Last week, a storm raged through Michigan, leaving thousands of households in darkness as power lines succumbed to the brutal thunderstorms. In the wake of this disruption, many families in the state receiving food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) found their food stocks spoiled.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), in a statement released Thursday, announced that SNAP recipients may now be eligible for reimbursement for food spoiled during these power outages. It’s essential to note that the deadline to apply for this benefit replacement is Monday.
However, this program is only available to individuals and families already receiving SNAP benefits, and it does not apply to those enrolled under the Pandemic-EBT benefits. The amount of reimbursement is contingent on the value of food each household lost, up to the maximum benefits they typically receive in a month.
For example, if a person usually receives up to $281 in benefits each month and lost $100 worth of food due to the storm, they could receive a supplement of $100. Should their loss exceed that, they could receive up to their maximum benefit amount, which in this case is $281.
The maximum benefits by household size are as follows, but actual amounts may vary:
- One person: $281
- 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
As reported by the MDHHS, the following counties experienced power outages: Wayne, Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw, Branch, Hillsdale, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, and Monroe. Regardless of the county, all SNAP recipients in Michigan who experienced food loss due to a confirmed power outage or storm damage are eligible to apply for these renewed benefits.
To request replacement benefits, SNAP participants should call the MDHHS at 844-464-3447, providing documentation of the power outages from their energy provider.
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