Michigan residents relying on food stamps can now check the schedule for December 2023 to ensure they receive their benefits on time. The Michigan Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) deposit schedule for this month spans from December 3rd to December 21st. There’s a list of fresh or supermarket groceries and food you can purchase, and there’s also another list of forbidden stuff you cannot buy with your SNAP benefits EBT card. The OK list includes fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy products, bread, cereals, snack foods, non-alcoholic beverages, and even seeds and plants that produce food.
However, the not OK list, which includes stuff that cannot be bought with SNAP benefits, include alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, vitamins, medicines, supplements with a Supplement Facts label, live animals (except shellfish, fish removed from water, and animals slaughtered prior to pick-up from the store), hot foods at the point of sale, and nonfood items like pet foods, cleaning supplies, paper products, and hygiene items.
Your SNAP Money Is Arriving at These Dates
Here’s a breakdown of the Michigan Food Stamp Deposit Dates based on the last digit of your ID:
0: Sunday, December 3rd1: Tuesday, December 5th2: Thursday, December 7th3: Saturday, December 9th4: Monday, December 11th5: Wednesday, December 13th6: Friday, December 15th7: Sunday, December 17th- 8: Tuesday, December 19th
- 9: Thursday, December 21st
You could still take a look at the Michigan P-EBT (Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer) initiative, that offers additional food assistance benefits to students temporarily deprived of access to free or reduced-price school meals due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in the upcoming years when the global crisis slowed down but the economical effects are still active. The primary goal of this program is to ensure that no child experiences hunger by missing out on essential school meals.
Do I Need to Consider Holidays While Scheduling SNAP Benefits in December?
Take into account that two holidays may impact the food stamps deposit schedule in December: Christmas Eve on December 24th and Christmas Day on December 25th.
If your scheduled deposit falls on either of these days, there’s a high likelihood that your benefits will be deposited either before or after the specified date. For individuals expecting deposits on weekends, benefits may arrive either on the Friday before their scheduled food stamp date or the Monday after it.
Do My Kids Still Qualify for P-EBT Food Stamps?
Eligibility for the P-EBT program is determined based on specific criteria for both schools and students. To qualify, students must be enrolled in a school participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and have either not received in-person instruction for some or all of the month due to COVID-19-related absences. Alternatively, they should be eligible for free or reduced lunch or attend a school covered by the Community Eligibility Provision.
For students, eligibility is contingent upon enrollment in a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). To qualify, the student must meet the following conditions:
- The school must have been closed or undergone a reduction in in-person learning for a minimum of 5 consecutive days during the current school year, commencing no earlier than September 6, 2022.
- The school must be a participant in the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program.
As for eligible students, they must be enrolled in a Michigan school and meet one of the following criteria:
- Did not receive in-person instruction for all or part of the month due to a COVID-19-related absence.
- Qualify for free or reduced lunch, or attend a school covered by the Community Eligibility Provision.
For students attending a non-NSLP virtual school or engaging in eligible homeschooling, the requirements are as follows:
- Must be enrolled in a Michigan virtual school or homeschooled in Michigan, with registration with the Michigan Department of Education.
- Should meet the income eligibility criteria for free or reduced lunch.
- Must have been previously enrolled in an NSLP-participating school on or after January 27, 2020.
- Engaged in non-NSLP virtual schooling or homeschooling due to concerns related to COVID-19.
Other Low-Income Food Stamps Available in Michigan
Low-income college students in Michigan now have the opportunity to qualify for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) if they meet specified income and program requirements. Eligibility is extended to students enrolled at least half-time in an occupational program leading to employment under the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the Twenty-First Century Act of 2018, commonly known as Perkins V.
If you are a college student in a career and technical education program and believe you may be eligible for food assistance, you are required to furnish documentation from your school outlining your major and program or course of study. This documentation will aid in determining your eligibility for SNAP benefits. For more information, visit Michigan.gov/MIBridges.
What food items can I purchase with my Michigan EBT card?
Items you CAN buy:
- Foods for the household to eat, such as breads and cereals, fruits and vegetables, meats, fish and poultry, dairy products.
- Plants and seeds that produce food for the household to consume.
- Energy drinks that have a nutrition facts label.
- Baby food, including infant formula, cereals, juices, and baby food in boxes and jars.
- Cakes for special occasions like birthdays, as long as the value of the non-edible decorations does not exceed 50% of the overall purchase price of the cake.
- Live seafood such as lobsters, fish, and shellfish.
- Pumpkins that can be consumed.
- Meal replacement shakes or protein powder that carry a nutrition facts label.