Food assistance dollars will be issued early in Michigan because of the continuing federal government shutdown.
Officials say beneficiaries of SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, will be issued food assistance for February on Saturday, Jan 19. That support would normally be issued during the Month of February.
Bob Wheaton is with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. He said the early issuance of food assistance come from guidelines from the US Department of Agriculture, which oversees the program.
“If the shutdown were to continue to drag out into February then they were not certain that they would be able to get those funds to the state because of the continuing shutdown. That’s why they are getting those funds out early.”
Wheaton said SNAP recipients should be aware the money is for February and should make sure to budget themselves through the next month.
“We don’t want them to think this is some kind of bonus payment or something like that and then be surprised in February when they don’t receive assistance.”
He said both SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and WIC, a nutrition program for women, infants, and children, have funding through February.
He said if the government shutdown continues through February it’s not clear what will happen.