DETROIT – The Michigan Department of Human Services announced Wednesday that income from federal stimulus payments will not affect eligibility for public assistance benefits such as food assistance. Stimulus checks also will not reduce the amount of public assistance benefits that anyone receives. We don’t want them to worry about losing other benefits as a result of the stimulus payments.”Stimulus payments will not affect any of the following public assistance benefits:Food Assistance Program benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Cash assistance under the Family Independence Program or Refugee Cash Assistance program. Click here to visit the 2020 Coronavirus Stimulus Payment website.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan announced a new website to help Michigan residents receive their federal stimulus checks. NEW: IRS launches ‘Get My Payment’ website to help with stimulus paymentsDesigned in partnership with Detroit nonprofit Civilla, the 2020 Coronavirus Stimulus Payment website takes people through a step-by-step process to ensure they’ve provided the IRS with information necessary to receive the funds. While most people will receive their stimulus checks directly to their bank account or delivered through Social Security, Poverty Solutions at U-M is concerned about vulnerable residents that don’t file taxes, have bank accounts or a stable address. “It is critical that Michigan residents know how to access the payments they’re eligible for," said Lena Selzer, design director at Civilla. “We want people to turn to this website as a reliable source of information on the COVID-19 stimulus payments.”Click here to visit the 2020 Coronavirus Stimulus Payment website.