Food stamp recipients who are 18 to 64 and have no children under 14 now have to show 80 hours a month of work, volunteering or training to keep their benefits beyond three months, and in Michigan the rule restarted Nov. 1 in eight counties and Bay City. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced the change on Oct. 30. The counties are Alger, Arenac, Iosco, Iron, Luce, Montmorency, Oceana and Roscommon.
The state’s announcement says adults in those places who do not meet the requirement can receive benefits for only three months within a 36-month period. Michigan’s acting director, Amy Epkey, said the requirements “affect thousands of individuals who rely on food assistance to help meet basic needs.” About 1.4 million Michigan residents, nearly 13 percent of households, receive SNAP, the department says, and the program is what most people call food stamps…