Michigan Senate nixes asset test requirement for food assistance program
Senators voted 25-13 to delete the provision that was placed in state law in 2012 when then-Gov. Rick Snyder, a Republican, was in office and the GOP held majorities in the House and Senate.
Snyder's administration had implemented a $5,000 asset test for the food assistance program in 2011, before the law took effect, meaning someone with more than $5,000 in their bank accounts couldn't qualify for the federal aid. However, in 2019, Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer used her administrative powers to increase the threshold to $15,000.
en. Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor, the sponsor of the new bill, said few people were being impacted under the higher limit. But he wanted to ensure a future governor would have a harder time bringing back a lower standard, which he described as cruel.
"When folks are low income and they are eligible for federal food assistance, we should make sure that food assistance gets on their table," Irwin said.
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/michigan/2023/03/09/michigan-senate-nixes-asset-test-requirement-for-food-assistance-welfare-program/69989718007/
