SNAP Waived Areas in Michigan

Waived areas in Michigan

Current waiver: November 1, 2025 to October 31, 2026 (USDA letter dated November 20, 2025). 29 areas:

Counties

• Alcona County (11.0% unemployment)
• Alger County (10.6% unemployment)
• Arenac County (10.5% unemployment)
• Cheboygan County (11.5% unemployment)
• Iosco County (10.4% unemployment)
• Iron County (10.2% unemployment)
• Luce County (10.4% unemployment)
• Mackinac County (10.3% unemployment)
• Montmorency County (10.9% unemployment)
• Oceana County (10.6% unemployment)
• Ogemaw County (10.2% unemployment)
• Oscoda County (11.9% unemployment)
• Presque Isle County (10.3% unemployment)
• Roscommon County (10.4% unemployment)
• Schoolcraft County (11.4% unemployment)

Cities

• Bay City (10.1% unemployment)
• Detroit (10.9% unemployment)
• Eastpointe (11.4% unemployment)
• Flint (14.3% unemployment)
• Jackson (10.5% unemployment)
• Saginaw (11.8% unemployment)

Tribal areas (reservation and off-reservation trust land)

• Bay Mills (10.4% unemployment)
• Grand Traverse (39.2% unemployment)
• Hannahville Indian Community (13.0% unemployment)
• Huron Potawatomi (12.8% unemployment)
• Little River (43.9% unemployment)
• Little Traverse Bay (14.2% unemployment)
• Pokagon (19.5% unemployment)
• Sault Ste. Marie (31.7% unemployment)

How these areas qualified: Mackinac, Oscoda and Presque Isle counties, the four cities other than Bay City and Detroit, and all eight reservation areas had a 12-month average over 10% for September 2024 to August 2025. The other counties and Bay City and Detroit qualified on a three-month average over 10% in early 2025.

How Michigan applied it

MDHHS says its older, wider waiver ended February 28, 2026, and that from March 1, 2026 every county applies the Time Limited Food Assistance rules except the 15 counties and 6 cities listed above. MDHHS’s page lists counties and cities but not the tribal areas, which appear only in USDA’s letter. MDHHS also notes that people in Kent County (outside Grand Rapids), Oakland County (outside Oak Park and Pontiac) and Livingston County have been under the rules since October 1, 2025.

What the waiver means if you live there

• The 3-month time limit does not apply while the waiver is in effect. Months you get SNAP while living in a waived area do not count toward your 3 months, even if you do not work 80 hours.
• It depends on where you live, not where you work. If you live outside the listed areas, the time limit applies to you even if your job or training is inside one.
• The general work rules still apply. A waiver does not cover them. If you are 16 to 59 and not excused, you must still register for work, accept a suitable job offer, not quit a job or cut your hours without good cause, and take part in a job program if your state refers you.
• Your state keeps counting the calendar. USDA tells states to keep tracking the 36-month period even in waived areas so they can restart the time limit when the waiver ends.
• Tribal areas cover everyone who lives there. A waived reservation or trust land area covers all residents, not only Tribal members. American Indian, Alaska Native, Urban Indian and California Indian people are exempt from the time limit wherever they live.

When the waiver ends

USDA’s approval ends October 31, 2026, and as of that date USDA had not posted a new Michigan request or approval. If no new waiver is approved, the time limit can apply in these counties, cities and tribal areas from November 2026. Ask MDHHS (844-464-3447) before you rely on the waiver after October.

When a waiver ends, months before it ended still do not count. Starting the month after, any full month you get SNAP without meeting the 80-hour rule or an exemption counts toward your 3 months in the current 36-month period. Your state should send you a notice first. To keep benefits, work, volunteer or train 80 hours a month, or check whether an exemption fits you.

Check your own situation

Check if the time limit applies to you Count your months

For start dates, your 36-month period and how to report hours in Michigan, see SNAP work requirements in Michigan. For every state’s list, see all SNAP waived areas.