Stretch Your Benefits

Discover food assistance benefits and tools that boost your grocery buying power and keep you organized.

Learn About Food Assistance Programs

Food assistance programs are federal, state, and community services that help people access food. These programs may give benefits to buy groceries, offer free food, or provide extra support for families, children, and older adults.

Several types of food assistance programs are available to Michigan residents. Click on the programs below to learn who can get the benefits, what type of benefits are provided, and when the benefits can be used.

Commodities (Commodity Supplemental Food Program or CSFP)

Who is eligible? Older adults age 60+ with a limited income.

What type of benefit? A box of food.

When can I use it? Distributed monthly through community action agencies, food banks, and other nonprofit organizations.

What is provided? A box that includes foods such as fruits and juice, vegetables, cheese, milk, meat, poultry and fish, plant-based proteins, cereals, pasta, and rice.

Find more information about Commodities.

Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB)

Who is eligible? Individuals who receive SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits.

What type of benefit? Tokens, paper vouchers, or loyalty card credit issued at the time of SNAP purchase, depending on location.

When can I use it? Year-round in some locations such as grocery stores, and often seasonally at farmers markets.

What is provided? Fresh and frozen fruits & veggies (with no added salt, sugar, or fats).

Find more information about Double Up Food Bucks.

Food Pantries

Who is eligible? Families and individuals who are experiencing food insecurity; some locations may have income eligibility or local residency requirements.

What type of benefit? Free food and/or hygiene items.

When can I use it? Pantries typically operate year-round but may have limited hours or selections.

What is provided? Food offerings may include fresh produce, frozen and canned goods, dairy, grains, and proteins. Hygiene offerings may include items such as diapers or laundry detergent.

Call or text 211 or visit 211.org for information and referrals to food programs in your area.

Senior Project Fresh

Who is eligible? Older adults age 60+, or 55+ for those who belong to a Michigan federally recognized tribe or urban tribal group, with a limited income.

What type of benefit? A one-time $25 benefit loaded onto a benefit card or digital QR code.

When can I use it? May 1 through October 31.

What is provided? Michigan-grown fruits, vegetables, herbs, and honey.

Find more information about Senior Project Fresh.

SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)

Who is eligible? Michigan residents with limited household income and meet program requirements.

What type of benefit? Benefits are issued to the recipient’s SNAP Bridge/EBT Card.

When can I use it? All year.

What is provided? Foods such as fruit, vegetables, bread, meat and dairy products, as well as seeds and food-producing plants.

Find more information about SNAP.

Sun Bucks - Michigan Summer EBT Program

Who is eligible? Limited-income school-aged children between ages 6 to 18.

What type of benefit? $120 for each eligible child to buy groceries during the summer loaded on EBT/Bridge Cards.

What is provided? Benefits must be used within 122 days of issuance.

What can I get? The Summer EBT card is used the same way as a traditional SNAP EBT/Bridge card.

Find more information about Sun Bucks.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

Who is eligible? Families with limited income who have a child age 18 or younger, are pregnant, or are younger than 18 and the head of their household.

What type of benefit? Cash deposited electronically on a debit card or through direct deposit.

When can I use it? All year.

What is provided? Food, housing, and more.

Find more information about TANF.

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)

Who is eligible? Households who meet income requirements and reside in Michigan.

What type of benefit? A box of 100% American-grown food.

When can I use it? Distribution days and times vary by location.

What is provided? USDA foods that include canned, frozen, dried and fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, nuts, milk and cheese, and whole-grain and enriched grain products including rice, cereal, and pasta.

Find more information about TEFAP.

WIC (Women, Infants and Children Program)

Who is eligible? Pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants and children under age 5 who meet income requirements and/or enrolled in other programs such as SNAP or Medicaid.

What type of benefit? Benefits issued to a WIC EBT Card for use at WIC-authorized grocery stores or Authorized Growers.

When can I use it? Issued monthly and do not roll over from month to month.

What is provided? Foods from the WIC program’s food list (for example, whole grain bread, milk, peanut butter, fruits & vegetables).

Find more information about WIC.

WIC Produce Connection

Who is eligible? WIC participants.

What type of benefit? One-time benefit of an additional $30 per client, and up to $60 per family, loaded directly onto WIC EBT Cards.

When can I use it? June 1 through November 30.

What is provided? Fresh, unprepared locally grown fruits and vegetables from Authorized Growers.

Find more information about WIC Produce Connection.


Food assistance programs, along with their rules and eligibility, can change. Check the links on this page for the most up‑to‑date information. Your local health department, faith‑based organizations, and local government may also know about other programs near you. If you need help finding services, call or text 211 or visit 211.org.

Organize Your Food Dollars and Benefits

Use the My Food Assistance Benefits Worksheet together with the Food Planning Calendar to stay organized, stretch your benefits, and prevent waste. These tools help you plan how and when to use both your food assistance benefits and personal food dollars, so you don’t run out too early in the month, and so you don’t forget about benefits that expire if they aren’t used in time.

My Food Assistance Benefits Worksheet

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Food Planning Calendar

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