Update: On January 4, 2021, the Governor signed into law a bill that would eliminate the ban on people with more than one drug felony receiving food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Column originally appeared in Michigan Advance on July 19, 2019
Since 1996, federal law has prohibited individuals with felony drug convictions and their families from receiving cash assistance from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or food assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This ban was put into place at a time when “welfare reform” and “getting tough on drug crimes” were popular political platforms in Congress. However, states are allowed to waive the restriction in full or in part and provide assistance to otherwise qualifying individuals with felony drug convictions.
Some states have completely waived the ban on both cash and food assistance, others have waived it for one program but not the other, and others have kept a partial ban in place for one or both programs. Michigan falls into the third category: a person who otherwise qualifies for food or cash assistance and has completed punishment for one felony drug conviction can receive assistance, but a person with more than one drug felony conviction arising from separate incidences that occurred after Aug. 22, 1996 is barred from receiving federal assistance for life.
Providing assistance to former offenders as they try to restart their lives plays an important role in preventing recidivism. These individuals often face job and housing barriers and social stigmas when trying to reintegrate into the mainstream, and public social services programs help to make the transition successful. However, since many justice-involved individuals have more than one drug conviction occurring in separate incidents, Michigan’s ban prevents many returning citizens from receiving assistance as they get back on their feet. One study has found that males with “drug trafficking” convictions who were subject to the ban were nine percentage points more likely to end up in prison than their counterparts who had access to SNAP benefits.
Allowing otherwise eligible former drug offenders to receive temporary assistance should be part of an overall strategy to help those with drug felonies reintegrate into society and avoid recidivism. To the degree that receiving food assistance helps avoid repeat incarceration, it can help save the state money.
This is very much a fairness issue. Though most offenses are considered resolved once prison time is completed, drug offenses are singled out and treated differently. If there are concerns about former drug offenders violating again, the conditions of parole for drug offenders almost always include drug testing.
Let’s change this. Michigan’s ban has real consequences for real people. When we blogged about this issue a few years ago, we received a number of responses. Here are extracts from some of the responses (some have been edited for brevity, grammar or spelling):
Kevin: I’ve served my time in prison and successfully completed parole, yet I am still paying for my mistakes! Taking away someone’s right to food assistance because they sold drugs is the most idiotic and inhumane solution I have ever heard of! If you want to reduce the recidivism rate, don’t take away a person’s food! One of the biggest reasons a person sells drugs is to pay for things like food! I could go on forever debunking the logic of this ban on food stamps but the bottom line is that it doesn’t change anything for the better and only increases the recidivism rate!
Jeannie: This is crazy because I know a person who has two Michigan drug felonies and caught both cases at the same time. Just because they were two different meds, they split the sentences! Now, he has a very hard time working due to his disabilities and Michigan is going cut him off of help for LIFE?!? I think this should at least be looked at on an individual basis! What are they thinking???
J.L.: People that have had two felony convictions and have completed their treatment should be able to get assistance just like everyone else. Sometimes it takes longer for some people to make the changes that they need to get out of that lifestyle. I am a therapist and have seen firsthand the harm it has caused someone who has turned her life around after two drug felony convictions and struggles to move forward because she struggles to get just her basic needs met. This person continues to struggle despite changing her lifestyle and getting the treatment she needs. It is sad that this is occurring in our state. I have had people tell me they would even be open to drug testing to get any type of help.
Jamie: I am a CLEAN recovering addict. I spent two years in prison for possession of less than 25 grams of cocaine. I cannot get food stamps for myself, although I have successfully completed inpatient treatment as well as intensive outpatient treatment. I can pass a drug test, so why am I banned from getting food assistance?
I have a 6-year-old son who I am trying to raise the right way. I just recently graduated from college with a pretty substantial student loan debt in hopes that a degree would be my way out of this hole that I am in. I still can’t find a decent paying job. Instead, I work as an Americorps member where I work 40 hours a week and get paid less than $1,000 a month.
Please help me figure out a way to get our state to listen to people like myself who are truly in need. Being a single mother is hard enough.
Luke: I’m a convicted felon and was cut off over a year ago and told to repay $7,000 which I had received in food assistance. I’ve struggled to care for myself ever since and am a diabetic with a brain tumor, so health foods cost much more for me. I knew I’d be declining in health very rapidly as I have and yet I haven’t had any help. Sad world and cold.
Jason: In 2006 I was involved in a drug case that resulted in multiple felonies. Unfortunately, I have been denied food assistance and cash assistance due to the fact that I have more than one drug offense. Honestly, this is totally unfair and now that I need assistance and can’t get it, I’m being pushed into a corner and left with limited options, especially considering the fact that I need heat in Michigan to survive and a homeless shelter is not an option. So while I fight for my disability, I’m taking my family to the poor house while I depend on their support. This is sad because I’m a 41-year-old man. This law is unfair and it’s pushing me toward a life I strive to leave in my past. The idea of this law looks good on paper until you see situations like mine. What can I do?
REBECCA: I had a drug felony in 2004 (attempted possession) and am now being told I have to pay back both food stamps from 2013 AND child care from 2016. They are saying I lied on my application, and I DIDN’T. It has been 13 years, and my children and I are STILL paying for my mistake. I even got a degree and a good job. Suddenly I’m a liar and they want all their money back.
Our state benefits when people with felony convictions of any kind can reintegrate into society and avoid crime in the future. Other states realize this, as more than half of states have already removed the ban for food assistance through SNAP and a growing number of states have removed it for cash assistance through TANF. The Michigan Legislature needs to progress from 1990s thinking and remove drug felony ban language from existing law (see page 111 of this bill), and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services needs to remove it from departmental policy.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Jacob Kaplan 
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Donald Stuckey 
Patrick Schaefer
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Amber Bellazaire joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a policy analyst in June of 2019. Her work primarily focuses on state policy and budgets affecting Michigan’s Medicaid programs. Previously, Amber worked at the National Conference of State Legislatures tracking legislation and research related to injury and violence prevention, adolescent health, and maternal and child health. She also brings with her two years of Americorps service. As a full time volunteer, Amber had the opportunity to tutor high school students in Chelsea, Massachusetts and address issues of healthcare access and food insecurity through in-person outreach in Seattle, Washington.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
Is this ban still in place, and are they in the process of having it removed?
It is in fact still in place. If it is in the process of being removed as of 12/17/19 policy is still disqualifying individuals with 2 or more drug felonies from receiving food assistance.
It’s so crazy and impossible seeming to me that states are allowed and CHOOSE to single out people based on their drug history, for something as essential as FOOD, when everything else in this country is based on equality. It’s like saying if you do drugs you don’t need to eat… Who decided that this is fair?? It’s insane to me.
Also why are drug offenders being targeted. what about rapist or murderers?
I have been 4 years clean off of heroin. I just found out I’m expecting a baby. Due September 20. They said because I have 2 drug felonies I cannot receive assistance, but to reapply after the baby is born. So I cam get it for the child after the child is born but not while it is inside of me. This makes no sense.
I got 3 drug convictions but 1 is juvinal 1 is for marijuana and the other is defiantly my strike against my food assistance but as law Im allowed 1 drug offence it don’t say in depth about if you was a juvinal after 1996 or if marijuana becomes legal will that count…But anyway should that disqualifi you to be able to eat or feed your kids because of it…..I dont believe so how come a child molester a petifial rapest or murder that gets out of prison can get assistance but we cant..If that aint bullshit I dint kbow what is anyine can change everyone deserves the right ti be able to proove that what is the piont of doing time if you still get repercussions your whole life….Thats why people dont change and they go right back the system is set up to fail 45000 a year they get paid for each bed in the penitentary it dont matter who filles them its about that money the giverment is the biggest gansters of us all …….Open your eyes if you cant see this your blind
Did the ban ever get removed?
I reapplied for a bridge card today, and was told that i’m banned for life, due to my past felonies . I sent an E-mail to Governor Whitmer at
governoroffice@michigan.gov only she can change this policy.This is an important issue since a controlled substance is now legal!!!
Please send a message to get her attention if this ban affects you or someone you know!!!
So felony drug charges causes you to lose your right to food assistance, but convicted murderers and rapists are not only allowed to get food assistance but housing assistance amongst other things. Even in the Bible it says no sin is greater then another but just being logical how can they make this make sense. It’s obvious whoever implicated this law has been affected personally by drugs and shouldn’t have had a part in getting this law passed, this law needs to be put back on the table.
If the government and state recognizes drug addiction as an a illness and disability this is a clear case of discrimination and should be treated as such.
Definitely Discrimination everyone has made mistakes in there past. I just got denied for cash and food while being recently unemployed and 13 weeks pregnant with my second child. I cant seem to get any help from the state but child molesters and murderers n even the ones who sell theres can still receive help…..
They say race don’t have anything to do with it most people convicted of narcotics are black so you have to do armed robbery breaking the people’s homes rape somebody you only get 3 to 10 depending on the severity of it so we have to start put little kids on the black market just nachum up when you get out if you can get food stamps that makes a lot of sense right
This is an unforgiving policy. It falls under double jeopardy. It’s also quite clear that these lawmakers who decided this insane policy are not qualified to decide a drug addicted person’s future fate. My husband had 2 possession charges which were approx 5 yrs apart. Clean for over 20 years now. Has been denied the pleasure of eating . They have taken our income and based it on a family of one which is falsesifing a legal document which resulted in my food stamps reduced to 16.00 a month but income has remained the same and occupants are the same. How can this be jusyified. And why is only drug offenders targeted. That’s to me unconstitutional and a violation of their civil rights. This ban needs to die.
We need an attorney to represent us in a class action law suit based on the descrimination and double jeopardy of this law/rule. Dept of Agriculture is a federal program and drug addicts are being systematiclly descriminated against. JANE 989 245 9764
Can we start a petition to sign for this??
Someone needs to change this !! Everyone needs to send the Governor s’ office an e-mail.!!! Send to governoroffice@michigan.gov tell them how you feel !!
The ban is done thank god
I say file a petetion and get it circulating on facebook n other social media outlets..
I have been clean since 2006 2 years ago I lost my husband was diagnosed with cancer. I lost everything except my sobriety, I was blessed to get Social Security but you don’t live the life of luxury. Getting food stamps will make a huge difference in my life. Eating would make a huge difference in my life. The law needs to change.