If you are currently getting public assistance benefits such as food assistance and are worried that the federal stimulus payments might impact that assistance, rest easy. The Michigan Department of Health & Human Services says the federal money will not reduce the amount of public assistance benefits that anyone receives.
The IRS is issuing the Economic Impact Payment to eligible taxpayers under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or simply CARES.
Lewis Roubal, the department’s Chief Deputy Director for Opportunity, says, “MDHHS wants to make sure that Michiganders who rely on food assistance and other federal benefits programs know that these stimulus payments will have no effect on their benefits,” and adds, “Families are suffering from economic distress as a result of COVID-19 and its impact on the economy. We don’t want them to worry about losing other benefits as a result of the stimulus payments.”
Stimulus payments will not affect any of the following public assistance benefits:
- Food Assistance Program benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
- Cash assistance under the Family Independence Program or Refugee Cash Assistance program.
- Healthcare coverage, including Medicaid, Healthy Michigan Plan and MIChild.
- State Emergency Relief.
- Child Development and Care (childcare reimbursement).
- Women, Infant and Children (WIC).
To apply for public assistance benefits, go online to www.michigan.gov/MIBridges. For more information about public assistance benefits programs, you can visit the Assistance Programs page on the MDHHS website.
MDHHS is not involved in the stimulus payments and thus does not have information to provide on the status of anyone’s payment. For more information on those you are encouraged to visit the IRS website.
