Able-bodied adults without dependents in four Michigan counties, Kent, Oakland, Ottawa and Washtenaw Counties, will be required by the federal government to meet work requirements that have been waived for more than a decade to continue receiving food assistance benefits. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is notifying this week the approximately 14,000 people who will be affected, of the change which will be effective as of Jan. 1. Able-bodied adults without dependents in those four counties will have a three-month federal time limit for receiving food assistance benefits without meeting the reinstated work requirements.

Laura Seyfried, director the Community Resource Center, believes this may affect some of our community members receiving food assistance benefits. She noted that Manchester area residents may call the CRC at 428-7722 for assistance.

Michigan residents began receiving a waiver from the federal requirements in 2002 due to high unemployment. The significant reduction in the state’s jobless rate over the last several years means the state is no longer eligible. The four counties are being phased out first because of their lower unemployment rates. MDHHS expects the waiver to be phased out statewide by October 2018 or sooner.

Able-bodied adults are recipients ages 18 to 49 who do not have a disability that prevents them from working or meet other federal criteria that exempts them from requirements. They can meet the reinstated work requirements to receive food assistance by:

The federal government determines work requirements and other eligibility criteria for individuals to be eligible to receive food assistance under the U.S. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. MDHHS administers federal food assistance benefits through the state’s Food Assistance Program. Phasing out these work requirements goes along with the MDHHS goal of "assisting Michiganders in finding employment to achieve self-sufficiency, end generational poverty and realize their dreams."