State officials: Stimulus payments will not affect public assistance benefits

Payments to qualifying Americans with direct deposit accounts set up had begun to receive their coronavirus relief payment. (WDIV)

DETROIT – The Michigan Department of Human Services announced Wednesday that income from federal stimulus payments will not affect eligibility for public assistance benefits such as food assistance.

Stimulus checks also will not reduce the amount of public assistance benefits that anyone receives.

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“MDHHS wants to make sure that Michiganders who rely on food assistance and other federal benefits programs know that these stimulus payments will have no effect on their benefits,” said Lewis Roubal, the department’s chief deputy director for Opportunity. “Families are suffering from economic distress as a result of COVID-19 and its impact on the economy. We don’t want them to worry about losing other benefits as a result of the stimulus payments.”

Stimulus payments will not affect any of the following public assistance benefits:

  • Food Assistance Program benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
  • Cash assistance under the Family Independence Program or Refugee Cash Assistance program.
  • Healthcare coverage, including Medicaid, Healthy Michigan Plan and MIChild.
  • State Emergency Relief.
  • Child Development and Care (childcare reimbursement).
  • Women, Infant and Children (WIC).

Related: Do you qualify for the $1,200 government stimulus check? How and when will the money come through?

Click here to visit the 2020 Coronavirus Stimulus Payment website.

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About the Author:

Dane is a producer and media enthusiast. He previously worked freelance video production and writing jobs in Michigan, Georgia and Massachusetts. Dane graduated from the Specs Howard School of Media Arts.