Michigan brings back food aid work rules in eight counties from 1 November
Food aid work rules return in eight Michigan counties and one city from Sunday, 1 November, after a federal waiver that had paused them ended. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced the change on 30 October.
The rules apply to able-bodied adults aged 18 to 64 who receive food aid through SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and who have no dependents under 14. They must work, volunteer or train for at least 80 hours a month, or they can only receive food aid for three months in any three-year period.
The eight counties are Alger, Arenac, Iosco, Iron, Luce, Montmorency, Oceana and Roscommon, along with the city of Bay City. Waivers remain in seven other counties and in Detroit, Eastpointe, Flint, Jackson and Saginaw, so the rules do not apply there yet.
People can also meet the rules through an approved training programme, or by volunteering at a non-profit. For volunteers, the hours needed are worked out from the household’s monthly food aid divided by Michigan’s minimum wage. Some people are excused, including those unable to work, pregnant women, people receiving unemployment benefits, students training at least half-time, and carers of a child under six or an incapacitated person.
The waivers had paused the rules in areas with high unemployment. Federal rules allow waivers where unemployment is above 10%, but changes to the federal waiver rules mean fewer areas now qualify. About 1.4 million people in Michigan receive SNAP, according to MDHHS.
Amy Epkey, acting director of MDHHS, said the priority was making sure people understood the changes and knew where to find help. People with questions can contact their local MDHHS office.
Why it matters
The rules affect thousands of people who rely on food aid, MDHHS said. Anyone who does not meet the hours or qualify for an exemption risks losing food aid after three months — a change that matters most in the eight counties and Bay City, where the waiver applied until now.
What happens next
The rules take effect on 1 November. People who think they may be affected should check their case on MI Bridges or contact their local MDHHS office to confirm whether the rules apply to them.
This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.
Sources
- https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/inside-mdhhs/newsroom/2026/10/30/federal-work-requirements-for-some-snap-recipients-begin-november-1 (Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, 30 October 2026)
- https://govtschemes.org/why-is-snap-enrollment-falling/ (Govt Schemes, 1 November 2026)
