Judge McConnell’s ruling requiring FNS to issue full SNAP benefits for November,” Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director, said in prepared remarks. “Many Michigan families depend on SNAP to help put nutritious food on the table and today’s ruling ensures they won’t be left wondering how they will feed their children- especially with the upcoming holiday season.”

SNAP’s reach is vast. In the state of Michigan in Fiscal Year 2024, the average SNAP household received $335.03 in SNAP benefits per month, which is about $173 per person per month or $5.68 per person per day. Households with very low incomes receive more SNAP benefits than households closer to the poverty line because they need more help affording nutritious food, officials said. 

• 492,225 children benefit from SNAP.

• 38,513 veterans participating in SNAP. 

• 36% SNAP households have older adults. 

• 43% SNAP households have children. 

• 51% households have a person with a disability.  

• 78% of SNAP households include someone with earned income.

In Michigan, more than 9,700 retailers accept SNAP. In 2023, retailers redeemed over $3.6 billion in SNAP.  

In his ruling, McConnell stated that the USDA failed to consider the practical consequences associated with its decision to only partially fund SNAP and that USDA knew there would be a long delay in paying partial SNAP payments and failed to consider the harm individuals who rely on those benefits would suffer.

Earlier this week, MDHHS received communication from FNS indicating that FNS would reduce the maximum allotments to approximately 50% of the SNAP recipients’ benefit payments for the month of November. FNS had previously directed MDHHS to hold November SNAP issuance and ongoing benefits until further notice due to the federal government shutdown.

To help feed families amid the federal government shutdown, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently announced the state of Michigan will provide $4.5 million to the Food Bank Council of Michigan. This critical funding will help feed Michigan residents in all 83 counties and provide food delivery to those who can’t drive to their local food bank.

Locally, food banks across Marquette County and beyond have been preparing for an influx of clients.

To be eligible for SNAP in Michigan, applicants must be a U.S. citizen (or acceptable non-citizen status) and must live in Michigan. Eligibility is based on the financial situation of all members of a household. Everyone who lives together, purchases and prepares food together is considered a member of the same household group.

In order to determine if a household is eligible for SNAP, MDHHS will review a household’s expenses, assets and income. Expenses include rent, mortgage, utility bills, child support and dependent care expenses. For individuals with a disability or who are at least 60 years old, medical care, medical supplies and health insurance premiums may be included as an expense.

Bud Sargent can be reached ay 906-228-2500, extension 544. His email address is bsargent@miningjournal.net.