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LANSING -- Changes to federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility requirements over the past year have left many Michigan residents with no access to food assistance.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed last year, is causing struggles for those who rely on SNAP, officials said.
The work hour mandate to qualify for benefits is 80 hours a month, approximately 20 hours a week. Exemptions to the work requirement also changed.
The work requirement age limit was expanded for able-bodied adults without dependents by 10 years. It initially applied to those 18-54 and is now 18-64.
There were more exemptions from the work requirement such as parents with children under 18, veterans, homeless individuals and former foster children. Now, veterans, homeless recipients and former foster children are no longer exempt and must find and keep jobs to remain eligible.
Parents are now exempt only if their children are under 14.
Those changes are pushing people out of the system, said Julie Cassidy, a senior policy analyst for the Michigan League for Public Policy.
Cassidy said the new paperwork process to keep benefits is now more complicated, confusing and time-consuming.
"Getting all the documentation and having to prove to the federal government every month that they are meeting the work requirements or qualify for an exemption is difficult. There is a lot of room for error in that process," she said.
Julie Cassidy is a policy analyst at the Michigan League for Public Policy. (Photo courtesy of Michigan League for Public Policy)
The Michigan League for Public Policy is worried about recipients who were exempt before but now need to meet work requirements, Cassidy said.
"Groups like parents of older children, adults 55-64, veterans, youth aging out of foster care and people who are experiencing homelessness are all subject to challenges to getting employed in a steady manner and getting paid a living wage," she said.
"We don't think taking food assistance away from them is going to help them get a job or move towards self-efficiency," she said.
Karley Abramson, a health policy research associate for the Citizens Research Council of Michigan, said those who lost benefits or are struggling with the process should take advantage of local food banks and pantries.
She said that food banks and pantries are seeing an increase in demand since the SNAP changes.
"The biggest resource is food banks and pantries. There is also a universal lunch program which provides free meals to school children," Abramson said.
Karley Abramson is the health policy research associate at the Citizens Research Council of Michigan. (Photo courtesy of Citizens Research Council of Michigan)
With increased demand on food banks, the charitable food network cannot fully replace federal assistance, said Sheril Kirshenbaum, the chief external relations officer for the Food Bank Council of Michigan.
For every meal the charitable food network provides, SNAP provides about nine, she said.
Sheril Kirshenbaum is the chief external relations officer at the Food Bank Council of Michigan. (Courtesy photo)
Food banks do a great job providing what they can, Kirshenbaum said, and they also encourage people to reach out to other sources if they need to.
"Our food and other resources helpline offers a lot of opportunities for guidance and support if you are confused about anything," she said. The helpline number is 888-544-8773.
There is also Michigan 211 to connect callers with local resources like pantries or to get information about other meal programs.
Kirshenbaum said that anyone who is navigating the paperwork for SNAP benefits should document everything and not assume that their status has changed due to new rules.