This document discusses Michigan's food assistance program and recent changes to eligibility requirements. It provides background on the federal Food Assistance Program (FAP) and how benefits are administered through Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards. Currently, college students in Michigan qualify for food assistance but new policies will require recipients to care for children, be unfit for work, work at least 20 hours per week, or participate in job training. While some students argue they deserve the assistance, others believe the program should only help those most in need as it uses federal funds. The Michigan Department of Human Services will enforce the new work requirements starting in April.

1. Changes to the
Michigan Bridge Card:
Is it Worth the
Sacrifice?
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Michael Bennett
Kaleigh Lawrence
Brian Veenstra
Prof. Jenn DeHaan
PA 307 - 01

2. FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
(FAP)
“The Food Assistance Program (FAP)
supplements the food purchasing power of
low‐income individuals and families” (Food
Assistance Program Overview, 2011).
“The U.S. Department of Agriculture funds
100 percent of this program” (Food
Assistance Program Overview, 2011).
The state and federal governments share
administraGve costs. (Food Assistance
Program Overview, 2011).
DHS determines eligibility for FAP.

3. Electronic Benefit
Transfer
Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) is an electronic system that
allows a recipient to authorize transfer of their government
benefits from a Federal account to a retailer account to pay
for products received ( SNAP, 2009).
“EBT is used in all 50 States, the District of Columbia,
Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam” ( SNAP, 2009).
“State food stamp agencies work with contractors to
procure their own EBT systems for delivery of Food Stamp
and other state‐administered benefit programs” ( SNAP,
2009).

4. EBT continued..
“Once eligibility and level of benefits have been
determined, an account is established in the parGcipant's
name, and food stamp benefits are deposited electronically
in the account each month” (SNAP,2009).
“A plasGc card, similar to a bank card, is issued” (SNAP,
2009).
“ A personal idenGficaGon number (PIN) is assigned or
chosen by the recipient to give access to the
account” (SNAP,2009).

6. Michigan’s Food Assistance
Program:
Food Assistance Benefits are issued into a food account
using electronic technology and a debit card known as the
Michigan Bridge Card oZen called the “Bridge Card”.
Assistance administered by Department of Human Services
in Michigan.

7. Eligibility
Low or No Income
Based on Household Income and number of people
in FAP group.
Countable Income:
Wages
Rental Income
Child Support
Social Security and Veteran Benefits

8. Work Requirements
To Receive FAP Benefits:
Adults who are already working may not:
Voluntarily quit a job of 30 hours or more per week.
Voluntarily reduce hours of employment below 30 hours
per week.
Be fired from a job for misconduct or absenteeism.
Adults who are not working or are working less
than 30 hours per week must:
Accept a bona‐fide offer of employment .
ParGcipate in employment‐related acGviGes that are
required of an individual in order to receive
unemployment compensaGon. (DHS)

9. Work Requirements
Continued…
Must also work at least 80 hours a month (DHS).
“Unless deferred, household members age 16
through 59 must agree to parGcipate in employment‐
related acGviGes if referred. InformaGon regarding
work requirements will be given at applicaGon and
review” (Food Assistance Benefits in Michigan, 2011,
p.2).

10. Food Assistance
Total amount of Food Assistance based on
deducGons of 20% of total income and other
allowable expenses.
Allowable expenses include:
Medical expenses over $35 a month not
covered by a 3rd party
Some housing and uGlity costs
Some Childcare costs
Court‐ordered Child support paid to non‐
household member. (DHS)

11. What Can and Cannot Be
Can: Purchased?
1.) Any non‐taxed food or food product.
2.) Seeds and plants for use in a home garden.
Cannot:
You cannot buy nonfood items such as:
1.) soap 2.) pet food
3.) tobacco 4.) paper products,
5.) alcoholic beverages 6.) HOT foods
7.) Ready to Eat foods 8.) vitamins or medicines.
( Food Assistance Benefits in Michigan, 2011, p. 2).

12. Who Can Receive
Benefits?
“Any “household” that meets the income and other
basic eligibility rules shown below can get Food
Assistance benefits” (Food Assistance Benefits in
Michigan, 2011, p.2).
A household may be one person or a group of
people who live together and customarily buy and
prepare their food together” ( Food Assistance
Benefits in Michigan, 2011, p.2).
A person who is a boarder or lives in an insGtuGon
(with some excepGons) cannot get Food Assistance
benefits ( Food Assistance Benefits in Michigan,
2011, p.2).

13. How To Apply:
Anyone has the right to apply.
The local Department of Human Services (DHS) office gives or mails applicaGons
in the date requested.
Requests can be made:
‐ in person
‐ by phone
‐ by mail
‐ by someone else who can do this for the household
The applicaGon must be turned into local DHS office
Applicants are given assistance upon request
The applicaGon is taken on the day the day that it is turned in, even if the case
worker is not present.
You can also apply online at hkp://www.michigan.gov/mibridges
Once in the program consumers can also uGlize this website to see their
balance, their worker’s contact informaGon and can reapply when
necessary.
( Food Assistance Benefits in Michigan, 2011, p.2).

14. How To Apply
Continued..
Each applicant must be interviewed
Interview is often over the phone unless an in-
person interview is requested or consumer applying
for cash benefits also.
Eligible households receive their benefits by the
30th day after turning in the filing form and/or the
application.
Those with little or no money may be able to get
Food Assistance benefits within seven days.
(Food Assistance Benefits in Michigan, 2011, p.2).

15. Issue:
The State of Michigan is
changing food assistance
requirements to be in sync with
the Federal guidelines.

16. New Policy
“(They) must be caring for children, physically or mentally
unfit for employment, parGcipaGng in an on‐the‐job
training program, or working 20 hours a week,” said
ChrisGna Fecher, a spokesperson for the Michigan
Department of Human Services (DHS). “Akending college
by itself is not an approved excepGon, and our department
will enforce that policy starGng in April” (Witbeck, 2011).

17. Why Is This An Issue?
Many college students..
FEEL that they need the assistance to make
ends meet.
WORRY that their assistance will be cut.
DO NOT GET get assistance from
parents or guardians and rely on public assistance.
THINK they deserve the assistance because
they are working towards being a productive member
of society.

18. Positive Perspectives...
“Such an excepGon is not only unnecessary, but it goes
against the very fiber of why the program was created —
to help low‐income people. Under the new policy, if
students meet the income and work requirements, they
are eligible just like everyone else” (Inks, 2011).
“(The DHS) is ready to extend a helping hand to any
ciGzen who is truly in need, including college students
who … are taking the right steps toward becoming self‐
sufficient,” (Witbeck, 2011).

19. Positive Perspectives
“This is federal money … and we’re blowing it on welfare. We
need to make sure that it is going to those who really need it,” he
said. “If we don’t get a handle on these enGtlements, the future
generaGons will have to foot a lot of crazy bills for things we
didn’t address”‐ Bob Genetski (legislator) (Witbeck, 2011).
“A lot of taxpayers don’t mind helping people who are truly in
need but they were infuriated to see that their tax dollars were
going to a situaGon that wasn’t needy,” he said. “A lot of people
who are really mad about it are those who worked part‐Gme or
full‐Gme jobs to get through college. They feel as if the current
generaGon doesn’t understand that work ethic”(Witbeck, 2011).

20. Negative Perspectives..
“No numbers for how much money the
move will save are available” - Christina Fecher;
DHS spokesperson
“I understand some students might abuse
the program, but students by and large
cannot afford food despite many state
officials’ assertions that students should
obtain assistance from family. My parents
help me out with some stuff, but they can’t
afford to help me out with everything...
Money you get from working in the summer
only lasts for so long.” -Josh Broecker Advertising
Senior at MSU

21. Negative Perspectives:
“The decision should have lashed out more
broadly at abuse by people other than college
students.” -State Rep. Mark Meadows D-East Lansing
“I would use [a food pantry] if it were a last resort,
but I think it’s for people who really really need
it,” said Hildbrandt-Cooper, who said she feels
caught in the middle ground between being “too
poor to afford groceries but not poor enough for
a food pantry.” - Grand Valley Lanthorn

22. Positive Impacts
SAVES money
PotenGally DECREASES fraud
ALLOWS Food Assistance Program to serve
those that are truly in need
IMPROVES public perception of food
assistance programs and other welfare spending.

23. Negative Impacts
Students SUFFER from starvation and
malnutrition.
Policy ENCOURAGES Pregnancies.
Students spend less time studying and more time
WORRYING about the next meal.
LOSS of revenues for grocery stores.

24. Statistics
“The federally funded Food Assistance Program
serves almost 1.9 million Michigan residents,
including 805,000 children” (Peter, 2011)
DHS estimates that up to 20,000 of those users
are students qualified solely for the purpose of
being a college student.
2010 Census showed the Michigan Population at
9,883,640.
20% of all Michigan Residents receive food
assistance of which 1% are students in which this
policy impacts.

25. Recommendations
Making the state Bridge Card program uniform
with federal Food Assistance guidelines is the
RIGHT DECISION.
Does not mean students are ineligible for FAP benefits.
There are other forms of food assistance.
Decreases fraud and makes the system serve only those
who have true need.

26. References
– Food Assistance Benefits in Michigan (2011 ). In State of Michigan Department of Human Services Retrieved
April 19, 2011, from hkp://www.michigan.gov/documents/dhs/Pub_0016_206544_7.pdf
– Food Assistance Program Overview (2011). In Department of Human Services . Retrieved April 19, 2011, from
hkp://www.michigan.gov/dhs/0,1607,7‐124‐5453_5527‐21832‐‐,00.htmlhkp://www.michigan.gov/dhs/
0,1607,7‐124‐5453_5527‐21832‐‐,00.html
– Inks, N. (n.d.). COLUMN: Michigan’s former Bridge Card policy unnecessary excepGon. In Central Michigan
Life . Retrieved February 17, 2011, from hkp://www.cm‐life.com/2011/02/17/column‐michigans‐former‐
bridge‐card‐policy‐unnecessary‐excepGon/hkp://www.cm‐life.com/2011/02/17/column‐michigans‐former‐
bridge‐card‐policy‐unnecessary‐excepGon/
– Luke, Peter. " Most Michigan college students will be ineligible for Bridge Card food
assistance | MLive.com." MichiganLocal News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather -
MLive.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2011. <http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/
2011/02/most_michigan_college_students
– Supplemental NutriGon Assistance Program (n.d.). In United States Department of Agriculture: Food and
Nutri?on Service . Retrieved April 30, 2009, from hkp://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/rules/LegislaGon/about.htm

27. References Cont..
State of Michigan Department of Human Services. (n.d.). Assistance Applica?on Informa?on Booklet. Retrieved (April 19,2011)
hkp://www.michigan.gov/documents/dhs/DHS_InformaGon_Boo klet_and_Assistance_ApplicaGon_242170_7.pdf
State of Michigan Department of Human Services. (n.d.). FAP Eligibility Requirements. Retrieved (April 19, 2011) hkp://
www.michigan.gov/dhs/0,1607,7‐124‐5453_5527‐13176‐‐,00.html
State of Michigan Department of Human Services. (n.d.). FAP Work Requirements. Retrieved (April 19, 2011) hkp://
www.michigan.gov/dhs/0,1607,7‐124‐5453_5527‐13180‐‐,00.html
Witbeck, C. (2011 , February 24). New Rules May Decrease Number of Students Receiving Benefits . In The North Wind.
Retrieved April 19, 2011, from http://www.thenorthwindonline.com/?p=3860275