Thanks to the new summer EBT, some families in Michigan will receive $120 per child for grocery shopping

LANSING, MI – A new Michigan Summer EBT program provides eligible families with $120 per child for grocery shopping during summer vacation.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced this week that the federal government has approved Michigan’s program plan, which was created based on similar efforts undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic to combat food insecurity for students.

Funds are expected to be disbursed prior to the program’s launch date on Friday, July 19.

“Many children in Michigan rely on the breakfast and lunch provided at their school during the school year, and we want to ensure they don’t go hungry this summer while school is on vacation,” MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel said in a statement. “The Summer EBT program increases families’ budgets for grocery shopping, and we are pleased to be able to provide these funds earlier than planned. We plan to provide these benefits even earlier next year.”

Related: Whitmer budget proposes $100 million extension of EBT summer benefits for Michigan children

The benefits are provided on EBT cards that families can use to purchase groceries.

Families who already have a Bridge Card will receive a one-time payment of $120 per eligible child – the standard amount set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the 2024 program. Anyone who does not already have a card will receive a preloaded card in the mail along with a letter about the program.

According to the state of Michigan, nearly 900,000 children are eligible for food assistance.

Most eligible families receive benefits automatically because government agencies have already identified eligible children based on their participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or free or reduced-price meal programs at schools.

Summer EBT eligibility includes:

• Children ages 6 to 18 who benefit from the Food Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Food Distribution Program on Indian reservations, or households eligible for medical assistance and whose income is 185% of the federal poverty level or less
• Students of any age who receive a free or reduced-price lunch through the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program
• Those approved through an EBT summer application

Michigan offers additional programs to feed students during the summer months, including the Summer Food Service Program (Meet up and Eat Up in Michigan) and the Rural Non-Congregate Summer Food Service Program.

You can find more information about the Summer EBT here.