In a move to mitigate the effects of the federal government shutdown on food aid, Michigan has expanded its Double Up Food Bucks program, a relief effort designed to help those using the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to get better access to healthy foods. As CBS News Detroit reported, the expansion includes lifting a $20-per-day match limit, removing expiration dates on Double Up earnings, and adding frozen produce to the list of eligible foods.
Given the halt in additional SNAP benefits set to start on November 1, due to a federal budget impasse, the Double Up Food Bucks program, which began in Detroit and has spread to nearly 250 locations, will now offer recipients more flexibility. Michigan Bridge Card holders, who've been automatically eligible, can now take advantage of an unlimited match to stretch their benefits further and can also use any previously earned Double Up perks without an expiration date, as stated by FOX 2 Detroit.
On top of these changes, starting November 1, the Double Up participants will receive a $40 voucher specifically for purchasing fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables. This can be loaded directly onto Double Up cards and apps or as printed vouchers at participating locations. "These changes to the Double Up Program will go a long way in ensuring access to healthy food can continue while we push our federal partners to reach a deal that avoids more harm to Michigan families," Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer told SOOLEADER.
Michigan residents can still use any SNAP benefits already on their EBT cards, and all Double Up Food Bucks previously earned remain accessible. Shoppers can now use Double Up on more diversified options, including those that are frozen with no added salt, sugar, or oil. "When SNAP is disrupted, families feel it immediately—and so do the local grocers and farmers who serve them. That’s why we’re acting quickly to ease the burden, expand access to healthy food, and support the community food retailers that keep fresh produce on shelves and dollars circulating locally," Kate Krauss, CEO of Fair Food Network, emphasized, per SOOLEADER. In 2024, SNAP households in Michigan received an average of $335.03 monthly, which equates to about $5.68 per person per day, indicating the program's significant role in supporting the nutritional needs of nearly half a million children, tens of thousands of veterans, and many households with older adults or individuals with disabilities.
