DETROIT – Thousands of Michigan families lost refrigerated and frozen food during power outages from Independence Day weekend.
If you’re on food assistance, you may be able to replace what you lost.
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Hundreds of thousands of Michiganders lost power across the region.
SNAP recipients can request replacement benefits when food spoils during a qualifying outage. To be eligible, the power must have been out for at least four hours, the food must have been purchased with SNAP benefits, and the loss must be reported within 10 days.
Residents seeking replacement benefits will need to fill out a Food Replacement Affidavit. The form can be uploaded through a MI Bridges account or in person at a Michigan Department of Health and Human Services office.
That form can be found at the bottom of this story.
While the food replacement cannot exceed a recipient’s monthly benefit amount, every dollar helps.
In some cases, that 10-day deadline can be extended. After major disasters, health departments can apply for a federal waiver. Wayne County residents, for example, have until July 23 to file.
Residents should check to see whether their county qualifies for an extended deadline.
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