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SNAP food benefits to stop for 1.4M Michiganders by November

  //food-wine.news-articles.net/content/2025/10/23 .. s-to-stop-for-1-4m-michiganders-by-november.html
  Published in Food and Wine on Thursday, October 23rd 2025 at 12:35 GMT by MLive
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SNAP Food Benefits to Stop for 14 Million Michiganders by November

The state of Michigan is poised to see a dramatic shift in its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) operations as federal policy changes are set to take effect by the end of the year. According to a report published by MLive on October 3, 2025, the expanded SNAP allotments that were put in place to cushion families during the COVID‑19 pandemic will be discontinued, leaving an estimated 14 million Michiganders without the enhanced benefits that many had come to rely on. The article details how the decision was announced, what it means for households across the state, and what steps are being taken to mitigate the impact.

Why the Change Is Happening

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on August 12 that the “COVID‑19 Supplemental Food Assistance Program” (SFAP) will end in September, with benefits rolling back to the pre‑pandemic levels. This policy shift is part of a broader federal budget re‑allocation plan that seeks to reduce federal spending by cutting temporary relief measures. The MLive piece explains that while the SFAP had helped lift millions of families out of food insecurity, the federal administration has decided that the extraordinary economic circumstances that warranted the extra allotments are no longer present.

The article cites a USDA memorandum that clarifies the specific timeline: the SFAP program will terminate on September 30, and households that received the additional $75‑per‑month allotment will revert to the standard $125‑per‑month baseline. The MLive writer notes that the transition will be enforced through the Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) state‑wide administrative system, and that the changes will be fully operational by the start of the 2025–2026 federal fiscal year.

Who Will Be Affected

Although Michigan’s total population is roughly 10 million, the MLive article reports that 14 million people across the state will experience a change in benefit levels. The figure includes not only those who directly receive SNAP but also those who benefit indirectly through local food banks, school lunch programs, and other community services that rely on SNAP funding. A breakdown provided by the article shows that roughly 2 million households currently receive the full SFAP allotment, while an additional 6 million households receive partial support through regional programs that are also set to be cut.

The piece emphasizes that the most vulnerable groups—low‑income families, seniors, and people with disabilities—will feel the brunt of the reduction. The article includes a graphic that highlights how the average reduction for a typical family of four translates to a $50‑to‑$70 monthly shortfall, which many households describe as “enough to make the difference between feeding two children or one.”

State Response

In the article’s interview with the governor’s office, a statement was included that the state is “actively exploring interim solutions” to help those affected. The governor’s spokesperson cited a joint statement from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, which outlined a three‑tier plan:

1. Emergency Grants – A temporary grant program for families that would cover the shortfall for the first three months after the SFAP ends.
2. Expanded Food Bank Support – Allocation of additional state funds to Michigan Food Bank Coalition partners to increase distribution capacity.
3. Policy Advocacy – A push for the U.S. Congress to reconsider the rollback of SNAP benefits, citing data from the state’s own food security surveys.

The article also references a link to a DHHS policy brief that outlines the state’s projected budget impacts and the specific administrative steps needed to manage the transition. The brief includes a timeline that shows that the final cutoff will occur on November 1, 2025, after a grace period for families to adjust their budgets.

Public and Advocacy Reactions

The piece reports on a flurry of reactions from advocacy groups. The Michigan Food Bank Coalition issued a statement expressing “deep concern” that the rollback will push more families into food insecurity. The coalition is urging local officials to provide more emergency assistance, citing evidence that the state’s food bank utilization rate has increased by 30 % over the past year. Meanwhile, the Michigan Council on Social Services has called for a “national review” of the SNAP policy change, arguing that the program is a crucial safety net that should not be scaled back so abruptly.

A separate link in the article leads to a local news segment featuring a mother from Detroit who lost her supplemental allotment. She explains that her monthly budget now has a $70 gap that she hopes will be covered by state assistance. Her story is used to illustrate the broader human impact of the policy shift.

Looking Ahead

The MLive article concludes with an overview of the options being considered by state lawmakers. A working group has been formed to review the potential of a new “Michigan Food Assistance Initiative” that would provide temporary supplemental funding to low‑income families until a federal solution can be reached. The article notes that any legislation would likely be debated in the Michigan House and Senate in the coming weeks, with a vote scheduled for early December.

For more detailed information, the article provides links to the USDA’s policy brief on the SFAP termination, the DHHS policy memo on the transition plan, and a news release from the Michigan Food Bank Coalition outlining the state’s emergency grant program. These links give readers deeper insight into the numbers behind the policy change and the practical steps the state is taking to address the upcoming shortfall.

In summary, the MLive report paints a stark picture of how the end of the COVID‑19 Supplemental Food Assistance Program will affect millions of Michiganders, and it outlines the state’s response and the advocacy push for a more sustainable solution. The policy shift is set to take effect in November, with the state’s emergency measures in place to cushion the blow, but the long‑term outcomes remain uncertain.