Introduction

This report will explore Michigan’s implementation of the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program. Michigan was the first state to implement this program, pushing money out in May, and was able to serve more than 900,000 children. Drawing on interviews from individuals within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and input from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) participants via surveys distributed to households using the Fresh EBT app, this report will provide insights into the strategies that enabled Michigan to roll out an entirely new program quickly and effectively. With political buy-in at all levels, Michigan was able to reduce administrative hurdles and use their existing data infrastructure to quickly reach the most vulnerable families across the state. This meant that fewer families experienced food insecurity as they waited for Unemployment Insurance, and families were able to buy healthier food. These findings can serve to provide guidance for other states that seek to implement this program, as well as federal policy-makers and regulators as they refine this new program. In the next stimulus package, Congress should provide additional resources to help states improve their technical and data infrastructure, reduce administrative requirements, and extend and increase P-EBT benefits. These steps will help families and children through the ongoing crisis.