Step 1 (optional): Take the pre-screening test here.
Step 2: Apply in one of the following ways:
- Apply online here.
- Request an application from your local department of human services (DHS) office.
- Go to your local department of human services (DHS) office to fill out an application in person.
Step 3: Once you have completed your application, mail, fax, or deliver it to your local DHS office.
Note: Find your DHS office here.
For assistance, please call: 1-800-481-4989
More On Michigan Food Stamps
For helping low income households having trouble paying for food, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) was created. SNAP is usually called food stamps, as formerly, colored stamps were given and used to buy food. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (also known as food stamps) aids millions of people. In fact, it helped more than 40 million folks in the year 2010.
Lower income families living in the U.S. can request food stamps benefits whatever their ethnic background, gender, religious beliefs, or even background is. In the year 2008, individuals receiving assistance from SNAP averaged $101 in food aid every month.
Requirements That Must Be Met
There are specific requirements a person has to satisfy to be eligible to collect aid from the food stamp program. Additionally, there are several documents an applicant is going to need throughout the food stamps application and interview process.
One particular requirement that pertains to most, is that you can not own any greater than $2,000 in assets if you are below 60 years old. If a person within your household, or you, are at least sixty years old, then the limit is brought up to $3,000. TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program) or SSI (Supplemental Security Income), aren’t considered assets when you are applying for food stamps. What is counted as assets is any cash you’ve got, money that you have saved in a bank account, or even your automobile (in some circumstances).
Another particular requirement is that you have to meet a specific income limit, that’s dependent on what kind of money you are generating and how many persons you’ve got currently living with you in your household.
How much your expenses are will also be considered while asking for SNAP benefits. Child care, elderly care, rent, mortgage, and utilities are expenditures that are factored in. If you have medical related expenses, these might also be looked at.
Michigan Work Requirements
If you decide to apply for food stamps in Michigan, there are some requirements pertaining to work that you need to know. Failure to follow these requirements will most likely result in a retraction of food stamp benefits.
If you are working when you apply for food stamps or if you have been working within the last 30 days, you cannot lower the amount of hours you work to under 30 a week, you cannot quit a job that provides 30 a week or more, and you cannot be fired for either missing work, being late or for bad behavior.
If you do not have a job or you work 29 hours each week or less, you are required to accept a job offering 30 hours or more each week. Actively pursue all appropriate actions to gain employment as required by unemployment compensation rules.
There are, of course, exceptions to these work requirements. A few of the exemptions include people under the age of 16 or over the age of 59, caretakers of children under the age of 6, school, and pregnancy. For a longer list of exemptions, click here. For a full list of all exemptions from the working rules, please contact your case worker or local office.
How long will I be able to receive food stamps?
The general rule in Michigan regarding how long an individual can receive food stamps is 3 months out of every 3 years. However, some people may be exempt from this rule. For instance, if you are working 80 hours a month or more, deferred from the job requirements or you volunteer for Community Services, you may be able to receive food stamps for a longer period of time. For a complete list of exemptions, click here.
The EBT Card
An EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) card is provided to those who are found eligible and pass the application and interview process. An EBT card is very much like a debit card and can be used at most food stores, as well as a number of qualifying convenience stores or farmers markets.