LANSING — The Fair Food Network has expanded its Double Up Food Bucks Program to assist Michigan families facing a disruption in federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, according to an Oct. 29 statement from the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Development (MDARD)

Last month, the statement says, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) ordered states to pause SNAP distribution beginning Nov. 1 as the federal government shutdown continues.

In response, Michigan’s Double Up Food Bucks Program – which is supported by a grant administered by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) – is expanding through the end of December.

The Fair food Network (FFN) announced it is taking the following actions in Michigan, effective through Dec. 31, 2025:

1. Expanded access and flexibility so families can build up savings on their Double Up cards:

• Double Up earnings no longer expire. FFN lifted the 90-day limit so shoppers can use their earned benefits whenever they need them. 

• No daily earning cap. FFN removed the usual $20 per day limit, enabling families to earn as much as they can while shopping for fresh produce. 

• Frozen fruits and vegetables are now eligible. Shoppers can now use Double Up on frozen options with no added salt, sugar, or oil–available at all 237 locations across the state. 

2. NEW: Double Up Bonus Bucks, a limited-time voucher of $40 that will not require a matching SNAP purchase to receive. It can be used exclusively on fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables beginning Nov. 1 and will be distributed:

• Directly onto Double Up cards and app, or loyalty cards at participating sites, where applicable. 

• As printed vouchers for shoppers using tokens or coupons at participating locations. 

FFN’s goal is to reach as many families as possible across the state–keeping healthy food on tables and revenue flowing through neighborhood grocery stores. Double Up Bonus Bucks will expire Dec. 31, 2025, to encourage timely use.

What Michigan SNAP beneficiaries should know:

You can still use any SNAP dollars already on your EBT card–those funds are not affected. 

• All previously earned Double Up Food Bucks remain available. 

• Double Up is available year-round at grocery stores, even as farmers market season winds down. 

The Fair Food Network is a national non-profit organization that aims to grow community health and wealth through food by making it healthier, more affordable, and more accessible, especially in underserved communities. It works to build a more just and sustainable food system through initiatives like its Double Up Food Bucks program, which assists families in stretching SNAP benefits.