Jackson County Department of Health and Human Services Director Jackie Carafino told the county services committee on Dec. 1 that Michigan has begun implementing new time-limited food-assistance work requirements and that local screening and outreach will start immediately.

"We're heading into the colder months," Carafino said, noting the department is seeing an uptick in requests for emergency assistance such as help with utility shutoffs and housing. She told commissioners that SNAP recipients who experienced benefit uncertainty during the recent federal government shutdown are now receiving full distributions.

Carafino said Michigan submitted a waiver for time-limited food assistance; the waiver was approved for 15 counties and six cities. "Jackson is not one of the approved counties, but we are one of the approved cities," she said, adding that Jackson will be on the waiver through Oct. 31, 2026. (Transcript shows an earlier misprint of '1926'; agency and calendar context indicate 2026.)

Carafino described several policy changes that local recipients should expect: an increased age range subject to work requirements, new or revised deferrals and the end of some existing deferrals. Examples she listed include that deferrals for homeless individuals, certain veterans and people age 24 or younger who aged out of foster care will end in some cases. She also said new deferrals were added for Native Americans, urban Indians and California Indians. Carafino emphasized the rules are nuanced and that the department will provide guidance and screening for new applicants.

On work requirements, Carafino said the state guidance sets an employment threshold of about 80 hours per month (roughly 20 hours per week) or participation in an approved employment-and-training program; those who meet those standards generally remain eligible.

Commissioners asked how the changes might produce disparities or unintended harms. Carafino said it is too early to know. "It just started this month," she told the committee, and she offered to report back with data on local effects in a subsequent meeting.

What happens next: the county DHHS will screen new applicants under the changed rules, notify recipients who may lose eligibility, and coordinate community roundtables and partner outreach to help people meet new requirements. Carafino said information is posted on Michigan's official site and on the department's web pages and that more localized communication is planned.

Speakers quoted: Jackie Carafino, DHHS director.

Ending: Carafino told the committee she will monitor local impacts and return with an update in a future meeting.