Challenges

The main challenge in implementing this program was ensuring that Michigan’s DHHS had sufficiently accurate data from the Department of Education. The quality of the data held by the MDE was not of the same level as that needed by DHHS. The DHHS is consistently updating information, but the MDE receives information from students who sometimes do not return the required forms. As a result, there was additional work required to verify information that may have slowed delivery to some individuals. More consistent updating of information could make this process easier.

Another challenge was determining who to send the P-EBT card to if the family was not enrolled in SNAP and the child was eligible due to the community eligibility provision. Unlike SNAP, in which the card is sent to the head of household, P-EBT benefits go directly to the child. Therefore, DHHS had to identify the oldest child and match other kids to that same address and sometimes, this process was not entirely accurate. Better data quality in the future would address this problem.