Food stamp recipients in Michigan are now being told if they can work, they must either get a job or volunteer to remain eligible to receive benefits, WXYZ reported.
Starting Oct. 1, able-bodied adults who are unemployed can get three months of assistance within 36 months before the benefits end. The federal rules had been waived since 2002 in Michigan because of high unemployment, but were recently reinstated, The Detroit Free Press reported.
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says an able-bodied adult is someone between 18 and 49, with no disabilities and no dependents, must work an average of 20 hours a week each month of unsubsidized employment, participate in an approved employment and training program for 20 hours a week each month, or volunteer at a nonprofit organization, to remain eligible for help, WXYZ reported.
About 16,000 people will be affected by the change.
Those on assistance have their cases reviewed each year. Those who fall under the newly re-implemented rules will have three months after their next review to comply with the requirements, The Detroit Free Press reported.
Seventeen other states require able-bodied residents to have a work requirement to remain eligible for benefits, The Detroit Free Press reported.
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