LANSING (WWJ) -- A change in the law in Michigan will make it easier for people in need to get food assistance, according to the governor's office.
Announced on Wednesday, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed Senate Bill 35, bipartisan legislation improving access to food assistance and lowering costs for Michiganders by eliminating the asset test for SNAP benefits.
Officials say Michigan is joining 36 other states in "eliminating this "burdensome requirement on food assistance, ensuring families can get the help they need to put food on the table without being forced to sell their car or empty their savings."
The change in the law will give families more financial stability and reduce the amount of red tape and paperwork for health department case workers so they can focus on helping people, according to Whitmer.
“No one should be forced to sell their car or empty their savings account to feed themselves and their children,” said Whitmer, in a statement.
“Improving access to food assistance is a commonsense step already taken by 36 other states to lower costs for families and ensure they can get the benefits they need. Before this bill, Michiganders with more than $15,000 in assets—including the value of their vehicle and savings—would not qualify for food assistance. This forced people who might have been laid off or just need a little breathing room to make impossible choices to quality for SNAP. Food benefits must be accessible for Michiganders who need them without illogical tradeoffs. I am proud to get this done and grateful for all the organizations, advocates, and legislators—including Senator Irwin—who fought hard to make it happen.”
State Senator Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) said he's glad that Michigan will now use national eligibility standards rather than spending state taxpayers' money to block residents from the help they need.
"“Our safety net works better if it can catch people before they hit the ground; now families who face financial difficulties won’t be required to deplete all their savings and risk losing everything before they can get food assistance," Irwin said.
Monique Stanton, President & CEO of the Michigan League for Public Policy said this move will help 710,500 Michigan households that receive SNAP —including more than 531,000 children
“Now, instead of punishing families who have hit a roadblock, we can make sure they are able to put food on the table as they work to regain financial security. Eliminating the asset test means that kids can be strong for school and play, and parents can focus on the future,” she said.
In addition, Stanton said the move will also help reduce paperwork for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services frontline caseworkers, while helping stimulate the economy by ensuring families have enough money to buy food at their local grocery stores.
According to Feeding America: one in nine Michiganders, or about 1.18 million people, are facing hunger. Of those, 282,320 are children. According to the nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency, the bill will likely have no impact on the state’s finances.
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