Supreme Court Emergency Order pauses November SNAP payments

Nationwide emergency order will immediately prevent SNAP recipients from receiving further benefits

LANSING, Mich. - Tonight, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an emergency stay temporarily blocking an order to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to issue full November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for roughly 42 million low-income Americans.

To comply with the court's ruling, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is required to direct its SNAP EBT vendor to pause issuing SNAP benefit payments to Michigan recipients. November benefits that have not yet been issued will remain paused until the courts or USDA take further action to allow MDHHS to resume payment.

"We are disappointed by the federal government's continued efforts to prevent SNAP benefits from reaching the Michigan residents who rely on them," said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. "Taking this matter all the way to the Supreme Court creates uncertainty, confusion, and frustration. Worse than that, it punishes the more than one million Michigan residents who qualify for and rely on their benefits to put food on the table."

Consistent with the court order issued Thursday, MDHHS began sending full November SNAP payments. Today's late intervention prevents the department from finalizing all payments to Michigan recipients who have yet to receive their November benefits.

SNAP recipients are encouraged to reach out to their local MDHHS office with any questions regarding SNAP benefits or can check MI Bridges for updates.

To help feed families amid the federal government shutdown, Governor Whitmer recently announced the State of Michigan is providing $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.

Whitmer also recently led a group of governors in a letter calling on the Trump Administration to prevent disruption to SNAP during the federal government shutdown. Additionally, the Executive Office of the Governor and state departments have helped Michigan residents feed their families by:

• Continuing Double Up Food Bucks, a program that gives Michigan families money to purchase groceries, including fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Supporting Hunters Feeding Families, a program that helps Michiganders get venison or other fresh game to feed their families.
• Continuing to feed all 1.4 million public school students free breakfast and lunch.

To find additional resources:

• Dial 2-1-1 or visit https://www.mi211.org for free, confidential assistance and referrals to local food programs and support services.
• Visit the Food Bank Council of Michigan to locate nearby food banks and learn about additional hunger relief efforts.
• Call the Double Up Food Bucks program hotline at 866-586-2796, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Until Wednesday, Dec. 31, the program, which matches SNAP purchases of fruits and vegetables, will expand access so families can build up savings on their Double Up cards. Find a participating location near you: DoubleUpFoodBucks.org/find-a-location.

SNAP in Michigan

In FY 2024, the average SNAP household in Michigan 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.

• 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.

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.