Michigan SNAP benefits, called the Food Assistance Program (FAP), load onto a Bridge Card each month and can only be spent on food and a short list of food-related items at approved grocery stores, convenience stores, farmers markets, and a growing number of online retailers. The amount you get depends on your household size and income, with the federal government setting a maximum monthly allotment for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) that ranges from $306 for one person to $1,841 for eight people. This guide covers exactly what Michigan FAP benefits pay for, how the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) calculates your monthly amount, what you cannot buy with the card, and how and when your benefits arrive.
If you are trying to find out whether you qualify or what the income limits are, see Michigan SNAP Eligibility 2026. For your exact deposit date, see Michigan EBT Deposit Schedule 2026. This page focuses on what the benefit itself covers once you are approved. You can also check whether you qualify for FAP and other Michigan programs with our eligibility screener.
What Michigan FAP Benefits Cover
FAP benefits in Michigan work like a prepaid debit card loaded onto your Bridge Card, and federal rules set what you can buy with it no matter which state issued the card. Approved purchases include:
- Fruits and vegetables, fresh, frozen, or canned
- Meat, poultry, and fish
- Dairy products
- Breads and cereals
- Snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages
- Seeds and plants that produce food for your household to eat
Michigan also runs Double Up Food Bucks at more than 240 participating grocery stores and farmers markets statewide. As of 2026, the program matches what you spend on fresh or frozen Michigan-grown fruits and vegetables dollar for dollar, up to $50 a day, with no separate daily cap on how much you can earn and spend. Double Up tokens earned in 2026 are good for 90 days after you earn them and can only be spent on fresh or frozen produce grown in Michigan with no added salt, sugar, or oil.
What Michigan FAP Does Not Cover
Your Bridge Card cannot be used for:
- Alcohol or tobacco products
- Vitamins, supplements, or medicines
- Pet food
- Household supplies, paper products, or cleaning items
- Personal care items like soap, shampoo, or diapers
- Food eaten in the store
- Delivery fees for online grocery orders
Michigan's Restaurant Meals Program
Unlike most states, Michigan participates in the federal Restaurant Meals Program (RMP), which lets certain SNAP households use their Bridge Card to buy hot, prepared food at approved restaurants. In Michigan, this option is open to households where a member is 60 or older, has a disability, or is experiencing homelessness, including a spouse of someone who meets one of those conditions. Roughly 300 restaurants participate statewide, most of them fast food chains such as McDonald's, Subway, KFC, and Taco Bell. If you do not fall into one of these groups, your Bridge Card still only pays for food you prepare yourself.
Buying Michigan FAP Groceries Online
Michigan allows FAP recipients to buy groceries online through several participating retailers, including Amazon, Walmart, Kroger, Meijer, Aldi, Earth Fare, and Gordon Food Service, along with a number of independent Michigan markets. Your Bridge Card pays for the eligible food items in the order, but federal rules do not allow SNAP dollars to cover delivery fees or service charges. Some retailers offer curbside pickup, which avoids a delivery fee entirely, and some waive delivery fees above a minimum order size.
Michigan FAP Maximum Monthly Allotments, FY2027
The U.S. Department of Agriculture sets the maximum SNAP allotment each federal fiscal year. These figures apply to Michigan and every other state except Alaska and Hawaii, which have their own higher tables, and run from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
| Household Size | Maximum Monthly Allotment |
|---|
| 1 | $306 |
| 2 | $562 |
| 3 | $808 |
| 4 | $1,023 |
| 5 | $1,217 |
| 6 | $1,463 |
| 7 | $1,616 |
| 8 | $1,841 |
| Each additional person | +$225 |
The maximum is not a flat amount everyone gets. It is the ceiling for a household with zero net income. Most approved households receive less than the maximum because the formula subtracts a share of your net income from it.
Minimum Benefit
If you are a 1 or 2 person household and qualify for any amount of FAP, Michigan must pay you at least $25 a month, even if the formula would otherwise produce a smaller number. This minimum does not apply to households of 3 or more, which can be approved for $0 if the math works out that way, though that is unusual.
How Michigan Calculates Your FAP Benefit Amount
MDHHS does not simply hand every approved household the maximum allotment for their size. The formula is:
Monthly benefit = Maximum allotment for your household size minus 30% of your net monthly income
Net income is your gross monthly income minus a set of allowed deductions:
- Standard deduction: $217 a month for households of 1 to 3 people, $229 for 4, $268 for 5, $308 for 6 or more (FY2027 figures)
- Earned income deduction: 20% of your earnings from a job or self-employment is subtracted before anything else
- Dependent care deduction: the full cost of childcare or care for a dependent that lets you work, look for work, or attend training or school
- Excess shelter deduction: rent or mortgage, utilities, and similar costs above half of your remaining income, capped at $769 a month unless your household includes someone 60 or older or living with a disability, in which case there is no cap
- Medical expense deduction: for households with an elderly or disabled member, medical costs above $35 a month are deductible in full
Worked Example
A single Michigan renter earning $1,500 a month with $700 in rent:
- Gross income: $1,500
- Standard deduction: minus $217
- Earned income deduction (20% of $1,500): minus $300
- Income after those deductions: $983
- Half of that: $491.50
- Rent ($700) minus half of adjusted income ($491.50): $208.50 excess shelter deduction
- Net income: $983 minus $208.50 equals $774.50
- 30% of net income: about $233
- Benefit: $306 (max for 1 person) minus $233 equals about $73 a month
This is an example only. MDHHS runs the exact calculation when you apply, and small differences in reported income, rent, or utility costs change the result.
Michigan's Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility
Michigan participates in Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility (BBCE) with a gross income limit of 200% of the federal poverty level, which is more generous than the federal default of 130%. A household under that gross limit skips the separate net income test entirely, and Michigan has eliminated the asset test for most FAP households, meaning your savings, retirement accounts, and most vehicles do not count against you. Your benefit amount is still calculated from net income using the deductions above, so reporting your rent, utilities, and childcare costs accurately can increase your monthly payment even though it no longer affects whether you qualify.
How and When Michigan FAP Benefits Arrive
Michigan does not deposit everyone's benefits on the same day. MDHHS assigns a deposit date based on the last digit of your eight-digit Recipient ID number, spreading payments across 10 dates from the 3rd through the 21st of each month. If your deposit date falls on a weekend or federal holiday, funds typically post on the prior business day. For the full month-by-month calendar, see Michigan EBT Deposit Schedule 2026.
Once a benefit loads, it stays on your Bridge Card and rolls over from month to month. Benefits that go unused for 274 days (about 9 months) are removed from the account under federal rules, so there is no need to spend everything the day it arrives.
Checking Your Balance
- By phone: Call the Michigan EBT Customer Service line at 1-888-678-8914, available 24 hours a day
- Online: Log in to your MI Bridges account at newmibridges.michigan.gov
- At checkout: Many store terminals and ATMs display your remaining balance after you swipe and enter your PIN
- Through an app: Third-party apps like Propel's Fresh EBT track your balance and recent purchases
Michigan FAP Asset Limits
Because Michigan eliminated the asset test for most FAP households under BBCE, your bank accounts, retirement savings, and vehicle values generally do not affect your eligibility. For the small number of households that do not qualify under BBCE, the federal asset limits still apply:
| Household Type | Asset Limit |
|---|
| Most households | $3,000 |
| Household with a member 60+ or disabled | $4,750 |
Countable assets generally include cash, checking and savings accounts, and some vehicles above a value threshold. A home you live in and most retirement accounts do not count.
How Long Michigan FAP Benefits Last
Most Michigan FAP cases are certified for 6 to 12 months before you need to recertify, though households with earned income or an elderly or disabled member may get a longer certification period. MDHHS sends a notice before your current period ends. Recertifying late means your benefits stop until the paperwork is processed, so submit it as soon as you receive the notice, either online through MI Bridges, by phone, or in person at your local MDHHS office.
Adults 18 to 64 with no child under 14 in the household are generally limited to 3 months of FAP in a 3-year period unless they work or train at least 20 hours a week, receive unemployment benefits, or qualify for another exemption, including pregnancy. This rule has applied nationwide since July 4, 2025. As of October 2026, parts of Michigan have an area waiver from this time limit based on local unemployment, so whether it applies to you can depend on where you live. MDHHS can tell you during your interview whether your area is covered, and this rule can end your FAP coverage mid-certification if you stop meeting a work or training requirement, so it is worth understanding even after you are approved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my Michigan Bridge Card to buy hot food at a restaurant?
Only if your household qualifies for the Restaurant Meals Program, which in Michigan is open to households with a member who is 60 or older, has a disability, or is experiencing homelessness, including that person's spouse. About 300 restaurants statewide participate, mostly fast food chains. Everyone else's Bridge Card only pays for food prepared at home.
Does my Michigan FAP benefit amount change every month?
It can, if your reported income changes. Most households are not required to report small income changes between recertifications unless they cross a reporting threshold set by MDHHS, but a significant change in income, household size, or expenses should be reported and can raise or lower your monthly benefit.
What happens to unused Michigan FAP benefits?
They stay on your Bridge Card and roll over. Benefits are only removed from your account if they go unused for 274 consecutive days.
Can I use my Michigan Bridge Card to buy groceries online?
Yes. Michigan allows online purchases through Amazon, Walmart, Kroger, Meijer, Aldi, Earth Fare, Gordon Food Service, and several independent Michigan retailers. Your Bridge Card pays for eligible food items, but SNAP rules do not allow it to cover delivery fees, so curbside pickup or a minimum order that waives the fee can save money.
Can I use my Bridge Card at Michigan farmers markets?
Yes. Many farmers markets across Michigan accept the Bridge Card, and more than 240 locations participate in Double Up Food Bucks, which matches your spending on fresh or frozen Michigan-grown produce dollar for dollar, up to $50 a day, with tokens good for 90 days after you earn them.
Does Michigan FAP cover seeds for a garden?
Yes. Seeds and plants that produce food for your household to eat are an approved SNAP purchase under federal rules.
