Blog

Michigan Poverty Law Program (MPLP) recently uncovered a critical concern for Michigan veterans, people with disabilities, and seniors, and is working to mitigate harm to these groups. 

Michigan's "Heat and Eat" initiative previously provided a $20.01 annual LIHEAP payment to low-income households, automatically qualifying them for the maximum Heating and Cooling Standard Utility Allowance (“the HC allowance”). This increased shelter deductions and boosted monthly SNAP grants without requiring detailed utility verification.

Lansing, MI — In a major victory for Michigan consumers, the Michigan Supreme Court today ruled in favor of the Attorney General in Attorney General v Eli Lilly and Co., adopting a narrow interpretation of an exemption in the Michigan Consumer Protection Act (MCPA) and restoring critical protections against unfair, unconscionable, and deceptive business practices.

LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Poverty Law Program (MPLP) expressed profound disappointment today after Governor Whitmer vetoed House Bills 4900 and 4901, long-awaited legislation that would have modernized Michigan's outdated garnishment and bankruptcy exemption laws, protected the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) from being seized by out-of-state debt collectors, and provided meaningful financial protections for low-income families across the state.

Farmworkers are a staple in the American food industry, playing a key role in getting fresh produce to the tables of American families across the country. Ironically, many farmworkers are unable to afford the very produce they pick. Michigan legal aid attorneys can leverage special rules in the federal food assistance program to help ensure these families have access to adequate nutrition.

Today, Michigan Poverty Law Program (MPLP) and the Michigan Coalition to End Domestic & Sexual Violence (MCEDSV) submitted a letter to the Michigan Legislature expressing concerns about House Bills 5211–5213, which would create a presumption of joint custody in child custody proceedings.