How to Apply for a Child-Only Grant in Michigan Through MI Bridges

Before You Open MI Bridges

Missing documents can delay a child-only FIP application. MDHHS must issue a FIP decision within 30 calendar days of application submission, so gather the requested information before you apply when possible.

You'll need the child's birth certificate (or hospital record), Social Security card, proof that the child lives with you (utility bill, lease, or a letter from someone who can confirm the arrangement), and documentation of your family relationship to the child. If the child receives any income directly — child support, Social Security survivor benefits, SSI — bring those statements too.

Under BEM 210, your wages, pension, Social Security, and savings are excluded from the child-only FIP eligibility calculation when you apply as an ineligible grantee. If MI Bridges prompts you for your pay stubs, it's the generic intake flow — what matters is how the caseworker classifies the case.

Creating Your MI Bridges Account

Go to newmibridges.michigan.gov and create a personal account if you don't already have one. Each applicant needs their own login — don't share accounts with other family members who also receive benefits.

You'll enter your name, date of birth, contact information, and create a password. The portal will ask for your Michigan county, which routes your application to the correct local MDHHS office.

Starting the Application

Once logged in, select "Apply for Benefits." MI Bridges will walk you through a series of screens about your household. This is where the application can go sideways if you aren't careful about how you identify yourself.

When the portal asks about your household members, add yourself and the child (or children) you're caring for. When it asks about your relationship to the child, select the option that identifies you as a relative caregiver — not as the child's parent.

The critical distinction: you are applying for cash assistance for the child only. You are not applying for personal FIP benefits. On screens that ask about income, the child's income is what matters. If the portal asks for your income in a way that seems to include it in the eligibility calculation, continue through the screens — the caseworker who reviews the application will classify it as a child-only case based on the household composition and relationship you've entered.

Uploading Documents

MI Bridges lets you upload documents directly through the portal. Use the document upload feature to submit:

• Child's birth certificate or identity document
• Child's Social Security card or SSA printout
• Proof of address showing the child's residence with you
• Birth certificates or other records showing the family relationship
• Any court orders, power of attorney, or PA 113 Temporary Authorization for Kinship Care form if you have one

Take clear photos or scans. Uploading through MI Bridges doesn't guarantee immediate processing — the documents sit in a queue until your assigned specialist reviews them. Save the confirmation screen or take a screenshot after each upload. If a document doesn't appear in your case file after a few days, call your local MDHHS office to confirm receipt.

After You Submit

MDHHS must issue a FIP decision within 30 calendar days of application submission. You may receive a phone call or letter requesting an interview. During this interview, the specialist will verify the child's living arrangement, confirm your relationship, and review any child income.

If the specialist asks for your personal income documents — bank statements, pay stubs, pension records — politely clarify that you're applying as a relative caregiver for a child-only grant under the ineligible grantee provision of BEM 210. Your income should not be counted. If you're uncomfortable pushing back in the moment, you can request a supervisor review or call the MSU Kinship Care Resource Center at 1-800-535-1218 for free navigation help before your next contact with the office.

If Your Application Is Denied

A denial comes as a Notice of Case Action (NOCA) in the mail or through MI Bridges. Read the reason carefully. Common denial reasons for child-only cases include missing verification documents, incorrect household classification, or a caseworker error in counting caregiver income.

You have 90 days to file a hearing request using form DHS-18, which you can submit by mail, fax, or through MI Bridges. If you file within 12 days of the notice date, your benefits can continue while the appeal is pending.

If you believe the denial counted your income incorrectly or overlooked documents, you can request an administrative hearing using form DHS-18. The request deadline is 90 days from the notice date; filing within 12 calendar days preserves the right to aid continuing.

What Happens When You're Approved

The child's benefits are loaded onto a Michigan Bridge Card each month. The grant amount depends on how many children are in your care — $283 for one child, $403 for two, $583 for three.

Approval also triggers automatic Medicaid enrollment for the child. You don't need a separate health coverage application. The child will be enrolled in a Managed Care Organization for primary care and can access Healthy Kids Dental for dental coverage.

Report household-composition or address changes, and unearned gross-income changes exceeding $125 per month, within 10 calendar days. MDHHS will send periodic redetermination notices — respond by the deadline to keep benefits active.

The Financial Help for Grandparents and Relatives Raising a Child in Michigan guide walks through the full MI Bridges application with screenshots and checklists, plus every other Michigan benefit you and the child may qualify for.

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