Michigan Family Independence Program for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Two Versions of the Same Program

Michigan's Family Independence Program is the state's version of federal TANF — Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. But there's a version of FIP that most people, including some caseworkers, don't distinguish clearly from the standard program. That distinction matters enormously for grandparents.

Standard FIP counts the entire household's income, requires the adult to participate in Michigan's PATH employment program, and ticks a 60-month lifetime clock with every month of benefits received.

Child-Only FIP excludes the caregiver's income entirely, has no work requirements, and has no time limit. Same program name, same Bridge Card, dramatically different rules.

The difference hinges on how the adult is classified. When a grandparent or other relative caregiver applies for cash assistance on behalf of a child without requesting benefits for themselves, MDHHS designates the adult as an "Ineligible Grantee" under BEM 210. The adult isn't receiving FIP. The child is.

Why This Matters for Grandparents on Fixed Income

A grandmother collecting $2,000 per month in Social Security retirement with $20,000 in savings can apply for child-only FIP without those amounts entering the child's eligibility calculation. MDHHS evaluates only the child's own income, which is typically zero.

This single classification decision is the difference between $0 in assistance and $283 per month for one grandchild ($403 for two, $583 for three).

The problem is that MI Bridges doesn't make the distinction obvious during the application process. The portal asks income questions for the whole household. Caseworkers with heavy caseloads sometimes process kinship applications under standard FIP rules. And the NOCA denial letter doesn't always explain that a different classification would yield a different result.

How to Apply for the Right Version

On MI Bridges, when asked about household members, add yourself and the child. When asked about your relationship, select relative caregiver — not parent. When asked about the type of assistance you're seeking, indicate that you're applying for cash assistance for the child, not for yourself.

If the application appears to be counting your income, continue through the screens. The caseworker who reviews the submission should classify it based on the household structure. But this is where things can go wrong, so be prepared to reference BEM 210 if the caseworker asks for your income documentation or treats the case as a standard household.

You can also state in writing (upload a note to MI Bridges or bring a written statement to your interview) that you are applying as an ineligible grantee under BEM 210 for a child-only FIP grant.

The PATH Work Requirement Doesn't Apply

Michigan's PATH program — Partnership. Accountability. Training. Hope. — requires standard FIP recipients to participate in employment-related activities: job searches, training, education, and verified work hours. Failure to comply results in sanctions that reduce or eliminate benefits.

Grandparents on child-only cases are not enrolled in PATH. There's no job search requirement, no training mandate, no activity log. Whether you're working, retired, disabled, or volunteering — it doesn't affect the child's grant.

This is particularly important for elderly caregivers who physically can't meet employment requirements, or retired grandparents who would need to re-enter the workforce just to maintain a cash grant for a grandchild. The program doesn't ask that of you.

Child Support Cooperation

One requirement does apply to child-only cases: cooperation with the Title IV-D Child Support program. When you apply for FIP, you must cooperate with the Office of Child Support (OCS) to establish paternity and pursue support obligations from the child's biological parents. You'll complete form DHS-2152.

During benefit receipt, the child's child support rights are assigned to the state to offset grant costs. For FIP budgeting, a $50 child-support pass-through disregard is applied before the remaining support is counted as income.

There's an important exception: if pursuing child support would put the child or caregiver in physical or emotional danger — because the biological parent is violent, the child resulted from severe trauma, or there are other safety concerns — you can file a Good Cause Exception using form DHS-3237. The local office processes the claim without penalizing the child's benefits while the review is pending.

When Standard FIP Makes Sense

In rare cases, a grandparent might actually qualify for and benefit from standard FIP — if their own income is very low and they need personal cash assistance along with the child's grant. Standard FIP would count the grandparent as a household member, potentially increasing the total grant amount.

But the tradeoffs are significant: your income is now counted, the 60-month lifetime limit applies, and PATH work requirements kick in. For most grandparents on Social Security or disability, child-only FIP is the clearly better path.

The Financial Help for Grandparents and Relatives Raising a Child in Michigan guide walks through both FIP options alongside food assistance, health coverage, childcare, and emergency relief — with document checklists and a caseworker preparation sheet for the benefit interview.

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